Mussels are among the most dominant dwellers of hot vents in the deep sea, but they are not alone. Living in the gills of these mussels are a plethora of microbes responsible for producing an impressive number of toxins. In a new study published in the open-access journal eLife, researchers, including Moore Foundation Marine Microbiology investigator, Nicole Dubilier, linked these symbiotic tenants to the production of hazardous substances by studying their genes.
The team detected up to 60 toxins in a given microbe, more toxins than can be found in nasty germs that may make you sick. But, down in the depths of the ocean, these toxins do not harm the mussels. Rather, they might help mussels and bacteria to find and to recognize each other, essential steps to establishing a successful symbiosis, or, the toxins may help the mussel to defend itself against parasites. The deep sea is an unusual, remote locale. The discovery of “tamed” toxin production between a mussel and its microbes provides a new piece for understanding how life can survive in such an extreme environment and a reminder of the elaborate (and sometimes deadly) diversity of interactions in the sea.
Read the full press release here.
Message sent
Thank you for sharing.