Exploring the Enigmatic Microbial Dark Matter: Unveiling its Genetic Secrets
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the unusual lifestyle of Patescibacteria, a group of elusive and poorly understood microbes. By genetically manipulating these bacteria, researchers have identified the genes essential for their growth and revealed some of the molecular mechanisms behind their interaction with host bacteria. This discovery opens up new research directions and sheds light on the "microbial dark matter" found in genetic analyses of microbial communities. The study focused on Saccharibacteria, which inhabit various environments including the human mouth, and uncovered cell surface structures and secretion systems that facilitate their attachment to host cells and nutrient transport. Further genetic manipulation studies are expected to uncover more about the biological mechanisms of these mysterious bacteria.