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6299 |
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Date: October 11, 2016 at 23:09:55
From: kay.so.or, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Virus steals black widow poison gene to help it attack |
URL: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2108671-virus-steals-black-widow-poison-gene-to-help-it-attack/ |
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In one of the most unexpected genetic thefts ever, a virus that infects bacteria appears to have stolen the gene coding for the poison of the black widow spiders. The virus, named WO, probably uses the gene to help it attack its targets.
Viruses often steal genes from their hosts. But because bacterial viruses – also called bacteriophages – only attack bacteria, genes from other domains of life are usually beyond their reach. That would include higher organisms known as eukaryotes, which have cells that contain a nucleus.
WO, however, faces an unusual challenge: its targets are Wolbachia bacteria living within the cells of insects, spiders, and some other animals. That means that for it to infect new bacterial cells, WO has to escape not only from its existing Wolbachia host, but also from the eukaryotic cell – and then the virus particles have to evade the eukaryote’s powerful immune system.
rest of the article at the link...
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Responses:
[6300] [6305] |
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6300 |
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Date: October 12, 2016 at 13:50:29
From: Meh, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Virus steals black widow poison gene to help it attack |
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That is interesting.
And suggestive of a selectivity that you wouldn't
credit a virus with having.
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Responses:
[6305] |
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6305 |
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Date: October 20, 2016 at 10:11:34
From: Jody/Concord,CA, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Virus steals black widow poison gene to help it attack |
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or maybe 'lab created'... there are no coincidences in the Universe.
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