New bacteria look like Pokemon - microbiologists
German scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of bacteria. They are associated with legionella and can cause disease.
The discovered species was named Pokemon. This is due to their external similarity with the characters of a computer game. Bacteria live and develop in spherical amoebas. Like playing with Pokémon, bacteria are trapped and encased in balls.
The bacteria of the order Legionellales have long been studied by microbiologists due to the fact that they are the causative agents of many diseases. They usually affect the lungs in animals and humans. For example, Legionnaires' disease can be fatal.
The hosts of bacteria are amoeba. The latter term is often applied to a variety of microorganisms that are not “close relatives”.
The scientists wanted to test the amoeba for the bacteria of the Legionellales order. Moreover, they chose a group that had no previous relationship with previously studied microorganisms.
As it turned out, the spherical Thecofilosea are the hosts for the aforementioned order. And one of the genera was called "Pokemon".
For most schoolchildren and college students, the word "Pokemon" is very familiar. It is a French franchise that brings together video games. Their essence lies in the search for fantasy characters, their imprisonment in trap spheres for further control and struggle.
Microbiologists used the name of the franchise to hint at the intracellular way of life of bacteria located in globular amoebas.
Scientists continue to study the discovered bacteria by sequencing their entire genome.
Read also: Scientists have created an electronic skin. Now the earth's magnetic field can be felt
The discovered species was named Pokemon. This is due to their external similarity with the characters of a computer game. Bacteria live and develop in spherical amoebas. Like playing with Pokémon, bacteria are trapped and encased in balls.
The bacteria of the order Legionellales have long been studied by microbiologists due to the fact that they are the causative agents of many diseases. They usually affect the lungs in animals and humans. For example, Legionnaires' disease can be fatal.
The hosts of bacteria are amoeba. The latter term is often applied to a variety of microorganisms that are not “close relatives”.
The scientists wanted to test the amoeba for the bacteria of the Legionellales order. Moreover, they chose a group that had no previous relationship with previously studied microorganisms.
As it turned out, the spherical Thecofilosea are the hosts for the aforementioned order. And one of the genera was called "Pokemon".
For most schoolchildren and college students, the word "Pokemon" is very familiar. It is a French franchise that brings together video games. Their essence lies in the search for fantasy characters, their imprisonment in trap spheres for further control and struggle.
Microbiologists used the name of the franchise to hint at the intracellular way of life of bacteria located in globular amoebas.
Scientists continue to study the discovered bacteria by sequencing their entire genome.
Read also: Scientists have created an electronic skin. Now the earth's magnetic field can be felt
