Can be compared to penicillin: in the twilight zone of the ocean, scientists have found mushrooms that survive in extreme conditions
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In the twilight zone of the ocean, scientists have found a large number of mushrooms that are potentially suitable for use in medicinal preparations.
They can be comparable in potency to penicillin, reports The Guardian with reference to a study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Science.
Scientists from Saudi Arabia and Spain conducted the largest DNA analysis of oceanic “inhabitants”. They examined and cataloged 317 million gene clusters of marine organisms.
Scientists were especially interested in the twilight zone, located at a depth of 200 to 1000 meters. It is characterized by high pressure, lack of light and low temperatures, which creates an extreme environment “where fungi can demonstrate unique adaptations.”
| Ocean twilight zone. Photo: Alexis Rosenfeld/UNESCO |
“Penicillin is an antibiotic that comes from a fungus called Penicillium. We can find something similar in these ocean fungi.
This could potentially lead to the discovery of new species with unique biochemical properties.” – noted oceanographer Fabio Favoretto.
Another important discovery was the role of viruses in increasing genetic diversity.
“Viruses embed themselves and transfer genes from one organism to another. This means that viruses create genomic biodiversity that accelerates their evolution.” – said study co-author Carlos Duarte.
One result of this acceleration was the genes that allowed organisms to break down plastic.
“They can break down synthetic polymers derived from hydrocarbons that have recently become ocean pollutants, suggesting that evolution has taken place over several decades.” Duarte explained.
It will be recalled that scientists have found a chain of underwater volcanoes in the Southern Ocean, which can affect the melting of Antarctica.
Also read: Oxford has begun human trials of a vaccine against the rare Nipah virus
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