AI Summary
The article discusses the findings of researchers regarding a bacterial parasite that infects and reproduces in the nuclei of deep-sea mussels. They found that a single bacterial cell can invade the mussel's nucleus and reproduce to over 80,000 cells while keeping its host cell alive. This research sheds light on how nuclear parasites operate in deep-sea environments and hijack the cell's command center to ensure their survival.
Researchers now reveal how a bacterial parasite infects and reproduces in the nuclei of deep-sea mussels from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. They show how a single bacterial cell invades the mussel’s nucleus where it reproduces to over 80,000 cells, while ensuring that its host cell stays alive.