Tech

Israeli scientists discover forgotten protein with ability to fight viruses

Published

8 months ago

Farwa

A group of Israeli scientists discovered that different species have a forgotten innate protein that has the ability to fight off viruses and strengthen their bodily immunity.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy “currency” of all living organisms on Earth. In a study that was recently published in the journal Cell with the title “Ultrafast distant wound response is essential for whole-body regeneration,” scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot described a new family of proteins that deplete cells of their energy, protecting them from invaders.

The researchers demonstrated that this hitherto undiscovered immune system is used by numerous living things including corals and bees, and has survived more than a billion years of evolution.

The freshly discovered protein is just one of more than 100 recent discoveries of very complex mechanisms employed by bacteria in their valiant fight against viruses known as bacteriophages. Many of these mechanisms were identified and characterised in the molecular genetics department at Weizmann’s Rotem Sorek lab.

Phages are made up of a lot of genetic material, such as DNA or RNA, which they inject into the bacteria they are taking over, much like the viruses that attack us.

After completing this operation, these viruses employ the cellular machinery of the bacteria to repeatedly duplicate themselves. They rip apart a bacterium’s membrane, break out, and spread across the entire bacterial colony once they have exhausted the bacterium’s resources.

The gene that had mystifyingly cancelled out a phage’s capacity to replicate itself and infect the remainder of the colony was the subject of the researchers’ study. The researchers discovered that the unidentified gene encodes a protein that shatters and obliterates cells irreversibly.

Surprisingly, this protein is used a lot more frequently than one may think. The researchers examined the genomes of tens of thousands of bacteria and found over 1,000 immune genes that function similarly. They were shocked to discover ATP-depleting properties in a protein family that was previously unknown to belong to the immune system.

This means that scientists have uncovered a novel immunological strategy that is present in a wide variety of bacteria and provides them with efficient defence against viruses.

The researchers did not, however, stop with bacteria; they conducted a thorough examination demonstrating that many other, more complex organisms, including fungi, insects like bees, corals, sponges, and corals, also manufacture immune ATP-cutting proteins.

Nevertheless, this kind of immune protein does not exist in humans, the researchers believe that it is the ancient predecessor of the proteins that make up our innate immune systems.

“Many studies in the past few years have used the knowledge of advanced organisms’ immune systems to reveal immune strategies used by bacteria,” concluded Sorek.

“Our new study shows that the extensive knowledge accumulated about bacterial immune systems enables us to follow the opposite logic – we can learn about the immune systems of advanced organisms by studying those of bacteria. ATP molecules are among the most widely occurring in nature, so clarifying their role in immunity can greatly contribute to understanding the defense strategies that countless organisms use when attacked by viruses.”

Latest News

The green colour of WhatsApp ‘angers’ some users.

Published

22 hours ago

Farwa

After changing its display colour from blue to green, WhatsApp, which was before well-known for its blue motif, caused its users to hold divergent views.

New upgrades to the Meta app always spark a lot of discussion, regardless of how big or small the changes are.

Still, Meta-owned WhatsApp hopes that these modifications would “make it more accessible as well as easier to use” and offer a “modern, new experience” with relation to the updated display color.

A statement from the firm claimed that they had altered WhatsApp’s “looks and feels, including spacing, colors, icons, and more.”

Both iOS and Android users can now view the new WhatsApp update; the green tint on the latter has changed from the previous version.

However, iPhone users will notice that every display element, including the chat-list window and status bar, has changed with the recent design update. WhatsApp used to have a blue color scheme on iPhones.

Furthermore, the formerly blue links shared within the app are now displayed in green.

In addition, WhatsApp has made other improvements to improve its user experience outside of the color shift.

Latest News

Punjab will provide fifty thousand solar kits.

Published

1 month ago

Farwa

On Tuesday,Tuesday, while presiding over a review meeting on solar household solutions, the CM gave the order to begin the installation of one kilowatt solar systems right away. She also gave the order to introduce the newest solar systems.

Phase-I solar systems would be balloted for by 50,000 protected users who use 100 units each month, at a cost of Rs 12.6 billion.

Home-based solar systems will eventually be made available to other Punjabi consumers. A solar system will consist of a battery, inverter, sophisticated solar plate, and more related accessories.

Attending the meeting were Provincial Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, MPA Sania Ashiq, Former Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of Energy, Finance, and Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB) Managing Director, in addition to other pertinent officers.

During his inaugural speech as Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz outlined her five-year plan and promised to develop a strategy for customers who use fewer than 300 units of power.

According to Maryam Nawaz, the PML-N’s main goals for her term will be to provide jobs, healthcare, and education.

She said, “I am working on a plan to provide solar panels to consumers using up to 300 units of electricity or less in installments.”

Pakistan

There will be free WiFi in public parks.

Published

1 month ago

Farwa

The discussion on the province’s capital city’s beautification was chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

CM Gandapur gave the pertinent authorities instructions at the meeting to complete the arrangements and submit the free WiFi service plan for the province government’s approval.

In the following phase, he said, the service will be extended to more cities. In addition, the chief minister gave the Peshawar Development Authority instructions to create a beatification plan for the city.

The meeting voted to launch a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on Nasir Bagh Road in the province capital with the goal of facilitating the easy mobility of the population.

CM Gandapur pushed for the installation of underpasses rather than overhead bridges and ordered the city’s street lights to be converted to solar power.

The chief minister gave the order to begin work on the road around the BRT Corridor at University Road as well as the building of the remaining section of Warsak-Nasir Bagh Road right away.

In order to promote KP’s culture, he also oversaw the installation of fake plants on all road walks and painted headbridges and walls with designs.

The chief minister of KP gave the order to approach business organizations for assistance in this respect.