It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
The plump, soft-bodied sea pig can grow to around 15 centimeters long and walks on enlarged, leglike tube feet. Sea pigs sometimes gather in large groups to feed on organic-rich seafloor sediments, including those around whale falls.
In the deep ocean, translucent sea pigs trundle across the seafloor. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered an unusual bacterium beneath the sea pig’s “skin.” Through fluorescent imaging, they determined the location of the bacterium, which they named Candidatus Abyssoplasma scotoplanesicola. DNA analysis revealed a minimized genome of just 649,000 bases. Unexpectedly, more than a quarter of this was dedicated to building surface-associated protein groups, including “giant” proteins exceeding 5,000 amino acids in length, possibly for interactions with host tissues or bacterial aggregation (clustering into groups). This study offers clues to which functions remain in symbiotic bacteria living closely with their host.
You may have heard of sea cows, sea lions and seahorses, but have you ever heard of the little sea pig? This small, jellylike creature lives in the deep ocean and is a type of sea cucumber. It slowly meanders across the ocean floor on its many tubelike feet, scooping up dead matter into its tentacled mouth. It may be small, but it is influential in the ocean ecosystem. Not only does it recycle organic matter and nutrients, but, despite its defenseless appearance, its squidgy body provides shelter from predators to young king crabs.
However, there is a lot we don’t know about these curious-looking creatures. How long do they live? Why do they have waving, antennalike protrusions on their head? And what is their relationship with the symbiotic bacteria which live underneath their skin? Like other echinoderms (marine invertebrates including sea cucumbers and sea stars), sea pigs have subcuticular bacteria growing in the layers which encase their body. Understanding this symbiosis is of great interest to researchers and marine biologists, both from an evolutionary perspective and because in some areas of the deep sea, sea cucumbers account for more than 90% of the biomass of large bottom-dwelling animals.
“Taxonomic and genomic information about these body-wall inhabiting bacteria is scarce, and very few studies of deep-sea species have linked this information to the bacteria's location within host tissues,” said Yu Yoshida, a Ph.D. student at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences and a lead author of a new paper which investigates exactly that.
A multi-institutional team in Japan, including researchers from the University of Tokyo, extracted DNA from various tissues in eight sea pigs collected during deep-sea expeditions. Using this information, the team could determine what type of bacteria was abundant in different parts of the body and they reconstructed the genomes of the dominant types. They then used fluorescence imaging to pinpoint where in the host tissue those bacteria were located.
“What we found was that in body-wall samples from the three sea pig species, one bacterium accounted for more than 70% of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences (a genetic marker used in identifying bacteria), so it truly dominated the body wall,” explained Yoshida.
Although the bacterium, Candidatus Abyssoplasma scotoplanesicola, belongs to a lineage of symbiotic bacteria associated with marine invertebrates, it is substantially different from other known types. This has led the researchers to propose that it is a new genus and species, one with some unexpected characteristics.
“The complete genome was very small, only 649,000 bases. By comparison, the E. coli genome is approximately seven times larger. However, we were more surprised by the composition. Genes for some of the energy-generating pathways (used for breaking down nutrients and generating energy) which are commonly found in bacteria were not detected,” explained Yoshida.
“Meanwhile, genes for encoding surface-associated protein groups (that is, DNA with the blueprints for building specific proteins on cell surfaces) accounted for 27.6% of the entire genome. This included genes for proteins exceeding 5,000 amino acids. As bacterial proteins average about 300 amino acids in length, 5,000 is exceptionally long. This offers us important clues as to which functions are retained in bacteria which live in close association with their host.”
Amino acids are essential nutrients for both the host and its symbiotic bacteria. Based on this study, Candidatus Abyssoplasma scotoplanesicola is thought to rely heavily on its host’s tissues to obtain amino acids, nucleic acid precursors, lipids and mineral nutrients – all the things it needs to survive which its own very reduced genome cannot provide. However, what the sea pigs gain from this relationship is currently unknown. The bacterium may play a role in protecting its host from pathogens, but that is still to be confirmed.
“We would really like to understand how this bacterium could become so dominant in the body wall, the functions of the giant surface proteins, what competition it faces from other bacteria, and of course the effects on the host,” said Yoshida. “More broadly, further investigation could provide fundamental insights into how bacteria colonize hosts and adopt a host-dependent lifestyle.”
--- Paper and Contact Details ---
Paper Details: Yu Yoshida, Yosuke Nishimura, Hajime Itoh, Masumi Hasegawa-Takano, Tsuyoshi Takano, Naohisa Wada, Kento Tominaga, Akito Ogawa, Wataru Iwasaki, Yasuhiro Gotoh, Takehiko Itoh, Tetsuya Hayashi, Susumu Yoshizawa ‘Genomic, spatial, and evolutionary insights into a dominant Mycoplasmatota symbiont colonizing the body wall of deep-sea holothurians’. ISME Host Microbe. November 11 2026. Doi: 10.1093/ismehm/aazag018
Funding: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP22H00557 (to S.Y.) and JST SPRING, Grant Number JPMJSP2108 (to Y.Y.).
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Useful links: Graduate School of Frontier Sciences: https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI): https://www.aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp/english/
About The University of Tokyo: The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 5,000 international students. Find out more at www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @UTokyo_News_en.
Studying sea pigs is particularly challenging due to their deep-sea habitat, which can be 6,000 meters down, requiring special resources to access. Their bodies are made to withstand immense water pressure and almost freezing temperatures.
Credit
Hajime Itoh, The University of Tokyo
Here the symbiotic bacteria can be seen glowing green under a fluorescent imaging microscope. The name reflects both the bacterium’s deep-sea origin and its sea pig host. “Abyssoplasma” combines a reference to the dark deep sea, “abyss,” with “plasma,” reflecting its affiliation with the bacterial phylum Mycoplasmatota. “Scotoplanesicola” means “an inhabitant of Scotoplanes,” the sea pig host. “Candidatus” indicates that the name is provisional.
Credit
Y. Yoshida, Y. Nishimura, H. Itoh et al. 2026/ ISME Host Microbe.
Credit: Adapted from ACS Omega 2026, DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6c05061
Tucked away inside a limestone cave in southeastern France lies some of the oldest artwork in existence. Known as Chauvet Cave, the site is so historically important — and fragile — that its location is kept secret and locked behind a huge steel door. And now, researchers reporting in ACS Omega have devised a technique to safely investigate these artworks and understand the natural varnish that has protected them for centuries.
“We examine every piece of evidence to decode the techniques of prehistoric artists and understand how the paintings have been preserved over time.” — Philippe Walter
Somewhere around 37,000 years ago, a group of Paleolithic people entered what is now Chauvet Cave and left behind detailed artwork of local fauna, including cave bears, cave lions, bison, and horses. The drawings were sealed off by an ancient rockfall and left undiscovered until the 1990s. Several decades later, a lot can still be learned from these ancient works of art, including how the cave’s geology may have contributed to the artworks’ preservation. To study cave walls without damaging them, researchers have used UV fluorescence spectroscopy, which reveals fluorescent mineral deposits invisible to the naked eye. Philippe Walter and colleagues wanted to use the technique to noninvasively investigate these ancient drawings. Their focus was on mineral deposits that have formed atop the charcoal-based drawings and the techniques used to create the art.
Due to the fragility of prehistoric footprints in front of the artwork, the researchers set up a portable spectrometer on a protective walkway around 8 feet (2.5 meters) away from the cave wall. A beam of UV light was shone on the wall, and the resulting fluorescence from the mineral deposits and pigments in the artworks was analyzed by the spectrometer.
“Our methodology is much like forensic investigation: We examine every piece of evidence to decode the techniques of prehistoric artists and understand how the paintings have been preserved over time,” says Walter.
The researchers’ analysis revealed that:
Mineral-carrying water flowed over the wall’s limestone surface, leaving behind thin layers of calcite. That calcite glowed blue under a blacklight, revealing a natural varnish covering parts of the artwork.
Some areas displayed an orange fluorescence, which could be from hot charcoals or burning materials, like a lit torch, being rubbed against the wall to create the drawings.
These results showcase the careful interaction between humans and geology that allowed these artworks to be preserved for tens of thousands of years. Walter and team anticipate that the technique also has applications from forensic science to monitoring biofilms onboard the International Space Station — a project already underway.
The authors acknowledge funding from the French Ministry of Culture, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), and Sorbonne University.
One of the authors is a founder of Lumentis, a company developing imaging instruments for historical artwork analysis.
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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world's largest scientific organizations and a global leader in advancing scientific knowledge. Founded in 1876, ACS' mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community, and champion scientific integrity. Guided by its vision of a world built on science, ACS brings together people, ideas, and resources to drive discovery and innovation, support the professional growth of scientists and students, and advance scientific discussion. Through its trusted publications, scientific meetings, community networks, education and career resources, and scientific information solutions, ACS helps scientists, educators, and students make a lasting impact on their communities and the world at large. Together, these efforts support ACS' commitment to improve all lives through the transforming power of chemistry.
“In Situ Ultraviolet Fluorescence Spectroscopy for the Characterization of Translucent Calcite Coatings over Prehistoric Cave Art”
Due to the presence of prehistoric soil and footprints immediately in front of the cave walls, researchers had to set up their analysis instruments nearly 8 feet away.
Credit
Adapted from ACS Omega 2026, DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6c05061
From left to right, the Horses Panel, the Alcove of the Lions, and the Reindeer Panel — three ancient compositions found within Chauvet Cave.
According to two new UNSW studies, researchers often choose research topics based personal preferences and cultural attitudes, including exposure to films, TV shows and even zoos, rather than attempting to fill the most pressing gaps in knowledge.
The result is a scientific blind spot that extends across most living things, with birds and mammals species dominating research despite making up a tiny fraction of overall biodiversity.
“Finding Nemo may have inspired many people to become marine biologists,” says lead author Dr Pietro Pollo, from UNSW Science.
“In nature documentaries the focus is usually on polar bears, lions, elephants and other mammals, and that is where most research interest and funding ends up.”
Less popular animals like insects, spiders, slugs and worms receive far less attention, leaving big gaps in our understanding of nature.
The researchers say this blind spot manifests in unpredictable ways because it’s impossible to predict the long-term outcomes of basic research.
“We don’t know what we don’t know,” says Pietro.
Research into lizard saliva helped lead to drugs such as Ozempic, while fluorescent proteins discovered in jellyfish transformed the study of individual cells, highlighting the important of studying a broad range of things.
“The next major discovery could be in an organism we currently ignore because we don’t find it cute or exciting.”
The researchers analysed more than one million ecology and evolution papers found that vertebrates appeared in more than half of papers involving animals, despite making up just 4.7% of described animal species.
Further, studies of vertebrates attract more citations and media attention than studies of invertebrates published in the same journals.
The researchers say science should broaden training, outreach and research opportunities to include a more representative sample of life on Earth.
“We have millions of species and limited time and funding, so we need to diversify our research as much as we can.”
A new University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study shows suitable habitat for introduced gemsbok could expand under climate change from their current range in New Mexico well into surrounding states.
URBANA, Ill. — Majestic African antelopes known as gemsbok have been roaming the U.S. southwest since their introduction in the 1960s and 1970s. Brought to New Mexico as game species for hunting, gemsbok quickly settled in, expanding more than 100 kilometers from their introduction point. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers say that’s due to their exceptional adaptations to arid conditions, which they predict will dramatically expand under climate change.
In a new study, the researchers reveal the potential extent of the exotic species’ spread by the year 2100, with suitable habitat spilling well beyond New Mexico into Texas, Arizona, Utah, California, and even as far north as southern Washington and Montana. Should gemsbok disperse and proliferate into all of these spaces, the impacts to cattle, native wildlife, and plant communities could be significant.
The team mapped where gemsbok could survive under future climate scenarios based on their current habitat preferences.
“We turned towards participant science to do this work. When people contribute photos to apps like iNaturalist, the occurrence records get scraped into something called the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. From that, we were able to use a statistical method called Maxent to find habitat associations for gemsbok,” said the study’s lead author, Nathan Alexander, who began the research as a doctoral student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U. of I. He’s now a postdoctoral scholar at Southern Illinois University.
For every gemsbok occurrence, the researchers looked at factors like temperature seasonality and precipitation, vegetation cover, terrain ruggedness, and human population density to paint a picture of where the animals spend time. Then they looked for similar habitat patterns across space and time to predict where gemsbok might go in the future. They found that many suitable habitats that now exist as isolated pockets will likely coalesce into larger, more contiguous habitats under future climate scenarios.
“When there are these isolated patches, there might be dispersal barriers that they can't cross to get to the next patch. But when these patches coalesce and connect, there might be increased opportunities for gemsbok to invade and expand into these novel habitats. We see this particularly in western Texas, but also into western New Mexico and up into Arizona, and even some regions of California, like Death Valley,” said Kieran Andreoni, who began the research as a master’s student in NRES. He’s now conservation director at the Southern Plains Land Trust in Colorado.
Native to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, gemsbok are particularly well suited for arid conditions and may have an advantage over southwestern native species under climate change.
“Gemsbok are famous for being really well adapted to heat and drought. In addition to other heat adaptations, they can get all of their water from plants, so they don't really need to drink. That’s really unusual for animals that big — they can weigh 450 pounds. They're the poster species for dealing with the kind of changes we're going to see in the southwest,” said study co-author Bob Schooley, professor and head of NRES.
Schooley adds that gemsbok left their natural predators — lions and hyenas — back in Africa, and southwestern predators like coyotes and mountain lions don’t kill nearly as many gemsbok. Considering their superior adaptation to arid climates and relative freedom from predators, the spread of gemsbok could threaten both domestic and native species.
The primary concern is diet overlap — with larger gemsbok herds eating the same forage as cattle and natives like pronghorn and bison, gemsbok could diminish food reserves for those species.
“Along with that diet overlap, gemsbok are able to forage on lower quality plant materials than some of our native species,” Alexander said. “So in drought years, we could imagine our native species might be a little bit more stressed and nutrient deficient, whereas the gemsbok are going to be able to move to less nutrient-rich plant material and still be able to persist in the environment.”
Schooley added, “These desert rangelands are often used for cattle grazing. When there’s a severe drought, they pull the cattle off the landscape because there's no food for them. Well, no one pulls the gemsbok off. Considering their ability to survive on low-quality forage, they could severely damage remaining grasslands. So I think that's the kind of thing we worry about — what are the implications when they get to even larger numbers?”
Alexander says there is also potential for gemsbok to carry and spread diseases to native and domestic ungulates. Gemsbok in the southwest have tested positive for malignant catarrhal fever, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and bovine para-influenza-3, which are of concern to the cattle industry.
With competing interests between conservationists, ranchers, and hunting operations, the researchers say it will be tricky but critical to manage the population into the future to avoid potential consequences across the southwest.
The study, “Predicted range expansion of exotic Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) under climate change in the United States,” is published in the Journal of Mammalogy [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyag083].
Research in the College of ACES is made possible in part by Hatch funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This study was also supported by a competitive NIFA grant (no. 7006200) and the National Science Foundation (Jornada Basin Long Term Ecological Research Program, DEB 2025166 and DEB 2425143).
