https://newatlas.com/biology/obelisks-new-biological-entity-microbiome/
"The Stanford team calls them Obelisks, thanks to their rod-like structure, and they’re kind of a cross between viruses and viroids. We’re all familiar with the former, while viroids are simpler molecules of RNA that can replicate by chopping up and reforming their genome, but don’t produce proteins and lack a protective shell. Obelisks have the basic structure of viroids, but like viruses their simple genomes do seem to code for previously unknown proteins the scientists call “obulins.”
It turns out that Obelisks are very common and surprisingly diverse. The scientists discovered almost 30,000 different types of them within microbiome samples taken from over 400 people from all around the world. They were found in about 50% of tested oral microbiome samples and 7% of gut samples. It seems they’ve eluded detection so far because they don’t look like anything else we know about."
Since no one knew about these until now, we don't know that they aren't involved in ME. I doubt that they are, but it's just another case of our bodies having active components that researchers aren't aware of.
FWIW, today's NewAtlas also had two stories about new discoveries about how the brain works, one on how smells trigger responses, and one on how lipids are involved in memories. One day there might be a similar discovery that leads to an understanding of ME's mechanism.
"The Stanford team calls them Obelisks, thanks to their rod-like structure, and they’re kind of a cross between viruses and viroids. We’re all familiar with the former, while viroids are simpler molecules of RNA that can replicate by chopping up and reforming their genome, but don’t produce proteins and lack a protective shell. Obelisks have the basic structure of viroids, but like viruses their simple genomes do seem to code for previously unknown proteins the scientists call “obulins.”
It turns out that Obelisks are very common and surprisingly diverse. The scientists discovered almost 30,000 different types of them within microbiome samples taken from over 400 people from all around the world. They were found in about 50% of tested oral microbiome samples and 7% of gut samples. It seems they’ve eluded detection so far because they don’t look like anything else we know about."
Since no one knew about these until now, we don't know that they aren't involved in ME. I doubt that they are, but it's just another case of our bodies having active components that researchers aren't aware of.
FWIW, today's NewAtlas also had two stories about new discoveries about how the brain works, one on how smells trigger responses, and one on how lipids are involved in memories. One day there might be a similar discovery that leads to an understanding of ME's mechanism.
