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Strange virus-like replicators discovered in the human gut

A previously unknown type of replicating agent named "obelisksā€ has been found in genomic data from stool samples – but we know little about what these entities do

By Michael Marshall

29 January 2024

Streptococcus sanguinis bacteria, which live in the mouth, may host replicators named obelisks

UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

A previously unknown type of replicating agent, far smaller and simpler than a virus, has been found in the human gut. These entities have been called ā€œobelisksā€ by their discoverers.

The obelisks are a ā€œcompletely new categoryā€, says at the Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection in Bari, Italy, who wasn’t involved in the find. She calls them ā€œa very impressive discoveryā€ that ā€œopens thousands…

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