Friday, 31 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > Black Death Plague Bacterium Became Less Fatal thanks to Just One Genetic Tweak
Tech and Science

Black Death Plague Bacterium Became Less Fatal thanks to Just One Genetic Tweak

Last updated: June 2, 2025 2:20 pm
Share
Black Death Plague Bacterium Became Less Fatal thanks to Just One Genetic Tweak
SHARE

The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is infamous for causing the Black Death that wiped out millions of people in the mid-fourteenth century. However, a recent study published in Science reveals that a small genetic tweak in this deadly bacterium has made it less fatal but potentially more transmissible.

Researchers found that reducing the copies of a gene called pla in Y. pestis resulted in a less severe form of the disease. This genetic change may have allowed the bacterium to spread more easily in smaller populations. The study’s co-author, Ravneet Sidhu, a palaeogeneticist at McMaster University, describes this as a case where a pandemic-causing pathogen has evolved to become slightly weaker.

To investigate the impact of this genetic modification, the research team infected mice with different strains of Y. pestis. Mice infected with the strain with reduced levels of pla lived longer and had a lower mortality rate compared to those infected with the normal strain. However, when the bacteria were introduced through different routes, such as intravenously or through the nose, the reduced pla strain was as deadly as the normal strain.

Analysis of ancient and modern strains of Y. pestis revealed that between 30% and 50% of these strains showed signs of pla depletion. The researchers identified a specific region in the genome where a 2,100-base-pair-long segment containing the pla gene had been deleted. This deletion, along with the integration of a DNA molecule called a plasmid, led to the reduction of pla in certain strains.

Francesca Short, a microbiologist at Monash University, emphasizes the significance of these findings, highlighting how small genetic changes can have a substantial impact on pathogen transmission. She notes that even minor alterations like the dosage change in pla can affect virulence and transmission potential.

See also  Do black holes exist and, if not, what have we really been looking at?

While the study sheds light on the evolution of Y. pestis and its implications for disease spread, Sidhu cautions against extrapolating these findings to other pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Each pathogen has its unique characteristics, and further research is necessary to understand how different diseases evolve and behave.

This study underscores the complex interplay between genetics, virulence, and transmission in infectious diseases. By unraveling the genetic mechanisms that shape the evolution of pathogens like Y. pestis, researchers can gain insights into how these microorganisms adapt and survive in changing environments.

TAGGED:bacteriumBlackdeathfatalgeneticplaguetweak
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Opportunities in June 2025 Opportunities in June 2025
Next Article Merck held talks to buy Swiss biotech MoonLake for more than bn Merck held talks to buy Swiss biotech MoonLake for more than $3bn
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

Motorola Moto G15 review: Big battery, small price tag

The Moto G15 is a budget smartphone offering from Motorola, priced at just under £140.…

April 22, 2025

Despite California Opposition, ICE, Federal Agents Arresting Violent Criminals

Credit: Screenshot via Wall Street Apes X In a dramatic tango between state legislation and…

March 25, 2025

7 Things About Alcohol That Many Students And Their Parents Don’t Know

College students and alcohol consumption have been a topic of concern for years. A recent…

March 24, 2025

Deaths related to the cold have grown since 1999 in the U.S.

Hypothermia can cause confusion, drowsiness, shivering, slurred speech, and eventually lead to organ failure and…

December 29, 2024

125 Positive Words of Encouragement for Kids

It's okay to have a bad day. Let's make tomorrow better." class="wp-image-1496321" style="width:800px" srcset="https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/Positive-Words-of-Encourgement-8.jpg 1080w,…

June 30, 2025

You Might Also Like

SOC teams face 51-second breach reality—Manual response times are officially dead
Tech and Science

SOC teams face 51-second breach reality—Manual response times are officially dead

October 31, 2025
The New Scientist Book Club’s verdict on Our Brains, Our Selves: A mix of praise and misgivings
Tech and Science

The New Scientist Book Club’s verdict on Our Brains, Our Selves: A mix of praise and misgivings

October 31, 2025
Tech Advisor December 2025 Digital Magazine
Tech and Science

Tech Advisor December 2025 Digital Magazine

October 31, 2025
Scientists Identified a New Blood Group After a 50-Year Mystery : ScienceAlert
Tech and Science

Scientists Identified a New Blood Group After a 50-Year Mystery : ScienceAlert

October 31, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?