Multiple origins and functions: evolutionary pathways of HSP70 proteins in viruses Heat shock protein 70s (HSP70s) are highly conserved molecular chaperones found across all domains of life, where they play essential roles in cellular stress responses. Whilst HSP70 homologues have been previously identified in closteroviruses that have ssRNA genomes, their broader presence and evolutionary history in viruses remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive search of viral protein databases and identified HSP70 homologues in viruses beyond those with ssRNA genomes, including examples with dsDNA genomes in the class Megaviricete. These viral HSP70s exhibit diverse gene organizations, copy numbers and structural features. Notably, HSP70s of viruses from Megaviricetes showed up to three gene copies per genome and distinct structural motifs, whilst those from closteroviruses displayed higher sequence and structural diversity, suggesting faster evolutionary rates. Structural and phylogenetic analyses revealed two major clusters of viral HSP70s, with dsDNA virus HSP70s closely resembling those of their protist hosts, supporting the hypothesis of horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, ssRNA virus HSP70s formed a distinct, highly divergent group. Our findings suggest multiple independent acquisitions of HSP70 genes by viruses and provide new insights into their evolutionary trajectories and potential functional adaptations.

Virus HSP70s show multiple independent origins, with distinct evolutionary paths in ssRNA and dsDNA viruses, highlighting #HorizontalGeneTransfer and functional diversification.🧬🔥#Virology #Evolution #HSP70 #MolecularEvolution
📄https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.002242
👤EVBC: Santiago F. Elena

Bacteriophages mobilize bacterial defense systems via lateral transduction Bacteriophages and PICIs spread bacterial defenses via lateral transduction, shaping microbial immunity and pathogen evolution.

Bacteriophages exploit lateral transduction to mobilize bacterial antiphage defense systems, reshaping how immune genes spread and influence pathogen evolution. 🦠🔁#Microbiology #Bacteriophage #HorizontalGeneTransfer #Evolution
📄 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adx5749
👤 EVBC member: José R. Penadés

Evolution and horizontal transfer of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster drive the diversification of magic mushrooms

#biosyntheticgenecluster
#fungaldiversity
#horizontalgenetransfer
#magicmushrooms
#psilocybin

www.mycosphere.org/pdf/MYCOSPHE...

Combination of Pesticide and Nitrogen Use in Agriculture Escalates the Spread of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog An important new study links pesticides, antibiotics, and nitrogen fertilizers to the extreme global crisis of antibiotic resistance, raising serious concerns about the adverse impacts of conventional...

⚠️ New research links #pesticides, #antibiotics, and #nitrogen #fertilizers to the crisis of #antibioticresistance, raising serious concerns about the adverse impacts of chemical-intensive #agriculture. #chlorpyrifos #azoxystrobin #propiconazole #horizontalgenetransfer ➡️ Blog: ow.ly/AfEH50Xcw4G

Bryophytes hold a larger gene family space than vascular plants - Nature Genetics A super-pangenome analysis incorporating 123 newly sequenced bryophyte genomes reveals that bryophytes exhibit a larger number of unique and lineage-specific gene families than vascular plants.

#HorizontalGeneTransfer analysis was possible thanks to this new super-pangenome, now including 123 newly sequenced bryophyte genomes 🌿🧬
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#Mosses #PlantGenomics #Bryophytes

Everyone wants a NAS! 🌿🦟

Leon Dirick & Bernard Goffinet uncovered the surprising history of NAS genes shaped by horizontal gene transfer, we revealed NAS key role in Physcomitrium patens.
👉 nature.com/articles/s41...
#Mosses #HorizontalGeneTransfer

Admittedly, breaking such a significant biochemical log-jam in #GMO plants seems likely to put natural plants at a significant ecological disadvantage. Unless someone's planning mass #HorizontalGeneTransfer for wild plants, this seems like a dangerous technology to release into the world.

Group Calls on Congress and EPA to Ban Pesticides Leading to Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Threat - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog (Beyond Pesticides, July 28, 2025) As the problem of antimicrobial-resistant infections continues to escalate to pandemic proportions, Beyond Pesticides is again calling on Congress and the federal go...

As the problem of antimicrobial-resistant infections continues to escalate, @beyondpesticides.org again calls on #Congress and the federal gov't to urgently start to eliminate the use of #pesticides that contribute to #antibiotic #resistance. #drift #horizontalgenetransfer ➡️ Blog: ow.ly/soVJ50Ww6VU

Extensive horizontal transfer of transposable elements shape fungal mobilomes
Belaunde, I. B., Romeijn, J. et al.
Paper
Details
#FungalMobilomes #TransposableElements #HorizontalGeneTransfer

I'm very happy to share the last paper from my previous postdoc with the amazing @epcrocha.bsky.social! Thanks to the reviewers for their feedback, which improved our work!
#Plasmids #AMR #HorizontalGeneTransfer #Evolution

Heard this story on NPR! Women scientists are badasses! My kids loved hearing how the female
bdelloid rotifer are resilient and use horizontal gene transfer to keep it fresh! Bow chicka wow wow! 🤣👩‍🎤💪
#rotifers #ecology #horizontalgenetransfer #npr #womeninscience

How the Bdelloid Rotifer Lived for Millennia — Without Sex As a child, I always wanted a microscope. I would have collected slimy waters from the scum ponds and murky puddles near my house. I would have brought them home and exposed them to the light of my…

How the bdelloid rotifer lived for millennia--without sex... #evolution #rotifers #ecology #DNArepair #horizontalgenetransfer #epigenetics ninamunteanu.me/2020/12/13/h...

How bacteria share genes and defy defenses A new study has uncovered how the defense mechanisms of bacteria can be neutralized, facilitating more efficient genetic material transfer.

How bacteria share genes and defy defenses: A new study has uncovered how the defense mechanisms of bacteria can be neutralized, facilitating more efficient genetic material transfer.

#HorizontalGeneTransfer #AntibioticResistance #BacterialDefense #Plasmids #GeneticExchange #EarthDotCom #Earth

Fruit flies have a new weapon to defend against parasitic wasps Fruit flies use a bacterial gene to protect against wasps, which threaten their larvae.The gene produces a toxin that kills wasp eggs.

Fruit flies use a bacterial gene to protect against wasps, which threaten their larvae.The gene produces a toxin that kills wasp eggs.

#FruitFlies #ParasiticWasps #HorizontalGeneTransfer #EvolutionaryBiology #InsectDefense #EarthDotCom #EarthSnap #Earth

3/4 has written extensively about #horizontalgenetransfer, which explains the movement of #antibiotic-resistant #bacteria throughout the environment, ultimately making their way to people as medically necessary drugs become ineffective.🦠

ow.ly/e2p550QoO04

Gene transfer among viruses substantially contributes to gene gain of giant viruses bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution

#horizontalGeneTransfer in #giantViruses likely plays a large role in gene gain/loss events, up to 28-42%!

#VirEvol #EvolSky

doi.org/10.1101/2023...