Technology

A tiny citrus pest is hiding a biological mystery never seen before

2025-12-03 00:47
308 views

Scientists have discovered a strange tubular structure inside Profftella, a symbiotic bacterium in the Asian citrus psyllid. These long, helical tubes, filled with ribosomes, show a complexity not typ...

Scientists have discovered a strange tubular structure inside Profftella, a symbiotic bacterium in the Asian citrus psyllid. These long, helical tubes, filled with ribosomes, show a complexity not typically found in bacteria. The discovery reshapes ideas about bacterial evolution and internal architecture. It may also help create targeted methods to control a major global citrus pest.