A surprising discovery: this tiny organism can survive the most extreme radiation

© Nejc Košir/Pexels

An international team of researchers has just unraveled the mysteries of the resistance of a new species of tardigrade, tiny animals that can survive conditions no other organism can endure. The scientists reported their work on October 25, publishing in the journal ScienceThese microscopic creatures are present in almost all terrestrial and aquatic environments, and can withstand extreme situations: space vacuum, severe temperatures, high pressures, and even radiation. This incredible robustness is due to their disposition to enter a state of cryptobiosis, where their metabolism is almost at a standstill.

The discovery of the genetic secrets of this extraordinary resistance could find very promising applications, particularly for medicine and space exploration.

A microscopic superhero with a unique genetic heritage

In the Funiu Mountains of China's Henan province, scientists have identified a previously unknown species of tardigrade, named Hypsibius henanensis. Its genetic sequencing reveals an arsenal of 14,701 genes, nearly a third of which are specific to these “water bears” as they are called.

Even more impressive, these creatures can withstand doses of radiation a thousand times higher than the lethal threshold for the human species. Faced with radiation, these creatures deploy an extraordinary defense mechanism. Exposed to doses of 200 to 2,000 Gy (a unit of measurement used in radiology to quantify the dose absorbed by a material exposed to ionizing radiation), an extremely high dose, these organisms simultaneously activate 2,801 specialized genes.

This genetic response triggers three lines of defense: repairing damaged DNA, maintaining cell division, and strengthening immune responses. A real molecular armor that gives them this unique resistance in the animal kingdom.

Another tardigrade species, similar to Hypsibius henanensis. © Robert Schuster/Science Photo Library

A sophisticated cellular machinery

To illustrate the extent of this cellular reorganization, Professor Bob Goldstein of the University of North Carolina uses a telling metaphor: that of a factory that, in time of war, redirects all its production to the military effort. At the heart of this defensive system, researchers have identified a previously unknown key player: the TRID gene.

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The latter acts as a commander gene, recruiting specialized proteins to repair the most serious DNA breaks. However, the most astonishing discovery concerns the very origin of certain tardigrade genes. Between 0.5 and 3.1% of its genetic heritage comes from other organisms, mainly bacteria. An evolutionary “borrowing” that has proven particularly advantageous: it allows it to produce betalains, antioxidant pigments that neutralize up to 70% of cellular damage caused by radiation.

Revolutionary medical applications in perspective

The potential applications of this discovery are of course arousing enthusiasm in the scientific community. In the medical field, a first promising breakthrough has already been achieved: researchers have succeeded in improving the resistance of human cells to radiation by treating them with betalains from tardigrades. ” This discovery could improve the stress tolerance of human cells, benefiting patients undergoing radiotherapy ,” says Dr. Lingqiang Zhang, co-author of the study.

The protective mechanisms of the tardigrade could notably rsolve the thorny problem of vaccine preservation. Understanding how the tardigrade protects its proteins and genetic material during these extreme periods could inspire new techniques to stabilize vaccines and thus extend their shelf life.

On the space exploration side, these discoveries suggest new solutions for protect astronauts from cosmic radiation during long-duration missions. Such as those planned to reach the planet Mars, for example.

The best is yet to come; the discovery of Hypsibius henanensis is only the first step in a vast scientific project. Of the 1,500 known species of tardigrades, only a handful have been studied in detail. Professor Nadja Møbjerg from the University of Copenhagen stresses the importance of expanding this research to other species. Who knows what else these little bears are hiding from us ?

• Researchers have discovered a new species of tardigrade, Hypsibius henanensis, with exceptional resistance to radiation enabled by unique genetic mechanisms.
• Scientists have identified the TRID gene, a key element in DNA repair, and antioxidant betalains that reduce cellular damage.
• These discoveries could revolutionize medicine (improving cellular resistance in radiotherapy) and space exploration (protection against radiation).

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