新南威尔士大学研究团队在澳大利亚鲨鱼湾的叠层石中发现了一种古菌Nerearchaeum marumarumayae，并首次获得了Asgard古菌与细菌通过纳米管物理相连的直接影像证据1。这项研究成果已发表于《Current Biology》2026年第36卷第8期1。
这两种微生物通过纳米管进行物质交换，共同交换维生素、营养物质和氢气等化合物1。研究人员采用电子低温断层扫描技术进行高分辨率三维成像，分辨率达到百万分之一毫米，使得这种微观合作关系得以清晰呈现1。新物种的命名结合了古希腊海神Nereus与Malgana语言中表示"古老之家"的marumarumayae1。
该研究耗时四至五年才在实验室中成功培养出这种微生物1。参与研究的科学家表示，这种伙伴关系可能揭示了数十亿年前复杂细胞如何首次出现的进化谜团，为理解真核生物如何从相对简单的微生物生命形式演化而来提供了关键线索1。
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have discovered direct visual evidence of a physical connection between Asgard archaea and bacteria, offering new insights into the evolution of complex cellular life. The team identified a previously unknown archaeal species, Nerearchaeum marumarumayae, within stromatolites collected from Shark Bay in Australia, and captured high-resolution three-dimensional images showing the two microorganisms linked by nanometer-scale tubes through which they exchange vitamins, nutrients, and hydrogen compounds.1 This symbiotic relationship may provide a crucial clue to understanding how eukaryotic cells first emerged billions of years ago.1
The research, published in Current Biology in 2026 (volume 36, issue 8, page 2090), required four to five years of laboratory cultivation to successfully grow the microorganisms before analysis could begin.1 Scientists employed cryo-electron tomography to achieve imaging resolution down to one-millionth of a millimeter, revealing the precise architecture of the nanotube connections between the ancient microbes.1 A/Prof. Ghosal noted that the finding "brings us a few steps closer towards understanding how complex cells evolved from relatively simpler microbial life forms."1
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