New insights into Zebra mussel attachment fibers offer potential solutions to combat invasive species

A recent study by researchers in Canada and Germany has uncovered an unusual event that occurred over 12 million years ago, playing a significant role in shaping one of Canada's most damaging invasive species—the zebra and quagga mussels of the Dreissenid family. These mussels, invasive throughout North America, pose a threat to native ecosystems by competing for resources and contributing to biofouling on surfaces. The study suggests that a bacterium likely transferred genetic material into a single mussel over 12 million years ago, giving its descendants the ability to produce fibrous anchors called byssus, crucial for their attachment in freshwater habitats. Understanding this evolutionary aspect could help improve strategies against biofouling.

The research on invasive mussels and their attachment mechanisms not only contributes to understanding mussel evolution and biofouling but also holds promise for developing novel materials. The study, led by Professor Matthew Harrington, co-director of the McGill Institute of Advanced Materials, suggests that Dreissenid byssus fibers, akin to spider silk structurally, could inspire the development of robust polymer fibers. These fibers, formed by massive coiled-coil proteins, transform into silk-like beta crystallites through simple stretching forces during formation. This discovery presents a potential pathway for biotechnological manufacturing of sustainable fibers, offering an alternative to the dominant use of artificial spider silks in textiles and technical plastics. Head to McGill University’s article on Phys Org to learn more https://phys.org/news/2023-12-insights-zebra-mussel-fibers-potential.html