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5 changes: 3 additions & 2 deletions src/components/pages/ArticlePage.tsx
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { articleContent } from '@/content/articles'
import type { ArticleSlug } from '@/data/articles'
import { getArticleBySlug } from '@/data/articles'
import { site } from '@/data/site'
import { SpeciesHighlight } from '@/components/shared/SpeciesHighlight'

interface ArticlePageProps {
slug: ArticleSlug
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -70,11 +71,11 @@ export function ArticlePage({ slug }: ArticlePageProps) {
</div>

<h1 className="mb-6 font-serif text-[clamp(36px,5vw,60px)] leading-[1.1] font-normal tracking-[-0.02em] text-[var(--text)]">
{article.title}
<SpeciesHighlight text={article.title} />
</h1>

<div className="mb-10 font-serif text-[20px] leading-[1.5] font-normal text-[var(--muted)] italic">
{article.subtitle}
<SpeciesHighlight text={article.subtitle} />
</div>

<div className="flex items-center gap-8 border-t border-b border-[var(--border)] py-6">
Expand Down
9 changes: 7 additions & 2 deletions src/components/sections/WritingSection.tsx
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
import Link from 'next/link'

import { SectionHeader } from '@/components/shared/SectionHeader'
import { SpeciesHighlight } from '@/components/shared/SpeciesHighlight'
import { articles } from '@/data/articles'
import { type } from '@/lib/typography'

Expand All @@ -27,9 +28,13 @@ export function WritingSection() {
>
<div className={`mb-4 ${type.eyebrow}`}>{article.tag}</div>

<div className={`mb-4 ${type.cardTitle}`}>{article.title}</div>
<div className={`mb-4 ${type.cardTitle}`}>
<SpeciesHighlight text={article.title} />
</div>

<div className={`mb-6 ${type.body}`}>{article.excerpt}</div>
<div className={`mb-6 ${type.body}`}>
<SpeciesHighlight text={article.excerpt} />
</div>

<div className="mb-6 flex flex-wrap gap-[0.4rem]">
{article.chips.map((chip) => (
Expand Down
38 changes: 38 additions & 0 deletions src/components/shared/SpeciesHighlight.tsx
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
import type { ReactNode } from 'react'

export const speciesClassName = 'text-[var(--accent)] italic'

export function SpeciesEm({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
return <em className={speciesClassName}>{children}</em>
}

const speciesPattern = /(Picrophilus torridus|P\.\s*[Tt]orridus)/g

function formatSpeciesMatch(match: string) {
return /^P\./i.test(match) ? 'P. torridus' : match
}

export function SpeciesHighlight({ text }: { text: string }) {
const parts: ReactNode[] = []
let lastIndex = 0

for (const match of text.matchAll(speciesPattern)) {
const index = match.index ?? 0

if (index > lastIndex) {
parts.push(text.slice(lastIndex, index))
}

parts.push(
<SpeciesEm key={index}>{formatSpeciesMatch(match[0])}</SpeciesEm>,
)

lastIndex = index + match[0].length
}

if (lastIndex < text.length) {
parts.push(text.slice(lastIndex))
}

return <>{parts}</>
}
90 changes: 48 additions & 42 deletions src/content/articles/p-torridus-extremophile.tsx
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
import { SpeciesEm } from '@/components/shared/SpeciesHighlight'

export function PTorridusContent() {
return (
<>
Expand All @@ -10,8 +12,9 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {
<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
What&apos;s interesting about the domain of life is that extremities exist. We have life
forms that can survive in conditions at the ends of the ranges of the various conditions that
define the existence of life. One of these life forms is <em>Picrophilus torridus</em> (P.
Torridus) of phylum Euryarchaeota. P. Torridus, first extracted from moderately
define the existence of life. One of these life forms is{' '}
<SpeciesEm>Picrophilus torridus</SpeciesEm> (<SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm>) of phylum
Euryarchaeota. <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm>, first extracted from moderately
high-temperature hydrothermal areas in solfataric fields in Hokkaido, Japan, are known to
grow in regions of pH around 0 and temperatures between 47 and 65 degrees Celsius.
</p>
Expand All @@ -21,20 +24,20 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {
</h2>

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
Thermoacidophile P. Torridus was discovered by Dr. Christa Schleper and her colleagues in
1995 among the wet layers of coal in the acidic and geothermally heated fields of the
solfataras. P. Torridus is an aerobic life form, hence discovered in the oxygenous upper
layers of coal. The acid that gives the solfataric fields their acidic behavior is sulfuric
acid, produced from the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide.
Thermoacidophile <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> was discovered by Dr. Christa Schleper
and her colleagues in 1995 among the wet layers of coal in the acidic and geothermally heated
fields of the solfataras. <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> is an aerobic life form, hence
discovered in the oxygenous upper layers of coal. The acid that gives the solfataric fields
their acidic behavior is sulfuric acid, produced from the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide.
</p>

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
The fact that P. Torridus, together with Picrophilus oshimae, could grow in these highly
acidic and hot environments makes it one of the most thermoacidophilic organisms known to
exist. Most organisms cannot grow in these conditions — low intracellular pH values denature
protein structures, leading to cell death through reactions between peptide linkages and
hydronium ions. High temperatures weaken the hydrogen bonding that gives proteins their
structure and functionality.
The fact that <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm>, together with Picrophilus oshimae, could
grow in these highly acidic and hot environments makes it one of the most thermoacidophilic
organisms known to exist. Most organisms cannot grow in these conditions — low intracellular
pH values denature protein structures, leading to cell death through reactions between
peptide linkages and hydronium ions. High temperatures weaken the hydrogen bonding that gives
proteins their structure and functionality.
</p>

<h2 className="mt-12 mb-5 font-serif text-[28px] font-normal tracking-[-0.01em] text-[var(--text)]">
Expand All @@ -43,10 +46,10 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
We&apos;ve established that acidic and high-temperature environments are destructive to
proteins. But how does P. Torridus keep its proteins functional in such an environment?
Little is known about the complete mechanisms by which these organisms combat their
environment. However, P. Torridus maintains an intracellular pH of about 4-5 pH units above
the extracellular pH.
proteins. But how does <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> keep its proteins functional in
such an environment? Little is known about the complete mechanisms by which these organisms
combat their environment. However, <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> maintains an
intracellular pH of about 4-5 pH units above the extracellular pH.
</p>

<div
Expand All @@ -66,19 +69,21 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
This hypothesis is supported by the evident use of secondary cation transporters, especially
potassium ions, in the sequenced genome of P. Torridus. The genome also contains genes that
encode for enzymes that degrade organic acids — another pH correction mechanism.
potassium ions, in the sequenced genome of <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm>. The genome also
contains genes that encode for enzymes that degrade organic acids — another pH correction
mechanism.
</p>

<h3 className="mt-10 mb-4 font-sans text-[13px] font-semibold tracking-[0.1em] text-[var(--accent2)] uppercase">
Combating High Temperatures
</h3>

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
We&apos;ve explored how P. Torridus thrives in low pH regions, but how does it combat high
temperatures? The genome of P. Torridus offers insights. These microorganisms have the
smallest genome among all aerobic non-parasitic microorganisms, with one of the highest
coding densities compared to other extremophiles like Thermoplasma acidophilum.
We&apos;ve explored how <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> thrives in low pH regions, but how
does it combat high temperatures? The genome of <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> offers
insights. These microorganisms have the smallest genome among all aerobic non-parasitic
microorganisms, with one of the highest coding densities compared to other extremophiles like
Thermoplasma acidophilum.
</p>

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
Expand All @@ -93,29 +98,29 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {
</h2>

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
The existence of P. Torridus is not by mere coincidence. This microorganism evolved under
the selective pressure of both low pH and high temperatures. The key features that resulted
from these pressures are the very small genome size and its high coding density. This can be
deduced by comparing P. Torridus with closely related extremophiles like Sulfolobus
solfataricus and Thermoplasma volcanii.
The existence of <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> is not by mere coincidence. This
microorganism evolved under the selective pressure of both low pH and high temperatures. The
key features that resulted from these pressures are the very small genome size and its high
coding density. This can be deduced by comparing <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> with
closely related extremophiles like Sulfolobus solfataricus and Thermoplasma volcanii.
</p>

<p className="mb-7 font-mono text-[14px] leading-[2] font-light text-[rgba(240,237,230,0.75)]">
The genome contains a large proportion of genes encoding protein transporters, particularly
gradient-driven secondary transporters, suggesting adaptation to use the pH difference
between the inner cell membrane and extracellular regions. We can conceptualize the
phenotype of P. Torridus by studying the selective pressures that led to its evolution: low
pH and high temperature.
phenotype of <SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> by studying the selective pressures that led
to its evolution: low pH and high temperature.
</p>

<div className="my-12 flex items-center justify-center gap-4 font-mono text-[16px] tracking-[0.5em] text-[var(--dim)]">
· · ·
</div>

<p className="mb-10 font-serif text-[20px] leading-[1.6] font-normal text-[var(--text)] italic">
P. Torridus is an aerobic, non-parasitic, and thermoacidophilic microorganism that presents
one of the most extreme examples of life, stretching the boundaries where life was once
thought impossible.
<SpeciesEm>P. torridus</SpeciesEm> is an aerobic, non-parasitic, and thermoacidophilic
microorganism that presents one of the most extreme examples of life, stretching the
boundaries where life was once thought impossible.
</p>

<h3 className="mt-12 mb-4 font-sans text-[13px] font-semibold tracking-[0.1em] text-[var(--accent2)] uppercase">
Expand All @@ -128,18 +133,18 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {
text: (
<>
Angelov, A., & Liebl, W. (2006). Insights into extreme thermoacidophily based on
genome analysis of Picrophilus torridus and other thermoacidophilic archaea.{' '}
<em>Journal of Biotechnology</em>, 126(1), 3-10.
genome analysis of <SpeciesEm>Picrophilus torridus</SpeciesEm> and other
thermoacidophilic archaea. <em>Journal of Biotechnology</em>, 126(1), 3-10.
</>
),
href: 'https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2006.02.011',
},
{
text: (
<>
Fütterer, O., et al. (2004). Genome sequence of Picrophilus torridus and its
implications for life around pH 0. <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences</em>, 101(24), 9091-9096.
Fütterer, O., et al. (2004). Genome sequence of{' '}
<SpeciesEm>Picrophilus torridus</SpeciesEm> and its implications for life around pH
0. <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>, 101(24), 9091-9096.
</>
),
href: 'https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0401356101',
Expand All @@ -157,10 +162,11 @@ export function PTorridusContent() {
{
text: (
<>
Schleper, C., et al. (1996). Picrophilus oshimae and Picrophilus torridus fam. nov.,
gen. nov., sp. nov., two species of hyperacidophilic, thermophilic, heterotrophic,
aerobic archaea. <em>International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary
Microbiology</em>, 46(3), 814-816.
Schleper, C., et al. (1996). Picrophilus oshimae and{' '}
<SpeciesEm>Picrophilus torridus</SpeciesEm> fam. nov., gen. nov., sp. nov., two
species of hyperacidophilic, thermophilic, heterotrophic, aerobic archaea.{' '}
<em>International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology</em>, 46(3),
814-816.
</>
),
href: 'https://doi.org/10.1099/00207713-46-3-814',
Expand Down
2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion src/data/articles.ts
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ export const articles = [
{
slug: 'p-torridus-extremophile',
tag: 'Science · Biology',
title: 'Life at the Edge: How P. Torridus Survives at pH 0',
title: 'Life at the Edge: How P. torridus Survives at pH 0',
date: 'Feb 2024',
readTime: '6 min read',
excerpt:
Expand Down
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