Algae inside blood vessels could act as oxygen factories

An unconventional way to get O₂ to nerve cells might one day aid stroke patients

tadpole

Light-sensitive live algae (a type of cyanobacteria called Synechocystis) injected into a tadpole moves through its blood vessels, tinging them green.

S. Özugur, H. Straka

CHICAGO — It’s a strange mash-up, but it works: Algae living inside tadpoles’ blood vessels can pump out oxygen for nearby oxygen-starved nerve cells.