In the insect world, are there new ANT-ibiotics on the way?
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Like humans, wounded Matabele ants are at risk for deadly infections. Unlike MANY OF US, they have universal healthcare. But how?!
Erik Frank and team from the University of Lausanne investigated.
They injured ants and applied soil from their environment to their wounds. A treatment resistant bacteria was identified in wounds.
Then, half of the ants were isolated and the others were returned to their environment. NINETY-THREE percent of the isolated ants died within a day. But the ants that were returned to their environment survived over 90 percent of the time! Time to check the camera footage.
Turns out, video captured other ants depositing secretions onto the wounds. Over ONE HUNDRED different chemicals were identified in these natural secretions. This concoction reduced the bacterial growth by more than TWENTY-FIVE percent in the lab!
This secretion could inspire new antibiotics!
Someone give these ants a medical degree! Or at least class credits.
Reference: Frank, E. T., Kesner, L., Liberti, J., Helleu, Q., LeBoeuf, A. C., Dascalu, A., Sponsler, D. B., Azuma, F., Economo, E. P., Waridel, P., Engel, P., Schmitt, T., & Keller, L. (2023). Targeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in an ant society. Nature communications, 14(1), 8446. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43885-w