Friday, June 13, 2014

Ants and antibiotics | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2014



Our exhibit explains the origins of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes using leafcutter ant colonies as a model. We also explain where the next generation of antibiotics will come from. Two thirds of the antibiotics and anticancer compounds used in medicine are derived from the natural products of soil-dwelling actinomycete bacteria. Remarkably, leaf-cutter ants house symbiotic actinomycete bacteria on their cuticles and use their antibiotics to protect themselves and their fungus gardens. The fungus is nourished with foraged leaf material and then used to feed the ant larvae and queen. The ants have been using antibiotics to grow their fungus for 50 million years.
Ants and antibiotics | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2014

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