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Posted: 3rd September 2013

Ants offer lead on new antibiotics
Scientists study unusual sources for new drugs

Current research could offer solutions to antibiotic resistance, as scientists investigate some unusual sources for new drugs, such as ants, stick insects, soil and even potatoes.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich are studying South American leafcutter ants, most commonly known for marching in single file carrying leaf sections twice their size.

They can now be studied on "ant cam" as they manage their food source in the JIC insectary.

This research is at the very early stage but it is exciting to investigate new solutions to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Leafcutter ants do not eat the leaf sections from plants but transport them underground, where they decay and form a fungus garden.

The ants then protect this food source from unwanted microbes and parasites by cultivating bacteria on their own bodies to produce antibiotics. This also allows them to manage the growth of the fungus.

One such antibiotic discovered on the bodies of leafcutter ants is already used as an antifungal in modern medicine, but Dr Matthew Hutchings from the UEA hopes that brand new antibiotics could be discovered by studying the ants.

Scientists are also studying giant lime green stick insects, which feed on eucalyptus, and the death's head hawkmoth, which feeds primarily on potatoes.

Both of these food sources contain toxins which scientists believe could have antibacterial properties. Scientists know that the insects have been exposed to antibiotics through their food, as antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been found in their guts.

Researcher Katarzyna Ignasiak from the JIC, said: "This research is at the very early stage but it is exciting to investigate new solutions to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance."

Work with soil bacteria at the JIC is at a more advanced stage. Professor Melvyn Bibb and colleagues at the centre can now manipulate soil bacteria Actinomycetes to make new antibiotics.

Research carried out in Prof. Bibb's laboratory have contributed to the progression of an antibiotic to Phase II clinical trials by Novacta Biosystems, a spin-out company of JIC.

Click here to view the ant cam.



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