Ants found to use multiple antibiotics as weed killers
Scientists at the University of East Anglia, have shown that fungus-farming ants are using multiple antibiotics as weed killers to maintain their fungus gardens.Research led by Dr Matt Hutchings and published today in the journal BMC Biology shows that ants use the antibiotics to inhibit the growth of unwanted fungi and bacteria in their fungus cultures which they use to feed their larvae and queen.These antibiotics are produced by actinomycete bacteria that live on the ants in a mutual symbiosis.Although these ants have been studied for more than 100 years this is the first demonstration that a single ant colony uses multiple antibiotics and is reminiscent of the use of multidrug therapy to treat infections in humans.The work, which was funded by the UK Medical Research Council, has also identified a new antibiotic that could be used to treat fungal infections.Fungiculture in the insect world is practiced by ants, termites, beetles and gall midges.Dr Hutchings? research investigates the Acromyrmex octospino
Ants found to use multiple antibiotics as weed killers
Scientists at the University of East Anglia, have shown that fungus-farming ants are using multiple antibiotics as weed killers to maintain their fungus gardens.
Thu 26 Aug 10 from PhysOrg
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Ants use multiple antibiotics to protect their colonies
Scientists in England have discovered that the leaf cutter ant uses multiple antibiotic-creating bacteria to protect its larvae and queen from ...
Fri 27 Aug 10 from USA today
Ants use multiple antibiotics as weed killers
Fungus-farming ants are using multiple antibiotics as weed killers to maintain their fungus gardens, according to new research. This is reminiscent of the use of multi-drug therapy to treat ...
Thu 26 Aug 10 from ScienceDaily
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