Life-Saving Antibiotics Derived from Ants: A Novel Treatment for Infected Wounds”
For quite some time, the Antibiotics properties of chemicals produced by certain ant species have been recognized. In a groundbreaking observation, the Matabele ant (Megaponera analis) has been documented utilizing these chemicals to treat infected wounds sustained during termite raids.
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Antibiotics
Originating from various regions in Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the Matabele ant exclusively feeds on termites, necessitating periodic raids on nearby termite colonies. The soldier termites in these colonies pose a formidable defense, inflicting substantial wounds on the invading ants, which, if left untreated, can lead to the death of the injured ants.
An international team of researchers uncovered a remarkable adaptation in the Matabele ants. When the wounds of the ants become infected, the hydrocarbon profile of their cuticle undergoes detectable changes. Other ants in the colony respond to these changes by extracting an antibiotic secretion from their metapleural glands, situated on the sides of their thorax. Subsequently, they apply this antibiotic substance to the wounded area using their mandibles.
Lab tests revealed that the application of the ant-derived antibiotic liquid significantly reduced the mortality rate of infected ants by approximately 90%. Notably, one prevalent bacteria type causing infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is frequently associated with antibiotic-resistant infections in humans. Consequently, the researchers are exploring the identification of specific antibiotics produced by these ants for potential use in human medicine.
Dr. Erik Frank from Germany’s Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, who led the research alongside Prof. Laurent Keller from Switzerland’s University of Lausanne, remarked, “With the exception of humans, I know of no other living creature that can carry out such sophisticated medical wound treatments.” This discovery underscores the remarkable and intricate medical adaptations present in the natural world, offering potential insights for human medical advancements.
