Bdelloid rotifers
Microscopic freshwater animals ("crawling wheel-animals").
Simpler body structure than other animals (head, mouth, gut, muscles, nerves).
Defense Mechanism:
Acquire genes from bacteria and other microbes over millions of years (horizontal gene transfer).
New study shows they activate these acquired genes to fight infections.
Genes produce antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents.
First known example of animals using "stolen" genes for large-scale disease defense.
Potential Benefits for Humans:
Acquired genes are unique and not found in other animals.
Rotifers might be producing novel antibiotics with less toxicity to humans.
This discovery could aid the search for new drugs to fight bacterial and fungal infections.
Challenges of Current Antibiotics:
Many antibiotics come from bacteria and fungi.
These natural antibiotics can be poisonous or have side effects in humans.
Hope for the Future:
Studying rotifers might lead to the development of safer and more effective antibiotics for humans.
COMMENTS