Discovery could lead to new avenues for antibiotic development due to increasing resistance.
Rotifers live in freshwater environments and have been acquiring DNA from surroundings for millions of years.
Scientists discover tiny animals called bdelloid rotifers produce their own antibiotics using stolen genes from bacteria.
Understanding how rotifers produce their own antibiotics could provide valuable insights in quest for new antibiotics.
When exposed to fungal infections, rotifers switch on borrowed genes to produce resistance weapons such as antibiotics and antimicrobial agents.
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have found that tiny animals called bdelloid rotifers use genes stolen from bacteria to produce their own antibiotics. These microscopic creatures, which live in freshwater environments, have been acquiring DNA from their surroundings for millions of years. When exposed to fungal infections, they switch on hundreds of these borrowed genes and use them to produce resistance weapons such as antibiotics and antimicrobial agents.
The researchers from the University of Oxford, the University of Stirling, and the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) made this discovery by studying rotifers' unique class of enzymes called non-ribosomal peptides. These enzymes assemble amino acids into small molecules for self-defense. The team identified multiple non-ribosomally synthesized peptides produced by bdelloid rotifers and established the conditions upon which their synthesis can be induced.
This discovery could lead to new avenues for antibiotic development, as antibiotics are becoming less effective due to resistance. The researchers believe that understanding how these tiny animals produce their own antibiotics could provide valuable insights in this quest. Additionally, the rotifers' unique survival strategy demonstrates the remarkable adaptability of life at microscopic scales.
The study was published in Nature Communications and provides a new perspective on the evolution of antibiotic resistance and production in nature. It also highlights the importance of continued research into these fascinating creatures.
Rotifers protect themselves from infections using antibiotic recipes ‘stolen’ from bacteria.
, Rotifers switch on hundreds of genes acquired from bacteria and other microbes when exposed to fungal infection.
, Some of these genes produce resistance weapons such as antibiotics and antimicrobial agents in the rotifers.
, Rotifers have been acquiring DNA from their surroundings for millions of years, but this is the first study to discover them using these genes against diseases.
, The new study suggests that rotifers might be producing novel antimicrobials that may be less toxic to animals, including humans.
, Rotifers use an unusual class of enzymes called non-ribosomal peptides to assemble amino acids into small molecules for self-defense.
, The next phase of research should involve identification of multiple non-ribosomally synthesized peptides produced by bdelloid rotifers and establishment of the conditions upon which their synthesis can be induced.
, Rotifers have no sex, and their mothers lay eggs that hatch into genetic copies of themselves. This lack of sexual reproduction may explain why they have borrowed so many genes, especially anything that helps them cope with infections.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when the authors state, 'The team reports its findings in Nature Communications.' This statement implies that because the research was published in Nature Communications, it must be valid or true. However, publication in a reputable journal does not automatically make the research correct.
The team reports its findings in Nature Communications.
A group of microscopic animals called bdelloid rotifers have spent millions of years copying recipes for antibiotics from bacteria and using them to fight infections.
These tiny animals could offer shortcuts in the race to develop antimicrobial treatments, potentially aiding in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
Rotifers switch on hundreds of stolen genes to fight infections, with the most strongly activated genes resembling instructions for antimicrobial chemicals.
The rotifers' DNA contains 30 or 40 more chemical recipes on standby, which look different from any known antibiotics and could be used to treat resistant infections.
Rotifers may have adapted or selected these chemical recipes to be safer for other animals, including humans.
Accuracy
Rotifers switch on hundreds of stolen genes to fight infections
Some of these genes produce resistance weapons such as antibiotics and antimicrobial agents
Rotifers have been acquiring DNA from their surroundings for millions of years
Rotifers activate hundreds of borrowed genes when exposed to fungal infections.
Some of the activated genes produce antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents.
Rotifers have developed a unique survival strategy by picking up DNA from their environment over millions of years.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains one instance of an appeal to authority fallacy when David Mark Welch states 'This raises the potential that rotifers are producing novel antimicrobials that may be less toxic to animals, including humans, than those we develop from bacteria and fungi.' This statement implies that because Welch is a senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory, his opinion on the potential of rotifers as a source for new antibiotics is valid. However, this does not necessarily mean that his opinion is correct or based on factual evidence.
David Mark Welch states 'This raises the potential that rotifers are producing novel antimicrobials that may be less toxic to animals, including humans, than those we develop from bacteria and fungi.'
Small freshwater animals called bdelloid rotifers protect themselves from infections using antibiotic recipes stolen from bacteria.
These tiny creatures acquire hundreds of genes from bacteria and other microbes when exposed to fungal infection, producing resistance weapons such as antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents.
The team found that rotifers have been picking up DNA from their surroundings for millions of years, but this is the first study to discover them using these genes against diseases.
No other animals are known to steal genes from microbes on such a large scale.
Rotifers might provide important clues in the hunt for drugs to treat human infections caused by bacteria or fungi as antibiotics are becoming less effective due to resistance.
The genes the rotifers acquired from bacteria encode an unusual class of enzymes that assemble amino acids into small molecules called non-ribosomal peptides.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains an appeal to authority with the quotes from lead study author Chris Wilson and study co-author David Mark Welch. They state that the rotifers have acquired genes from bacteria and other microbes that produce resistance weapons such as antibiotics. The authors are experts in their field and their statements are valid, but they do not provide any evidence or reasoning to support this claim beyond their own observations.
When we translated the DNA code to see what the stolen genes were doing, we had a surprise. The main genes were instructions for chemicals that we didn’t think animals could make – they looked like recipes for antibiotics.
These complex genes – some of which aren’t found in any other animals – were acquired from bacteria but have undergone evolution in rotifers.
