- Public health experts warn that germ pathogens are evolving to develop resistance to penicillin and other antimicrobial drugs.
- Microbiologist Dr Massimiliano Marvasi (University of Florence, Italy) studies ants for potential solutions.
- About 240 ant species protect their underground fungi farms by releasing powerful bacteria chemicals from their bodies.
- This bodily defense evolved from ants picking up random bacteria on the ground.
- The bacteria lives on ants’ thoraxes and, as they mature, the natural antimicrobial kills threats.
- Ants may inspire the creation of stronger antimicrobial treatments.
