Tiny Titans: How Bdelloid Rotifers May Aid in Antimicrobial Resistance Battle

A microscopic animal, bdelloid rotifers, has been discovered to use horizontally transferred genes to fight off infections, offering potential shortcuts in developing new antimicrobial treatments. Researchers from Oxford and the University of Stirling discovered that these rotifers turn on numerous stolen genes when exposed to deadly fungal diseases, potentially paving the way for new antimicrobial drugs.

A microscopic animal, bdelloid rotifers, could offer a breakthrough in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Researchers from Oxford and the University of Stirling have found that these creatures use horizontally transferred genes to combat infections, a discovery detailed in their recent paper.

More than 1.2 million people die annually from drug-resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance is worsening, prompting the World Health Organization to call for new drug development. Bdelloid rotifers, which live in freshwater environments worldwide, have stolen genes from various life forms, including bacteria and fungi, for millions of years. This gene theft turns them into tiny pharmaceutical factories, producing antimicrobial agents naturally.

When exposed to deadly fungal diseases, bdelloid rotifers activate hundreds of these stolen genes to fight infection. As these tiny animals adapt these genes for their use, their antimicrobial recipes could be safer for humans. This revelation hints that bdelloid rotifers might be a valuable ally in developing treatments for resistant infections, potentially speeding up the approval process for new drugs.

(With inputs from agencies.)