"Researchers then honed in on a specific strain of bacteria called Streptomyces found in the nest material of all five termite colonies. When they introduced a disease-causing fungus into sterile nest-like environments, they found that the fungus survived and killed the termites. When the Streptomyces bacterium was added to the nest, it protected the termites. When they tested a different bacteria strain against the fungus, it had little effect, leading them to conclude that the Streptomyces bacteria found in the nests may aid the termites by producing beneficial antimicrobial compounds, while feeding on the termite fecal nest."
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 03:48:33 +0000
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