The mud-dwelling clam Meretrix petechialis secretes endogenously synthesized erythromycin.

ABSTRACT: Although lacking an adaptive immune system and often living in habitats with dense and diverse bacterial populations, marine invertebrates thrive in the presence of potentially challenging microbial pathogens. However, the mechanisms underlying this resistance remain largely unexplored and promise to reveal novel strategies of microbial resistance. Here, we provide evidence that a mud-dwelling clam, Meretrix petechialis, synthesizes, stores, and secretes the antibiotic erythromycin. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA interference, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that this potent macrolide antimicrobial, thought to be synthesized only by microorganisms, is produced by specific mucus-rich ce

SUBMITTER: Yue X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9894158 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature