Why do arthropods secrete β-lactams?

Most of the antibiotics we use have been generated by bacteria or fungi, illustrating the continuous war of the microbiological worlds [1]. Interestingly, until recently, the ability of animals to secrete β-lactams, especially penicillin, was completely unknown. Recent work has shown that Collembola springtails, especially Folsomia candida, are capable of producing penicillin (isopenicillin N and two cephamycin C), although this seemed completely unlikely before [2]. The origin of these β-lactams i s unknown, but the non-ribosomal proteins synthetase encoding these β-lactams appear to be extremely archaic and originate with genes secreted by fungi and bacteria in a deep and independent root.
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Hot Topic Source Type: research