GD Biotech is thrilled to share with you its latest publication entitled “Invasive beetle Merizodus soledadinus meets unexpected clinical Acinetobacter baumannii in subantarctic Kerguelen Archipelago soil”

A small beetle from South America, Merizodus soledadinus, has invaded the Kerguelen Islands since its accidental arrival in 1913. Its lifestyle and physiology are already well understood, but far less is known about how it interacts with microbes in its environment.

In this study, researchers isolated a bacterium from soil inhabited by this beetle. Genetic analysis revealed it to be Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterium commonly associated with humans and well known for its antibiotic resistance. Its presence in such a remote location suggests that it was introduced through human activity.

The scientists then investigated whether the beetle carried this bacterium within its body, which it does not. They also tested the insects’ ability to survive an infection with the bacterium. The results showed that:

• Beetles found at higher altitudes, where populations are small and isolated, have lower survival rates.
• By contrast, beetles living at lower altitudes, in areas more frequently visited by humans, show greater resistance and even exhibit natural activity against the bacterium.

Overall, this study shows that a human-associated microbe has successfully reached the Kerguelen Islands, and that the beetle’s ability to adapt its immune system may help it colonise new territories, although this adaptation appears to be limited in areas where the species is still expanding.

More info here: https://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/entomologia/detail/prepub/108297/Invasive_beetle_Merizodus_soledadinus_meets_unexpe?af=crossref