Mostly-harmless (to humans) bacteria that release crude antibiotics in order to kill competing bacteria ... Now that's impressive. The glowing part is an amazing add-on, helping the symbiotic relationship with the parasitic micro-worms the bacteria live in/with.
I wonder if the chemicals produced by the bacteria could be synthesized and made into a useful medicine. Perhaps useful for immunocompromised patients?
That's where a lot of antibiotics come from.
Antibiotics that have names ending in -mycin often come from bacteria.
I wonder if human-caused antibiotic resistance turns around and harms the critters who were originally using that antibiotic as self defense?
Thanks for that. Is it also true that those ending in -icillin (amoxicillin, penicillin, etc) come from fungi - a major competitor to bacteria? Or am I mistaken?