An Immortal Worm that Kills Bacteria

12.18.2015

By studying an aquatic flatworm (planarian), well known for its extraordinary regenerative abilities, researchers in Marseille identified a gene capable of destroying tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Called Morn 2, this very active gene in the planarian is present in humans, but dormant. It could be pharmacologically stimulated to fight diseases that are resistant to antibiotics.

About this video

Original title:

The immortal flatworm

Production year:

2015

Length:

5 min 57

Director:

Christophe Gombert

Producer:

CNRS Images

Speaker(s) :

Eric Ghigo, Research Unit on Emerging Infection and Tropical Diseases (URMITE)
Cédric Torre, PhD student (URMITE)
Landry Laure Tsoumtsa, PhD student (URMITE)