Results
Title

Host response: Deadly perfume.

Authors

Jones, Susan

Abstract

The article highlights a study which found that beetle larvae secrete perfumes that kill pathogens before they had a chance to infect. It relates that the study confirmed that salicylaldehyde, a glandular secretions produce by leaf-beetle larvae and a metabolic by-product that is derived from the catabolism of salicin and saligenin, was a potent antifungal and antibacterial agent in vitro.

Subjects

INSECT larvae; SECRETION; BEETLES; METABOLISM; BACTERICIDES; FUNGICIDES; RESEARCH

Publication

Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2008, Vol 6, Issue 5, p332

ISSN

1740-1526

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1038/nrmicro1905