Antibiotics used to multiply lifespan of roundworms

Could antibiotics be key to prolonging life and vitality?

A team of researchers discovered they could manipulate a mechanism that plays a role in longevity to multiply the lifespan of roundworms by a factor of 1.6 through the use of antibiotics.

Reported in the journal Nature, the study was initially conducted on mice, with the team halving their expression of a group of three genes to reduce the proteins they code for, thereby increasing their lifespan by 250 days.

The team then reproduced the protein variations in a species of nematode, extending their lives from 19 to more than 30 days and uncovering that the presence of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) is inversely proportional to longevity.

A lack of MRP at certain key moments in development generate a stress reaction known as unfolded protein response within the mitochondria.

"The strength of this response was found to be directly proportional to the life span," commented professor Johan Auwerx.

Exposure to antibiotics inhibited ribosomal function, suggesting this can be used to prolong life, with worms administered the drug also found to be twice as mobile as those that were not.

Professor Auwerx concluded by saying this provides hope that antibiotics could be used to promote the longevity and vitality of adults.