160-million-year-old proteins show surprising power against superbugs

Scientists resurrected antimicrobial peptides from mammals that lived millions of years ago and found that some were more potent against drug-resistant bacteria than modern human versions. These evolutionary relics could provide new clues for designing treatments as antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly serious threat. 160-million-year-old proteins show surprising power against superbugs.

160-million-year-old proteins show surprising power against superbugs Science News from research organizations 160-million-year-old proteins show surprising power against superbugs Scientists revived 160-million-year-old antimicrobial proteins that could inspire new weapons against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The revived proteins could provide scientists with new ideas for treating antibiotic resistant infections, which have become a major global health challenge. The work, described in a paper published in PLOS Biology on Aug.

25, traced the evolutionary history of peptides, short fragments of proteins, back to the earliest placental mammals. This broad group includes humans and nearly all mammals living today. Laboratory experiments showed that some reconstructed peptides from extinct ancestors were more effective against drug resistant bacteria than some versions found in modern species.

These long lost biological defenses could give researchers useful starting points for developing treatments that complement or replace antibiotics that no longer work, according to Matt Barber, senior author of the study and an evolutionary biologist at the UO College of Arts and Sciences.