Ancient Proteins Outperform Modern Peptides Against Superbugs

Scientists have resurrected antimicrobial peptides from mammals that lived up to 160 million years ago and tested them against drug‑resistant bacteria. Remarkably, several of these evolutionary relics were more potent than their modern human counterparts. The study suggests that ancient proteins may hold structural clues that could inform the design of new antibiotics, a critical need as antibiotic resistance continues to threaten global health. By exploring these long‑extinct molecules, researchers hope to uncover novel mechanisms of action that modern drugs lack, potentially leading to more effective treatments for resistant infections.