Ancient proteins resurrected to fight antibiotic resistance

University of Oregon biologists have resurrected prehistoric proteins up to 160 million years old with natural antimicrobial properties, potentially inspiring new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections. Published in PLOS Biology on Aug. 25, the study reconstructed peptides from ancestral placental mammals. Lab tests showed some extinct peptides were more potent against drug-resistant bacteria than modern versions, with a single amino acid mutation driving enhanced activity. The researchers caution new drugs won't emerge immediately, as the peptides are less stable than conventional antibiotics. However, understanding how these molecules evolved could help design treatments that pathogens struggle to resist.