Brief
Scientists resurrect 160‑million‑year‑old proteins that out‑kill modern superbugs
Reconstructed proteins from the Jurassic period show stronger antibacterial activity than some contemporary counterparts.
By Felo News Desk · Published
University of Oregon biologists have revived proteins that lived 160 million years ago and found them more effective against drug‑resistant bacteria than some modern versions. The work, published in PLOS Biology on 25 August, traced the evolution of antimicrobial peptides back to the earliest placental mammals. Laboratory tests showed that reconstructed peptides from extinct ancestors damaged bacterial membranes more efficiently than comparable modern peptides. Senior author Matt Barber said the findings could inspire new therapeutics that complement or replace ineffective antibiotics. The study focused on lactoferrin, an immune protein that emerged around the same time as the common ancestor of placental mammals. Lactoferrin binds iron to starve microbes and contains a peptide that directly damages bacterial cells. Lead author Titas Sil noted that close relatives of lactoferrin lack this killing ability, suggesting the trait evolved during the Jurassic period.
Key facts
- Reconstructed 160‑million‑year‑old peptides out‑performed some modern antimicrobial peptides in lab tests (sciencedaily.com)
- Study published in PLOS Biology on 25 August 2026 (sciencedaily.com)
- Proteins studied are derived from lactoferrin, an immune protein present in many body fluids (sciencedaily.com)
Sources
- [1] sciencedaily.com — originally reported as “160-million-year-old proteins show surprising power against superbugs”
