Ancient Peptides Display Antibiotic Properties in Neanderthals and Denisovans

Researchers have discovered a series of peptides with antibiotic activity in the proteomes of ancient humans, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. By analyzing the proteomes of these ancient hominins, the researchers identified 69 promising peptides, six of which showed antibiotic activity against different pathogens in mouse models. The peptides have different amino acid distributions compared to known antimicrobial peptides, suggesting differences in evolutionary pressures. The de-extinct peptides appear to target the inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, which could help in designing drugs against traditionally resistant microorganisms. This study marks a pivotal starting point for the exploration of novel antibiotics.