Far from being inert fat-storage depots within cells, these lipid-loaded organelles recruit immune proteins and block bacterial growth.

The antimicrobial compounds ants excrete to defend themselves from pathogens may protect plants as well.

The giant lizards have numerous microbicidal compounds in their blood.

Beneficial gut bacteria have evolved resistance to antimicrobial peptides that hosts release to fight pathogens.

Peptides extracted from scorpion venom fights off drug-resistant bacterial infections in mice.

Cyclic peptides, discovered in an African tea used to speed labor and delivery, may hold potential as drug-stabilizing scaffolds, antibiotics, and anticancer drugs.

Bacteria that evolve resistance to antimicrobial therapies may be able to evade natural immune peptides.