Designer Peptoids Pop Viral Membranes
Designer Peptoids Pop Viral Membranes
Bioinspired small molecules combat viral threats by targeting a common feature in enveloped viruses, making them useful against a wide range of viruses.
Bioinspired small molecules combat viral threats by targeting a common feature in enveloped viruses, making them useful against a wide range of viruses.
antimicrobial peptide
Skin Cells Can Transform To Help Fight Acne
Dan Robitzski | Mar 2, 2022 | 5 min read
A new study reveals that the fibroblasts in tissue surrounding acne infections play an active role in the body’s immune response—and that existing treatments help trigger them to do so.
Lipid Droplets Are Intracellular Bacteria-Fighting Machines
Ruth Williams | Oct 15, 2020 | 3 min read
Far from being inert fat-storage depots within cells, these lipid-loaded organelles recruit immune proteins and block bacterial growth.
Ants Produce Antibiotics that May Protect Plants
Emily Makowski | Mar 1, 2020 | 2 min read
The antimicrobial compounds ants excrete to defend themselves from pathogens may protect plants as well.
Will Komodo Dragons Yield the Next Blockbuster Antibiotic?
Jef Akst | May 1, 2017 | 4 min read
The giant lizards have numerous microbicidal compounds in their blood.
Commensal Defense
Kate Yandell | Jan 8, 2015 | 4 min read
Beneficial gut bacteria have evolved resistance to antimicrobial peptides that hosts release to fight pathogens.
Scorpion Venom Kills MRSA
Jef Akst | Jul 12, 2012 | 1 min read
Peptides extracted from scorpion venom fights off drug-resistant bacterial infections in mice.
Reading Tea Leaves
Jef Akst | Feb 1, 2012 | 3 min read
Cyclic peptides, discovered in an African tea used to speed labor and delivery, may hold potential as drug-stabilizing scaffolds, antibiotics, and anticancer drugs.
Antimicrobial Cross-Resistance Risk
Sabrina Richards | Jan 24, 2012 | 3 min read
Bacteria that evolve resistance to antimicrobial therapies may be able to evade natural immune peptides.