what are superbugs?

( How does six naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides discovered in Tasmanian devil’s milk can protect us? )

Scientists have discovered that Tasmanian devil milk contains an arsenal of antimicrobial compounds that can kill some of the most deadly bacterial and fungal infections known to science - including golden staph (Staphylococcus aureus), Candida krusei and airborne fungus called Cryptococus gattii. Tasmanian devil joeys are born without primary immune tissues and they don't develop proper antibody-mediated immunity until around 90 days old. The research suggest cathelicidins play a role in protecting naive young during pouch life by passive immune transfer in the milk and may modulate pouch microbe populations to reduce potential pathogens.

Tasmanian devil milk kills Super bugs

---

what is antibiotic resistance?

Scientists scanned the Tasmanian devil’s genome and analysed the molecular structure of the milk, they found six naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides in the cathelicidins family that were "three to six times more effective" against a range of fungal infections than a common anti-fungal medication.

Two varieties of peptides - Saha-CATH5 and Saha-CATH6 - have been singled out for being particularly effective in killing bacteria that are harmful to humans.


"Of the six characterised cathelicidins, Saha-CATH5 and 6 have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and are capable of killing problematic human pathogens," the team concludes. 

With drug resistant infections expected to kill more people than cancer each year if things keep going as they are, we need a solution, and fast.

The researchers are now investigating if the synthetic version of these peptides can be used safely in humans.

These peptides are killing superbugs, so there is potential for future development into antibiotics.