Ancient Peptides Resurrected from Lactoferrin’s Evolutionary Past Could Point to New Antibiotics

University of Oregon biologists have resurrected prehistoric proteins up to 160 million years old that carry natural antimicrobial properties. The scientists worked their way up the tree of life of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin, reconstructing peptides dating back to the earliest placental mammals, the diverse lineage that includes humans and nearly all mammals alive today. … Ancient…