Peptide Applications
Unlocking New Potential in Skincare: Structural Modification Strategies for Cosmetic Peptides
Review of Research Advances on Peptides in Viral Infectious Diseases
Peptide Glycosylation: How to Coat Peptides with a “Sugar Coat”?
Ajiao Peptides: Transformation and Innovation from Traditional Tonics to Modern Precision Bioactive Ingredients
The “Active Code” in Microalgae: How Do Algal Proteins and Peptides Safeguard Human Health?
A New Chapter in the Antitumor Effects of Chinese Herbal Protein Peptides
Beyond Traditional Biomarkers: Exploring the Application of Serum Peptide Profiling in Enhancing Tumor Diagnostic Efficiency
Lightweight AI Tool AMPLiT Unearths Potent Antimicrobial Peptides from Millennia-Old Coprolites
Today, we share important research, soon to be published in Nature Communications, titled "Identification of antimicrobial peptides from ancient gut microbiomes." This study, by developing a lightweight artificial intelligence tool named AMPLiT, systematically analyzed metagenomic data from seven ancient human fecal fossils (coprolites) dating back 1000-2000 years. It successfully uncovered 160 potential antimicrobial peptide (AMP) candidates. Experimental validation showed that among the 40 peptides successfully synthesized, 36 (90%) exhibited significant antibacterial activity in vitro. Remarkably, approximately two-thirds of the active antimicrobial peptides originated from Segatella copri(formerly Prevotella copri), a dominant symbiotic bacterium in ancient guts whose prevalence has significantly declined in modern populations. These AMPs from ancient microbiomes not only possess membrane-disrupting mechanisms, low cytotoxicity, and low hemolysis risk but also demonstrated efficacy comparable to traditional antibiotics (vancomycin, polymyxin B) in a mouse wound infection model. This work reveals the immense potential of ancient gut microbiomes as a treasure trove for novel antimicrobial peptides, offering a new solution to combat the antibiotic resistance crisis.