Amphibian skin mucus as a potential weapon against multi-resistant bacteria and cancer

Researchers find antimicrobial peptides on axolotl skin that not only fight dangerous hospital germs but also tumour cells as an effective antibiotic alternative

19-Jun-2025 - Axolotls are known for their ability to regrow limbs, organs and even parts of the brain and heart. But the tailed amphibian with the scientific name Ambystoma mexicanum can do even more. Its mucous membrane protects it from pathogens, more precisely: the antimicrobial peptides (AMP) it contains. ...

New hope against superbugs: A completely new molecule has been identified

Promising antibiotic candidate discovered

16-May-2025 - An international team of researchers, led by the University of Vienna and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, has discovered saarvienin A, a new type of glycopeptide antibiotic. Their findings, now published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, introduce a ...

Synthetic DNA as Mass Data Storage of the Future

Opportunity for resource-efficient, space-saving long-term archiving of data

07-May-2025 - Traditional storage solutions are reaching their limits in light of the steadily increasing volume of data generated worldwide. In the BIOSYNTH project, three Fraunhofer institutes are developing a microchip platform for future mass data storage using synthetic DNA. In this interview, Dr. Uwe ...

Therapeutic Designer Peptide to Combat Acute Heart Muscle Weakness

Approaches are now being prepared for clinical studies by a start-up

17-Feb-2025 - Researchers of the Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) have developed a synthetic peptide based on the natural protein S100A1, a nearly universal “fuel” for weakened hearts. The researchers combined computer-aided ...

Adrenomedullin causes diabetes in overweight people

The hormone triggers insulin resistance in blood vessel endothelium in obesity

13-Feb-2025 - A large proportion of the approximately six million patients in Germany suffering from type 2 diabetes are overweight. The effect of insulin is impaired in these patients. The cause of this insulin resistance has been sought primarily in metabolically active organs for a long time. Researchers at ...

Venomous crustacean from Mayan underwater caves provides new drug candidates

08-Oct-2024 - Zootoxins affect a wide range of physiological processes and are therefore of great interest for drug research. An international study led by Björn von Reumont of Goethe University Frankfurt has identified novel toxins from the cave-dwelling underwater crustacean Xibalbanus tulumensis that ...

Thaumatin: Natural Sweetener with Anti-Inflammatory Potential

01-Oct-2024 - A new study by the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich shows for the first time that bitter tasting protein fragments (peptides) are produced in the stomach during the digestion of the natural sweetener thaumatin. In a cellular test system, the ...

Synthetic mini-motor with enormous power developed: Hope for use in the organism

Bacteria as a role model: Conversion of chemical energy into rotational energy at the supramolecular level for the first time

19-Sep-2024 - Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed an artificial motor at the supramolecular level that can develop impressive power. This wind-up motor is a tiny ribbon made of special molecules. When energy is applied, this ribbon aligns itself, moves like a small fin and ...

Amferia closes €1,2 million investment to combat resistant bacterial infections

"Bacterial infections are likely to surpass cancer and heart disease as a number one cause of human deaths in the future..."

05-Sep-2024 - Amferia, a Swedish medtech company focused on developing innovative antimicrobial healthcare solutions, announces the successful closure of a 1.2-million-euro investment round. The round was over prescribed and spearheaded by existing owners and new investors. The funding will support the ...

Bayer awards incubator opportunity to Genvor

Critical resources will help Genvor to grow and scale biological crop protection products and innovative trait technologies

02-Sep-2024 - Bayer announced that the company has selected Genvor Inc., a US-based crop protection business, as the recipient of its first Golden Ticket award. Genvor will receive year-long access to lab space and equipment at Bayer’s LifeHub California @AgStart, one of the premier U.S. AgriFoodTech ...