Molecular de-extinction


"We trained ensembles of deep-learning models consisting of a peptide-sequence encoder coupled with neural networks for the prediction of antimicrobial activity and used it to mine 10,311,899 peptides. 

"The models predicted 37,176 sequences with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, 11,035 of which were not found in extant organisms. 

"We synthesized 69 peptides and experimentally confirmed their activity against bacterial pathogens. 

"Most peptides killed bacteria by depolarizing their cytoplasmic membrane, contrary to known antimicrobial peptides, which tend to target the outer membrane. 

"Notably, lead compounds, including 
  • Mammuthusin-2 from the woolly mammoth, 
  • Elephasin-2 from the straight-tusked elephant, 
  • Hydrodamin-1 from the ancient sea cow, 
  • Mylodonin-2 from the giant sloth, and 
  • Megalocerin-1 from the extinct giant elk 
showed anti-infective activity in mice with skin abscess or thigh infections."


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