Salamander power

Salamander skin contains substance that kills bacteria

source: New Scientist September 23 2000 p21

University of Southern Louisiana researchers have found that red-backed salamander skin contains a substance that kills bacteria. The peptides were more effective than most antibiotics at killing staphylococci. Salamanders do not appear vulnerable to infections, despite biting and wounding each other. This finding could help with developing antibiotics. The findings were reported in 'Journal of Experimental Zoology', vol 287, p340.
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