Frog Skin Peptides Boost Immune Defense
African clawed frogs produce antimicrobial peptides in their skin that inspired drugs like temporin. These compounds reduced infections by 40% in pacemaker patients during a recent Brazilian clinical trial. They work by punching holes in bacterial membranes. This natural defense mechanism provides protection against post-surgical complications without increasing antibiotic resistance. Frogs evolved these compounds to survive in bacteria-filled ponds and swamps, environments not unlike hospital settings.