Discovery and optimization of antimicrobial peptides from extreme environments on global scale

Novel antibiotics to combat global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and animal pathogens are urgently required [1]. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of small molecules inhibiting growth of various microorganism, including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and viruses [2]. These peptides are valued for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, achieved through mechanisms such as bacterial membrane disruption or interference with intracellular processes rather than targeting specific proteins, which makes lower propensity to induce resistance. While AMPs have been extensively identified and verified from animal proteomes, reference microbial genomes and host environments, those from extreme environments remain unexplored.