New Antibiotics Discovered Using Old Amphibian Myth

According to a study appearing in the Journal of Proteome Research, an old Russian folktale could lead to the development of new powerful antibiotic medicines. One scientific team, led by A.T. Lebedev, had set out to explore the legitimacy of the claim that keeping frogs in a bucket of milk could keep the milk from turning sour. But instead of trying to prevent spoiled milk, the team aimed to examine the vastly unexplored substances present on the skin of frogs and other amphibians.

As previously discovered, amphibians require a large number of these antibiotics in order to thrive in their ideal habitat: wet marshes or ponds. These places tend to also host a variety or harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, so amphibians have adapted to protect themselves. This newest study found that the compounds that are secreted from the skin of these amphibians are antimicrobial substances called peptides. This added on to earlier research that discovered 21 substances with antibiotic properties or are otherwise potentially medically valuable.

Lebedev's team expanded the list of these prospective medical treasures. In total, they added 76 new substances to the established record. Lab tests proved some of these substances to perform as well as some prescription antibiotics against Salmonella and Staphylococcus bacteria. If these substances continue to be analyzed, these compounds may provide us with new ways to treat diseases as well as give us new insight regarding the study of antibiotics.

Photo Credit: Bob Peterson (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

NOS Themes:

1. Science is collaborative: Although this article only mentioned one scientist by name, it specifically mentioned a team of scientists conducting this study. 
2. Science is subject to debate and tentative: The article explained how this new information built upon previous discoveries that other scientists made.
3. Role of motivation and curiosity: The scientists were motivated to conduct this study based on their curiosity of whether there was merit in the old wives' tale of preventing milk from spoiling by letting frogs sit in the bucket.

Link to article: Frog-In-Bucket-Of-Milk Folklore Leads to Potential New Antibiotics

Further Reading: 

• Frog Skin May Provide 'Kiss of Death' for Antibiotic-Resistant Germs 
• Stinky Frogs Are a Treasure Trove of Antibiotic Substances 
• Frog's Immune System Is Key In Fight Against Killer Virus