Devil's milk could be the killer ingredient in war on superbugs

By Bridie Smith
Updated November 22 2016 - 11:08am, first published October 17 2016 - 12:15am
Biologist Emma Peel with a young Tasmanian devil. Photo: Emma Peel
Biologist Emma Peel with a young Tasmanian devil. Photo: Emma Peel
Tasmanian devil joeys build their immune system with peptides contained in mother's milk. Photo: Rick Stevens
Tasmanian devil joeys build their immune system with peptides contained in mother's milk. Photo: Rick Stevens
Four-month-old Tasmanian devil joeys in their mother's pouch at Devil Ark in the Barrington Tops. Photo: Janie Barrett
Four-month-old Tasmanian devil joeys in their mother's pouch at Devil Ark in the Barrington Tops. Photo: Janie Barrett

Devil's milk has proved to be an unlikely weapon in the increasingly desperate global fight against superbugs. Australian researchers have discovered that peptides contained in the milk of Tasmanian devils can kill some of the most deadly bacterial and fungal infections, including golden staph.

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