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Back to the past: new drugs from ancient molecules?

Multicellular organisms exist in hostile environments full of dangerous microorganisms. Retrocyclin 2, a θ-defensin analog, acts at cell membranes to hinder viral coat attachment helping to protect multicellular organisms.

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Figure 1: The θ-defensin RC2 immobilizes proteins at the surface of primary lung cells.

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Phillips, R. Back to the past: new drugs from ancient molecules?. Nat Immunol 6, 963–964 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1005-963

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