AGG01: novel potent antimicrobial discovered in wallaby milk

Scientists from the Victorian government's department of primary industries in Melbourne, Australia, have isolated a compound from wallaby milk with significant antimicrobial properties, reported the UK's Sunday Times.

The novel protein, AGG01, was found to be a hundred times more effective against Escherichia coli than the most potent forms of penicillin, and killed a host of other pathogens including candida and a strain of bacteria related to methicillin-resistant Streptococcus aureus.

Wallabies, which are a smaller relative of the kangaroo indiginous to Australia, utilize the agent to protect new-born wallabies from infection while they grow in their mother's pouch.