mk2 Biotechnologies, WACKER and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) today announced their joint project for the development, large-scale production and purification of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) for various applications. The project aims to tackle the final steps towards the introduction of industrially applicable AMPs as a sustainable alternative to artificial preservatives.
Peptides are short amino acid chains that exhibit extraordinary properties. For example, antimicrobial peptides, which are also found in the human body, are effective against pathogens.
However, due to the complex synthesis and the resulting high prices, the potential of AMPs has remained largely untapped until now. To change this, the consortium is developing a scalable and cost-effective production platform based on microbial fermentation.