Around 40% of humans and Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) develop cancer in their lifetime, compared to less than 10% for most species. In addition, devils are affected by two of the three known transmissible cancers in mammals. Immune checkpoint immunotherapy has transformed human medicine, but a lack of species-specific reagents has limited checkpoint immunology in most species. We developed a cut-and-paste reagent development system and used the fluorescent fusion protein system to show that immune checkpoint interactions are conserved across 160,000,000 years of evolution, CD200 is highly expressed on transmissible tumor cells, and coexpression of CD200R1 can block CD200 surface expression. The system’s versatility across species was demonstrated by fusing a fluorescent reporter to a camelid-derived nanobody that binds human programmed death ligand 1. The evolutionarily conserved pathways suggest that naturally occurring cancers in devils and other species can be used to advance our understanding of cancer and immunological tolerance.

Recently, using a deep learning approach, the novel antibiotic halicin was discovered. We compared the antibacterial activities of two novel bactericidal antimicrobial agents, i.e., the synthetic antibacterial and antibiofilm peptide (SAAP)-148 with this antibiotic halicin. Results revealed that SAAP-148 was more effective than halicin in killing planktonic bacteria of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus, especially in biologically relevant media, such as plasma and urine, and in 3D human infection models. Surprisingly, SAAP-148 and halicin were equally effective against these bacteria residing in immature and mature biofilms. As their modes of action differ, potential favorable interactions between SAAP-148 and halicin were investigated. For some specific strains of AMR E. coli and S. aureus synergism between these agents was observed, whereas for other strains, additive interactions were noted. These favorable interactions were confirmed for AMR E. coli in a 3D human bladder infection model and AMR S. aureus in a 3D human epidermal infection model. Together, combinations of these two novel antimicrobial agents hold promise as an innovative treatment for infections not effectively treatable with current antibiotics.