Peptides in Axolotl Mucus Kill Breast Cancer Cells in 2025 Study

A 2025 study found that certain components of axolotl mucus may be capable of killing cancer cells. The study, conducted by Dr. Najob Dastagir and his team at Hannover Medical School in Germany, was designed to identify possible therapeutics that may be derived from axolotl mucus. Here is what we know about the design and findings of the research study.

The study was designed to assess the therapeutic properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) present in axolotl mucus. Peptides, like proteins, are a class of molecules made up of various amino acids. They play several key functions in the bodies of living organisms; in axolotls, AMPs serve as a protective barrier against pathogens. Unlike proteins, however, peptides are significantly smaller and comprise far fewer amino acids.

For the study, AMPs were extracted from axolotl mucus. First, researchers wearing sterile gloves gently massaged the axolotls to stimulate the production of mucus. The mucus produced was then collected and used to extract several candidate AMPs. Of these, 22 were selected as potentially effective therapeutics.

The selected AMPs were then tested against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and breast cancer cells.

Four of the 22 chosen peptides were effective against MRSA. In some cases, they even proved more effective than vancomycin, a last-resort antibiotic used against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Three of the four AMPs that were effective against MRSA were also found to exhibit anticarcinogenic properties. When tested against breast cancer cells, the peptides initiated a process known as programmed cell death, a controlled mechanism through which damaged or cancerous cells die to prevent further replication in the body.

“We observed that the peptides specifically kill cancer cells without attacking healthy cells,” shared Dr. Sarah Strauß, a biologist at Hannover Medical School and co-author of the paper. “These identified AMPs could be promising candidates for combating antibiotic resistance and for anticancer strategies.”

Though the initial findings are promising, further research is necessary to explore the extent of antimicrobial and anticancer properties of these AMPs, as well as understand how such discoveries can be translated to make meaningful clinical impact.

The axolotl species used in this study was Ambystoma mexicanum. This endangered species is bred in captivity at the Ambystoma Mexicanum Bioregeneration Center (ABMC) of the Kerstin Reimers Laboratory for Regenerative Biology in Hannover, Germany. The lab was founded in 2010 and is home to several other endangered amphibian species, in addition to Ambystoma mexicanum.