Group 1 - Recent studies reveal that archaea, a lesser-known branch of microorganisms, contain previously unknown antibacterial compounds that may provide insights for developing new antibiotics [1][2] - Archaea can survive in extreme environments such as hot springs and salt flats, and coexist with bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes, which may have led to the evolution of unique chemical defense mechanisms capable of killing pathogenic bacteria resistant to traditional antibiotics [1][2] - A research team from the University of Pennsylvania utilized an artificial intelligence algorithm to scan the proteomes of archaea, identifying over 12,600 candidate cryptic peptides, with 93% of 80 tested candidates showing antibacterial activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae [1][2] Group 2 - Another study from institutions like Imperial College London and the University of Oxford aimed to identify antibacterial compounds related to archaea, focusing on whether archaea possess enzymes (hydrolases) that degrade peptidoglycan to protect themselves from bacterial invasion [2] - Analysis of over 3,700 archaea revealed that 5% contain such hydrolases, which were shown in laboratory studies to destroy bacterial peptidoglycan and kill bacteria upon contact [2] - Both studies emphasize that while these discoveries are promising, the development of mature new drugs is still a long way off, but these microorganisms are seen as a potential "treasure trove" for finding new antibiotics [2]