Blood of Alligator Can Destroy 23 Bacteria Strains, Some Resistant to Antibiotics
posted in Animal Species |
Blood of the American alligator can destroy 23 bacteria strains, some of which are resistant to antibiotics. They often engage in fights over mates, but their wounds get rarely infected. The secret lies in their blood. The blood is also able to deplete and destroy large amounts of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
These findings have been highlighted in a study co- authored by Lancia Darville at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge and Mark Merchant, a biochemist at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Darville believes that peptides, which are protein fragments found in the alligator’s blood, prevent fatal infections.
The skin of toads and frogs also contain these peptides as well as that of Kamodo dragons and crocodiles. Darville claims that efforts are on to identify and separate specific peptides in the blood of the alligator.
The findings were presented by Darville at the 235th national meeting of the
American Chemical Society in New Orleans.
The researchers observed that although the alligators resided in swampy environments, where bacteria existed, yet many of these alligators, which suffered from bruises and scratches did not develop infections.
Merchant developed alligator and human serum. These consisted of protein-rich blood plasma with the clotting agents removed. The serums were exposed to 23 bacteria strains. These human serums destroyed eight of the bacterial strains. On the other hand, the alligator serum destroyed all the 23 bacteria, including the drug-resistant bacteria, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
The study observed that creams and pills containing alligator peptides is likely to be available at local pharmacies within a span of seven to ten years. These would be of great help in preventing infections as in the case of a diabetic patient suffering from foot ulcers. Burn victims also will find it useful as well as those suffering from auto-immune diseases.
There are of course many hurdles to overcome before this alligator blood based medicine is available in the market. Darville claims that the initial tests indicate that large concentrations of this alligator serum can prove to be toxic to human cells.