Alligator Blood Provides Strong Resistance to Bacteria and Viruses
Posted on June 15, 2008 Comments (1)
Gator Blood May Be New Source of Antibiotics
For the study, the researchers extracted proteins known as peptides from white cells in alligator blood. As in humans, white cells are part of the alligator’s immune system. The researchers then exposed various types of bacteria to the protein extracts and watched to see what happened.
In laboratory tests, tiny amounts of these protein extracts killed a so-called “superbug” called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The bacteria has made headlines in recent years because of its killing power in hospitals and its spread among athletes and others outside of hospitals.
The extracts also killed six of eight strains of a fungus known as Candida albicans, which causes a condition known as thrush, and other diseases that can kill people with weakened immune systems.
Related: Entirely New Antibiotic Developed – Soil Could Shed Light on Antibiotic Resistance – articles on the Overuse of Antibiotics
Categories: Antibiotics, Health Care, Life Science, Research, Students
Tags: animals, bacteria, protein, reptile, virus
One Response to “Alligator Blood Provides Strong Resistance to Bacteria and Viruses”
Leave a Reply
September 20th, 2011 @ 2:29 am
[…] Alligator Blood Provides Strong Resistance to Bacteria and Viruses – Female Sharks Can Reproduce Alone – Monarch Butterflies Use Medicinal Plants […]