Got Gator Blood?

[Guest guest]

Gator blood could be good for your health

Researchers say antibiotic proteins found in alligators could lead to

development of new drugs for humans

 

By Bob Keefe

WEST COAST BUREAU

Monday, April 07, 2008

 

Someday, an alligator might save your life.

 

Researchers in Louisiana say they have discovered antibiotic proteins

in the blood of American alligators that can kill a wide range of

deadly bacteria, a finding they think could halt the spread of common

infections and perhaps even stop the virus that causes AIDS.

 

Superdrugs based on their studies of the genetic makeup of alligator

blood might be available within 10 years, the researchers say.

 

" It's pretty exciting, " said Lancia Darville, a Louisiana State

University scientist who is scheduled to present the findings at a

meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans this week.

 

Darville said alligators have developed unique immune systems during

their long evolution.

 

" If you think about alligators, they usually get into a lot of fights

and get cuts and bruises and torn limbs, and they live in swamps that

have a whole lot of bacteria, " she said. " But even in the presence of

all that bacteria, they (almost) never get any infections. "

 

The reason, Darville said, is that alligators have unusually strong

immune systems. Unlike humans', their immune systems can fight off

different types of bacteria, viruses and fungi without having been

previously exposed to them.

 

Darville and study co-author Mark Merchant, a longtime alligator

researcher at McNeese State University in Louisiana, have been doing

research on alligator blood for years. Previous studies by Merchant

and other scientists, including some at the University of Georgia and

the University of Florida, have produced similar findings.

 

Darville and Merchant say they have determined that the proteins can

fight 23 different types of bacteria, almost three times as many as

the proteins in human blood can.

 

In lab experiments, the extracted proteins destroyed the bacteria

behind deadly staph infections, different fungi behind yeast

infections and, in at least one study, most of a sample of HIV, the

researchers said.

[Guest guest]

Ed, great reminder. I'd mentioned this in a newsletter over 2 years ago, and promised I'd follow up. Except, it was Crocodile blood. I guess both of em need a little investigating......

David

 

 

In a message dated 4/6/2008 10:50:45 P.M. Central Daylight Time, ed4636 writes:

 

 

 

 

Gator blood could be good for your healthResearchers say antibiotic proteins found in alligators could lead todevelopment of new drugs for humansBy Bob KeefeWEST COAST BUREAUMonday, April 07, 2008Someday, an alligator might save your life.Researchers in Louisiana say they have discovered antibiotic proteinsin the blood of American alligators that can kill a wide range ofdeadly bacteria, a finding they think could halt the spread of commoninfections and perhaps even stop the virus that causes AIDS.Superdrugs based on their studies of the genetic makeup of alligatorblood might be available within 10 years, the researchers say."It's pretty exciting," said Lancia Darville, a Louisiana StateUniversity scientist who is scheduled to present the findings at ameeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans this week.Darville said alligators have developed unique immune systems duringtheir long evolution."If you think about alligators, they usually get into a lot of fightsand get cuts and bruises and torn limbs, and they live in swamps thathave a whole lot of bacteria," she said. "But even in the presence ofall that bacteria, they (almost) never get any infections."The reason, Darville said, is that alligators have unusually strongimmune systems. Unlike humans', their immune systems can fight offdifferent types of bacteria, viruses and fungi without having beenpreviously exposed to them.Darville and study co-author Mark Merchant, a longtime alligatorresearcher at McNeese State University in Louisiana, have been doingresearch on alligator blood for years. Previous studies by Merchantand other scientists, including some at the University of Georgia andthe University of Florida, have produced similar findings.Darville and Merchant say they have determined that the proteins canfight 23 different types of bacteria, almost three times as many asthe proteins in human blood can.In lab experiments, the extracted proteins destroyed the bacteriabehind deadly staph infections, different fungi behind yeastinfections and, in at least one study, most of a sample of HIV, theresearchers said. Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.