Alligator blood is better than any antibiotics
Scientists from two universities in the US state of Louisiana – McNeese State University (Lake Charles) and Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) - for the first time conducted a detailed study of the antimicrobial activity of alligator blood. They found that the proteins included in its composition can help solve a number of problems, including the fight against the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans, which is a serious problem for people with weakened immunity, such as AIDS patients and patients taking immunosuppressants after organ transplantation.
As part of earlier work, scientists have found that the immune system of alligators is extremely effective and has little in common with the human immune system. Unlike humans, alligators are able to resist microorganisms (fungi, viruses and bacteria) even without first familiarizing the cells of the immune system with them. Scientists believe that this evolutionary adaptation ensures rapid healing of wounds often received by alligators in fierce battles for territory.
The authors collected blood samples of American alligators, isolated the leukocytes contained in them, and from them – active proteins. In laboratory experiments, minimal amounts of extracts of these proteins destroyed a wide range of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This pathogen is the cause of deadly nosocomial infections, and recently cases of infection with such resistant microorganisms are increasingly found outside the walls of medical institutions. They constantly mutate, acquiring resistance to various drugs, and annually claim thousands of lives.
Alligator blood proteins also destroyed 6 out of 8 tested strains of Candida albicans. The results of earlier work indicate that these proteins can also help in the fight against HIV.
Currently, scientists are working on deciphering the exact chemical structures of antimicrobial proteins and determining the proteins that most effectively act on different types of microorganisms. They suggest that alligator blood extract contains at least 4 promising compounds.
Knowledge of the chemical structures of proteins will allow specialists to develop new antibacterial and antifungal drugs based on them, including tablets and creams for topical use. The authors believe that if everything goes according to plan, preparations based on alligator blood proteins will appear on the market within 7-10 years. However, they warn that you should not try to make medicines yourself, because untreated blood can cause irreparable harm to the body.
The authors also note that similar antimicrobial compounds can be found in the blood of other related species, for example, crocodiles. They have already received funding to analyze the antimicrobial potential of the blood of different species of alligators and crocodiles living in different regions of the world.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily
10.04.2008