Dr. Mark Merchant of McNeese State University, Lake Charles and Dr. Kermit Murray of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, discovered the potential use of antibiotic proteins in alligator blood, to treat various infections caused by Candida albicans, which causes serious problems for patients with HIV or who undergo organ transplantation.
The research team has previously been shown that the crocodile has an immune system that is very different from humans. This system makes wounds on these animals are powerful and fast recovery. Crocodile immune system has a very high ability to fight microorganisms such as fungi, viruses and bacteria, which even balum been exposed to the animal.
The researchers isolated leucocytes crocodiles and extracting the active protein. From research in the laboratory found that this protein in small amounts can kill some bacteria, including MRSA bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that many pose a big problem in hospitals and in society.
Alligator blood proteins was also tested against Candida albicans, and it killed 6 of 8 strains of the fungus. In previous studies, this research team has also shown that this protein is also effective against the HIV virus.This protein may one day be used as a topical drug to treat foot ulcers, so it can avoid amputation. This protein also has the potential to prevent infections in burns. The researchers named this protein with the name "alligacin".
Suspected that the blood of a small crocodile (alligator) have in common with the blood of crocodiles cost (crocodille) in antimicrobial properties, therefore this research team plans to investigate the blood of the reptile family is all over the world .
Sources: 235th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, Louisiana, USAAlligator Blood For New Antibiotics
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