National Geographic magazine had an interesting feature on the work of researchers at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, from 2008, finding that the blood of alligators and other similar swamp denizens has prized anti-microbial properties, which can stave off infections from many types of bacteria, including a few that have developed resistance to human antibiotics through keeping too neat and tidy and abuse of our resources. Five years on, the research still, I think, merits a look and an update.
It stands to reason that alligators and crocodiles would have strong natural defenses, since they tend to lead fairly violent careers and sustain battle damage in not the most sanitary conditions, yet don’t succumb to infections. The protein fragments, peptides, in the blood of these creatures may even combat HIV. It all sounds like some voodoo white magic but seems promising. I wonder what happened. Translation of these chemicals, however, may not be immediate and direct since such high levels of peptides would be toxic to humans, although I imagine not less toxic than AIDS or gangrene.
