Alligator Blood May Be Source of New Antibiotics

esocid writes "Biochemists from McNeese State University have described how proteins in gator blood may provide a source of powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers and severe burns. This new class of drug could also crack so-called 'superbugs' that are resistant to conventional medication. Previous studies have showed alligators have an unusually strong immune system; unlike humans, alligator immune systems can defend against microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria without having prior exposure to them. Scientists believe that this is an evolutionary adaptation to promote quick wound healing, as alligators are often injured during fierce territorial battles."

Cue TMNTs

[esocid]

I just can't shake the image of leatherhead from teenage mutant ninja turtles from my mind now. whatcouldpossiblygowrong?

Is this a joke?

[ben0207]

Were they hoping people wouldn't associate a wonderdrug from a reptile (this shite) with the common phrase "snake oil" (a wonderdrug from a reptile)

Hillbilly Research

[eldavojohn]

It's amazing what can be discovered when you're looking for something else. I have an excerpt from the researcher's journal that I found on their site:

"Johnson was busy cutting lines and snorting dolphin brains while playing Brain Age to see if that was increasing his mental capabilities. Heinz was freebasing hawk feathers and taking eye exams to check for increased vision. Me? I was mainlining alligator blood and hoping for some sort of super jaw strength and scales. As we were taking Williams to the hospital (he had grafted a mongoose tail to his ass and entered a pit of asps and vipers) I noticed that all my ulcers and sinuses had cleared up within the hour ..."

Gator-aid?

[thatseattleguy]

Good for what ails ya.

'nuff said.

Re:superbugs

[Anonymous Coward]

But then we can harvest the proteins from the white blood cells of a different, and even more awesome animal. Everyone wins.

Re:What's the cost?

[Ai Olor-Wile]

The cost is "being a goddamn ten foot long reptile." The cure is "put it in pills." Sheesh, some transhumanists...

oh yeah, it's great for you

[Anonymous Coward]

just not so good for your health to try to collect it

In that vein

[explosivejared]

I'll tell you what could go wrong:

evolutionary adaptation to promote quick wound healing

An angry Wolverine, the four horseman Wolverine to be exact, sues for prior art, and on a technicality gains control of the entire human population's genome. This would quite literally usher in "the" Apocolypse.

Alligator blood?

[lpangelrob]

Alligator blood? Man, that's cold.

Re:Cue TMNTs

[jaymzter]

In related news, Dr Curt Connors of Everglades Patch, Florida has filed a patent suit against the University for misappropriation of his intellectual property.

Re:Have you seen where these things live?

[value_added]

My only concern with this type of approach is how hamstrung will we get when the first protesters arrive?

No worries. The biochemists studying this work at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and McNeese State University in Lake Charles, both in Louisiana. If you ever been to that part of the south, you'd know they'd rather eat the things only slightly more than they'd prefer shoot them, or use them to make handbags, belts and shoes.

Can we replicate it or at least identify WHY it is so useful or different?

If we can't, we'll have to turn to someone like Emeril Lagasse [wikipedia.org] for an alternative, more spicy, use. At any rate, the article is fairly interesting. Maybe they should adopt a slogan like "Alligators: Good, and Good for You." to get things going.

Re:Why evolution?

[hoggoth]

> Or conversely, alligators as a species have always had these antibiotics. Why is it that every interesting or perplexing feature about a species must be somehow attributed to, or be a product of, evolution?
> I'm as much a believer in evolution as the next, but I've grown a bit tired of every amazing discovery being associated with evolution.

Because every interesting, perlexing, or boring feature of a species is of course a product of evolution.
The first single cell didn't have a powerful immune system. Alligators do. Somewhere along the way the branch of life leading to alligators, they evolved a powerful immune system. Why does that characterisation bother you?

Perhaps I misunderstood you, and you were reacting to the common tendency for the news to report some simplistic off-the-cuff guess as to what environmental pressure led to a certain feature evolving. In this case, territorial fights=super immunity. I heard a story on the news this morning about how less sleep leads to increased feelings of hunger and the reporter added, 'this makes sense in evolutionary terms because clubbing rhinos for food all day takes a lot of energy and increased hunger will help replenish that energy' huh? wtf?

Re:What's the cost?

[trybywrench]

The fact that alligators are one of the few (only?) animals to evolve this adaptation indicates that it comes with a hefty price. The question is, can we leverage this adaptation for ourselves without incurring the price?

yeah i don't even want to think about the copay

In LOUISIANA...

[Notquitecajun]

Just to point out, McNeese State University, where the study was done, is in Lake Charles, LA. That's in South Louisiana. Which is mostly swampland, or close to it.

Those kids KNOWS gators. Which are tasty, by the way, and becoming a borderline nuisance down in South LA because the @#$%ing damnyankee tourists keep feedin' em and dey come up to de pirogue lookin' for de crap-touristee food and you gotta whack 'em wit' de paddle and dey bite de paddle and you got...woah, sorry.

All that goes to say....Gator sausage is GOOD eatin'.

The Cajun Cure

[Kozar_The_Malignant]

Old family recipe:

• 2 oz. fresh gator blood
• 2 oz. rum 151 proof or stronger
• splash hot pepper sauce
• serve straight up with or without raw egg

Cures what ails you.

Hi. Maybe you're unaware

[BitterAndDrunk]

Crocodiles are relatives of alligators, but are not the same animal. I know it's confusing because they're very scary animals.

Evolution is about offspring

[PIPBoy3000]

Maybe the kid born with the super-human immune system was ugly as sin and all the girls ignored him when it was time to make babies. The good looking guy was able to father dozens of children and keeled over at a young age due to an infected hang-nail.

You'd think a site full of supposed nerds would understand the concept instinctively.

Re:Have you seen where these things live?

[Ethanol-fueled]

Gator meat isn't shot full of hormones and other shit. Problem is catching the damn things ;)

Re:Maybe because you have read about it before:

[Anonymous Coward]

I hope they meant some sort of antibody a croc's immune system produces kills HIV, because HIV can't live in a cold blooded creature anyway.

Now that's Gator-Aid!

[Anonymous Coward]

i'm so so sorry

really

Re:superbugs

[repapetilto]

What we really need is a drug for restless mouth syndrome. "Do you find yourself going on and on about whatever you happen to be thinking about, until people tell you they just don't care? You may have RMS, visit www.rms.com to find out if you have RMS. Small print: Shhhitol is not approved by the FDA for treatment of RMS, consult your physician before beginning any off-label drug regimine"

Re:superbugs

[emag]

Ok, I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet, so here goes...

I totally agree with you here, but there is one thing to think about; what happens if we make an even worse epidemic than HIV/AIDS?

You mean, something like... Gator-AIDS?

Re:Have you seen where these things live?

[mattsucks]

Gator meat isn't shot full of hormones and other shit. Problem is catching the damn things ;)

I can imagine two gators (on gator-dot?) having the same discussion about _us_.

Re:superbugs

[arotenbe]

But then we can harvest the proteins from the white blood cells of a different, and even more awesome animal.

Sharks with lasers! Aw, dang, someone got it first...

[runs from moderators with anti-meme missiles]

Gator Man!

[MrSteveSD]

I'm not sure the new show will be that successfull, but here's a possible theme song...

Gator-Man, Gator-Man,
Hides in water wherever he can,

Grabs a leg, Just like light,
Lets the corpse rot overnight,

Hey man, here comes the Gator-Man,

Gator-Man, Gator-Man, Deadly neighbourhood Gator-Man, Wealth and fame, he's ignored,
Chunks of flesh are his reward,

Hey man, here comes the Gator Man

The Mad Fools!

[Michael_Burton]

Those fools!

It's true Dr. Connors' work has not yet been featured in a Spider-Man movie, but that's no excuse for scientists not being familiar with the literature regarding this kind of research.

Re:Cue TMNTs

[intangible]

You got that wrong:
Better to die drunk, than live sober.

Finally...

[hyades1]

...It looks like my ex will be good for something positive.