Due to the risk-filled environment in which alligators lived, scientists have pondered for some time why alligators do not often fall ill. in particular, the reptiles are very resistant to pathogenic bacteria. On examining the blood of alligators, scientists discovered proteins that have remarkable antimicrobial properties. These proteins form part of the innate (natural) immune system of alligators.
First line antimicrobial peptides exist in most animals. They function to deal with bacteria from the moment of invasion, giving time for the body to attempt to develop antibodies to fight the infection. Such peptides are potent, broad spectrum antibiotics which demonstrate potential as novel therapeutic agents. Antimicrobial peptides have been demonstrated to kill a range of bacteria, enveloped viruses, fungi and even transformed or cancerous cells.
Different animals contain different types of peptides. Given the hardiness of the alligator, researchers were keen to find out whether the peptides from alligator blood could be used to help out humans in the event of people contracting infections which either would either overwhelm the immune system or against which the peptides that occur naturally in the human body are ineffective,
By studying blood samples collected from Kent Vliet of the University of Florida and the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in St. Augustine, Florida, scientists pinpointed a number of possible candidate peptides.
It is hoped that the antimicrobial peptides could be utilized to use as a drug for emergency treatments. Such a scenario might include soldiers injured in battle.
The research was undertaken at the George Mason University and the findings have been published in the journal Public Library of Science One, in a research paper titled “Bioprospecting the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Host Defense Peptidome.”
