Komodo Dragons have antibacterial blood

Komodo Dragons have antibacterial blood

Researchers studying komodo dragons(Varanus komodoensis ) at George mason University discovered 48 previously unknown peptides in there blood that might have antimicrobial properties. There findings Published in the January of proteome Research. For the largest lizard , these peptides may help prevent the animal from getting infections from there own saliva; Which is host to at least 57 species of bacteria. With this number of bacteria it is easy to understand why they evolved so many defense mechanisms to prevent infections from there own saliva as well as bite injuries during fights with other dragons. The researchers isolated synthesized 8 of the peptides and tested their ability to fight infections.
Seven of the peptides were found to have antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as Staphylococcus aureus whereas the 8 peptide showed antimicrobial activity only towards P. aeruginosa . Thus , for humans these protein may pave the way for the development of new treatments for antibiotic - resistant bacterial strains.

Life lines by - Doc. dolittle