Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Medicine from Alligators?

Scientists are currently looking to develop new antibiotics, their source: alligator blood! This new discovery may help doctors crack the new "superbugs" as alligators have unusually strong immune defense systems. Even during injury, alligators can fight off fungi and bacteria even though they have never been exposed to a particular strain. Humans must be exposed before producing antibodies to fight them off. This new research from McNeese State University, although in it's early stages could hold the key to producing an antibacterial cream. The cream could be used for foot ulcers of patients with diabetes to help prevent the type of uncontrolled infections that lead to amputations as well as to the skin of burn patients to keep infections at bay until damaged skin can heal.

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