Interesting http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_680000/680840.stm

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), March 17, 2000

Answers

Croc blood battles superbugs

"Scientists in the United States have isolated a powerful agent in crocodile blood which could help conquer human infections immune to standard antibiotics..."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_680000/680840.stm

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), March 17, 2000.

Thank you CD for the link.

I am on lesson one on HTML for Everyone.

-- Pam (jpjgood@penn.com), March 17, 2000.

'welcome

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), March 17, 2000.

Croc blood battles superbugs

Could crocodiles help save human lives?

Scientists in the United States have isolated a powerful agent in crocodile blood which could help conquer human infections immune to standard antibiotics.

The discovery was made thanks to the curiosity of a BBC science producer filming a documentary on salt-water crocodiles in Australia, BBC Director-General Greg Dyke revealed on Thursday.

In tests, this substance kills strains of virulent bacteria that are resistant to all standard antibiotics

BBC chief Greg Dyke

"Our producer noticed something that surprised her - despite the horrendous injuries the crocs inflict on each other, their wounds rarely get infected," he told the annual dinner of the Science Museum in London.

"She discussed this with a young croc expert who agreed that it would be interesting to try to find out why.

"After many adventures, they got their blood samples and last week a leading research institute isolated from these samples what I'm told is a novel anti-microbial peptide.

Bacteria 'blown away'

"In tests, this substance kills strains of virulent bacteria that are resistant to all standard antibiotics," Mr Dyke said.

Named crocodillin, it may one day be used in drugs to treat human infections.

Crocodile wounds rarely get infected

The BBC chief used the story to illustrate the active part the corporation took in the development and understanding of science, and to reaffirm its commitment to coverage of the subject.

The producer at the centre of the discovery, Jill Fullerton-Smith of the Living Proof series on BBC1, said natural antibiotics had been found in various animals, including frogs, but nobody had looked at reptiles.

She told The Times newspaper that scientists at New Jersey Medical School had split a sample of crocodile blood she had sent them into component parts which had then been tested against common bacteria.

"One of them blew away the bacteria," she was quoted as saying.

A peptide is a natural chemical made of amino acids strung together that can destroy bacteria by penetrating their membranes.

Such natural antibiotics do not damage normal cells which means they can be useful as drugs to treat human infections.

Search BBC News Online Advanced search options BBC ONE TV NEWS WORLD NEWS SUMMARY

See also:

10 Feb 00 | Asia-Pacific Malaysia plans crack croc squad 05 Nov 99 | Asia-Pacific Crocodile influx threatens Australia Internet links:

Crocodilian Internet Resources Crocodilians: Natural History and Conservation Living Proof

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Links to other Sci/Tech stories are at the foot of the page.

-- suzy (suzy@nowhere.com), March 17, 2000.

Makes ya wonder what we could have had from all the species we obliterated over time, eh?

Sure would be nice if this could lead to a cure for the major ills of the world, like cancers, aids, and so forth.

Wonder if it could cure intolerance, hatred, and other related social ills....

-- Hoping (cures@re.coming?), March 17, 2000.

Mother Nature has lots to offer out there.

Sharks are immune to all cancers. Gotta be a cure in there somewhere....

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), March 17, 2000.

"After many adventures, they got their blood samples."

I bet they had some adventures. I hope they didn't have to give up too much of their own blood for the croc's human experiments.

-- kermit (colourmegreen@hotmail.com), March 17, 2000.

Were the crocs required to fast for 24 hours before the sample? I'm tempted to follow this story. Is there something about the DNA structure of crocs that provide this antibody? [You are what you are.] Is it something they EAT that provides this antibody? [You are what you eat.] Is it something about lifestyle, etc?

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.thingee), March 17, 2000.