GA4

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

KOMODO DRAGONS - Reptile blood shows antibiotic and anti-HIV properties

Mongabay.com has an interesting story on the research taking place on the potential of crocodile blood's anti-HIV properties. Komodo Dragon's blood is also under investigation as a potent source of antibiotics.
The crocodile's immune system is much more powerful than that of humans, preventing life-threatening infections after savage territorial fights which often leave the animals with gaping wounds and missing limbs.
[...]
Komodo Dragons are also being studied by scientists as a source for antibiotics. The saliva of the Komodo Dragon, the world's largest lizard, is known to contain at least 52 kinds of bateria. Despite bites inflicted during frequent territorial battles, Komodo Dragons appear to never fall vicitm to infection. Researchers believe that the blood of these giant lizards may have potent antibacterial properties.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Brilliant. So now they will become even more on the verge of extinction, as the hunt starts for an AIDS cure.
Duke