Alligator blood puts the bite on germs

Mention “alligator” and “blood” to most people, and they immediately think “scream” and “crunch.” People imagine the sharp teeth in these big lizard-like creatures putting the bite on a person or a pet that gets too close to gator-infested waters. You may have even heard stories about alligators showing up unexpectedly on golf courses or even backyards. Although alligator attacks are rare, they can hurt and even kill people and pets.

Chemists like Dr. Mark E. Merchant, Dr. Kermit K. Murray, and Lancia N. F. Darville get different thoughts at the mention of alligator blood. These scientists are working on ways of using gator blood to put the bite on germs that make cuts get infected and turn red and puffy with pus and pain.

Dr. Merchant and other scientists have discovered that gator blood contains materials that work like the antibiotics we take for strep throat, ear infections, and other diseases. Alligators need those natural germ fighters. They live in dirty, germ-filled water. In addition, gators get into fights and bite each other. Nevertheless, their injuries heal without getting infected.

In laboratory tests, some gator blood proteins seem to stop the worst infections on Earth. Those proteins may become powerful new antibiotics that are better than medicines used today. You’ve heard of penicillin? Well, Dr. Merchant calls these infection fighters from alligator blood, “ALLIGA-cin.” If the research is successful, “alligacins” from these awesome creatures may one day save the lives of people and pets.

Scientists presented a report on this research in April in New Orleans at the spring national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

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— Mark T. Sampson