April 7th, 2008 10:26 AM Eastern
Alligator Blood Could Save Lives
by Jessica Doyle
Alligators may have a reputation of being vicious killers, but the blood that runs through their veins could someday save your life, it is being reported.
A study done by researchers at McNeese State University in Louisiana suggests that proteins found in alligator blood may provide new antibiotics that could treat diabetic ulcers, severe burn, and “superbugs”, including MRSA, that are resistant to other kinds of medicine, according to a news release.
Tags: alligator blood, MRSA, proteins, burns, diabetic ulcers
Share
Nothing new about this - As a diehard Dawg fan (University of Georgia to you uninformed ones), I’ve known for years that Gator blood was something to work for
I was diagnosed with MRSA almost a year ago. I took anti-biotics that kept it in check. I still have bad flare ups and this is now the 3rd bit of news I have accidently stumbled on about alligator blood being a very likely cure to MRSA. Please send me some way to stay informed on the progress and if there are any doctors in the Atlanta area that are best at cutting edge medicine.
Tim Newsome
402-6951
633 Calibre Brooke way
Smyrna, Ga 30080
(67
thank you for posting a good story on reptiles. there is too much bashing going on today with the media not getting all the facts or taking only certain parts of issues and blowing it all out of proportion.
We have some dear friends who’s daughter had this surgery done at around age 6 - also at Johns Hopkins. She is now about 12 and is a very normal child - when before she was home schooled and could not attend public school due to severe seizure problems. She has some minor problems with her gate and can’t throw a ball as well as some of her peers - one side of her body is stronger than the other.. but she runs and plays and skips and laughs reads.. pesters her brother & sister.. She is great! Her IQ is in the very normal range. These doctors are amazing. They are truly a gift to these children and their families.
I grew up with Dr. Merchant and have seen him working on this project for several years. It is quite pleasing to someone from our town of 18,000 making such a contribution to society.
GO GATORS– these predators live in the worst enviorment and survive.. this should of been done long time ago .. UF is working on a project for the eyes.. the report shows no eye infections from the gator.. maybe our disasour will save some lifes
We lost the Croc Hunter and found Alligator Blood. Could the two incidences be causal?
Okay, bad joke.
I’ve always said that we don’t need to create embryos to find cures. We haven’t begun to look at the animals and plants available to us for our cures.
McNeese State University deserves kudos and awards for their research. And other research universities and colleges could take a lesson from them and start looking closer to home for research projects. (Like Bulldogs, Elephants, Razorbacks, etc.)
But not eagles or tigers . . . WAR EAGLE!
Reptiles have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They survived the great disaster that killed off the dinosaurs. It’s only natural to think that their immune systems may be superior to ours. I hope that research continues in this area.
Very ,Very good news ,now lets grt it done, a.s.a.p.,so we can get it to put to use..
Oh no, another way to exploit animals.
my nephew has been diagnosed with mrsa and it has not responded to the “best” infusion antibiotic. Is there any test going on that my nephew could participate in that might cure him? we are in the dallas area, but could go wherever.
thank you for any info you can
shannon
I attend Mcneese and have had Dr. Merchant as a teacher for Biochemistry he has worked on this for years and has done a great job with his research. It is exciting to see it all start to come together. It is something that could help alot of people and for those who say we are exploiting animals you are wrong Dr. Merchant is very careful for I have seen how he handles his Gators