Scientists in the United States have isolated a powerful agent in crocodile blood which could help conquer human infections immune standard antibiotics.The discovery was made thanks to the curiosity of a BBC science producer filming a documentary about saltwater crocodiles in Australia, the BBC director general Greg Dyke on Thursday showed.
“Our producer noticed something that surprised her – despite the horrendous injuries the Crocs imposed on each other, their wounds rarely get infected,” he told the annual dinner of the Science Museum in London.
“He spoke with a young croc expert who agreed that it would be interesting to try to discover why.
“After many adventures, had their blood samples and last week a leading research institutes isolated from these samples of what I’m told is a novel antimicrobial peptide.
“He spoke with a young croc expert who agreed that it would be interesting to try to discover why.
“After many adventures, had their blood samples and last week a leading research institutes isolated from these samples of what I’m told is a novel antimicrobial peptide.
Bacteria ‘blown away’
“In tests this substance kills strains of virulent bacteria that are resistant to all standard antibiotics,” said Dyke.
Appointed crocodillin, could one day be used in drugs to treat human infections.
The main BBC used to illustrate the story the active part of society, had for the development and understanding of science, and to reaffirm its commitment to coverage of the subject.
The producer at the center of discovery, Jill Fullerton-Smith, the living proof of the series on BBC1, said natural antibiotics were found in various animals, including frogs, but nobody has looked at the reptiles.
The Times said that scientists at the newspaper New Jersey Medical School has divided a sample of crocodile blood that had sent them into component parts which were then tested against common bacteria.
Appointed crocodillin, could one day be used in drugs to treat human infections.
The main BBC used to illustrate the story the active part of society, had for the development and understanding of science, and to reaffirm its commitment to coverage of the subject.
The producer at the center of discovery, Jill Fullerton-Smith, the living proof of the series on BBC1, said natural antibiotics were found in various animals, including frogs, but nobody has looked at the reptiles.
The Times said that scientists at the newspaper New Jersey Medical School has divided a sample of crocodile blood that had sent them into component parts which were then tested against common bacteria.
“One of them blew off the bacteria,” he said.
A peptide is a chemical of natural amino acids strung together that can destroy bacteria by penetrating their membranes.
These natural antibiotics do not harm normal cells, which means they can be useful as drugs for the treatment of human infections.
A peptide is a chemical of natural amino acids strung together that can destroy bacteria by penetrating their membranes.
These natural antibiotics do not harm normal cells, which means they can be useful as drugs for the treatment of human infections.
