Gator Blood Contains Natural Germ Fighters
Sophisticated germ fighters found in alligator blood may help future soldiers in the field fend off infection, according to new research by George Mason University. The study, published Feb. 11 in the scientific journal PLOS One, is the result of a fundamental research project supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to find bacterial infection-defeating compounds in the blood of the crocodilian family of reptiles, which includes American alligators. The project is about to start its fourth year and has received $6 million in funding to date from DTRA. If fully funded over five years, the project will be worth $7.57 million. Alligators live in bacteria-filled environments and dine on carrion. Yet this ancient reptile rarely falls ill. read more