Scientists have often been puzzled as to why alligators never seem to get infections. They often get into violent fights over territories and mates, and they get wounds that should be easy targets for infection. Their blood might be the key.
Chemists have isolated blood from the American alligator and have successfully destroyed 23 strains of bacteria, including ones known to be resistant to antibiotics. In fact, the blood has proven strong enough to destroy a significant amount of HIV. They’re now working in isolating the active compounds that help the alligator and put it into medicine for human use. This is a really exciting development, especially with news of new antibiotic resistant strains of certain diseases like gonorrhea that are starting to spread.
