How Can The Komodo Dragon Blood Save Humanity?
[8:25 PM, 1/10/2018] evelynbelle: If you're anything like me, then am sure you also think that a komodo dragon is scary as hell. Well, i guess nature imbides some amazingly unique qualities in the places we least expect. Who would have thought the komodo dragon can be full of so much surprises. Before i get into the secrets the blood of the komodo dragon holds, I'll love to give you some facts about the komodo dragon.
The komodo dragons are just extremely large lizards. They live on four islands, namely: Komodo, Flores, Rinca and Gili Motang. Even though these animals have existed for years, they were only discovered a century ago when a plane accidentally landed on the komodo island. For this reason, and for the fact that they look a bit …show more content…
The prey is weakened by the venom in its saliva. The venom reduces blood pressure,increases blood loss and sends the prey into shock. The prey becomes too weak to fight and then the venom keeps eating it up until it gives up; Giving the komodo dragon chance to feed.
How Can The Komodo Dragon Blood Help Save Humanity?
Scientists have discovered that the blood of the komodo dragon is filled with Catonic antimicrobial peptides(CAMP's). This is an all purpose bacteria and infection fighting substance produced by all living creatures.It is an essential part of the innate immune system. The CAMP's in the komodo dragon is totally unique due to the fact that the komodo dragon carries a lot of bacteria and is never affected by them.
More than 50 new types of CAMP's have been identified in the komodo dragon blood.Most of them just ward off bacteria, about 8 of them are able to fight bacteria that are currently resistant to antibiotics.7 of them killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains(which are currently resistant to antibiotic.)While one fought off only P. …show more content…
This peptide has the ability to prevent biofilms(this is when a group of bacteria merge, in order to protect themselves.)
Researchers on this discovery, critically studied the VK25 and later rearranged the amino acids that form it; to create a stronger synthetic peptide which they named DRGN-1.
The DRGN-1 which is pronounced Dragon-1,was tested on mice.Some mice were given skin wounds and the wounds were infected by the biggest super bugs(Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains) of our time. It was observed that the DRGN-1 dissolved the biofilms that glued bacteria together, and then sped up wound healing. This observation is considered a break through in the pharmaceutical field because it has given hope to the antibiotic resistance epidemic.
Concluding Thoughts
The research on komodo dragons was actually financed by the military sector because the main aim was to possibly find a means of protecting soldiers from bacterial bioweapons, and helping them heal faster when they are injured. The research has however, brought hope to the mainstream; there is currently hope that antibacterial resistance can be overcome in the nearest
The komodo dragons are just extremely large lizards. They live on four islands, namely: Komodo, Flores, Rinca and Gili Motang. Even though these animals have existed for years, they were only discovered a century ago when a plane accidentally landed on the komodo island. For this reason, and for the fact that they look a bit …show more content…
The prey is weakened by the venom in its saliva. The venom reduces blood pressure,increases blood loss and sends the prey into shock. The prey becomes too weak to fight and then the venom keeps eating it up until it gives up; Giving the komodo dragon chance to feed.
How Can The Komodo Dragon Blood Help Save Humanity?
Scientists have discovered that the blood of the komodo dragon is filled with Catonic antimicrobial peptides(CAMP's). This is an all purpose bacteria and infection fighting substance produced by all living creatures.It is an essential part of the innate immune system. The CAMP's in the komodo dragon is totally unique due to the fact that the komodo dragon carries a lot of bacteria and is never affected by them.
More than 50 new types of CAMP's have been identified in the komodo dragon blood.Most of them just ward off bacteria, about 8 of them are able to fight bacteria that are currently resistant to antibiotics.7 of them killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains(which are currently resistant to antibiotic.)While one fought off only P. …show more content…
This peptide has the ability to prevent biofilms(this is when a group of bacteria merge, in order to protect themselves.)
Researchers on this discovery, critically studied the VK25 and later rearranged the amino acids that form it; to create a stronger synthetic peptide which they named DRGN-1.
The DRGN-1 which is pronounced Dragon-1,was tested on mice.Some mice were given skin wounds and the wounds were infected by the biggest super bugs(Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains) of our time. It was observed that the DRGN-1 dissolved the biofilms that glued bacteria together, and then sped up wound healing. This observation is considered a break through in the pharmaceutical field because it has given hope to the antibiotic resistance epidemic.
Concluding Thoughts
The research on komodo dragons was actually financed by the military sector because the main aim was to possibly find a means of protecting soldiers from bacterial bioweapons, and helping them heal faster when they are injured. The research has however, brought hope to the mainstream; there is currently hope that antibacterial resistance can be overcome in the nearest