Scientists Search for Underwater Cures
Jeffrey Kofman joins researchers as they search for the next big cure.
July 29, 2008— -- Deep in the bayous of East Texas, a search light scans the darkness. While this may seem like an odd place to advance medical science, biochemist Mark Merchant aims to do just that, here in the swamps and marshlands.
"We are shining this spotlight across the marsh to shine in alligators' eye[s]," Merchant, who teaches at McNeese State University, told ABC News' Jeffrey Kofman. Not only are the eyes of alligators reflective but night is their feeding time, making this the perfect time to go looking for them. Kofman joined Dr. Merchant on a nighttime trip through the swamps, searching the marsh for alligators.
Merchant believes the blood of 'gators may contain properties which would translate well into new medicines to combat human diseases.
"We think that their lifestyle that they've lived for many many millions of years has led to the evolution [of] an immune system that is really really special," Merchant explained. "That prevents them from being infected, and we are thinking that maybe we can tap into that for modern molecular medicine."
It is for this reason that Merchant and his team search the marsh for alligators, hoping to gain a few samples of their blood. The alligators have lived violent lives in these swamps for thousands of years, constantly suffering injuries yet still managing to heal without infection. Merchant thinks that unlocking the healing components of alligator blood could help humans.
"We certainly think this could help a variety of diseases but particularly those that are antibiotic resistant," he said.
After catching the gators Merchant and his team wrestle to tape the animal's jaws shut to avoid getting hurt. They then collect a quick sample of the blood before releasing the creatures back into the wild.
Back in the lab at McNeese State University in Louisiana, Merchant isolated the peptides in alligator blood he had collected. A few drops of plasma in a Petri dish of bacteria showed the potential.
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