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Scientists have discovered that alligator blood contains peptides that can destroy many types of bacteria, including some antibiotic-resistant strains, and reduce HIV levels. Researchers believe these peptides help prevent alligators from developing fatal infections despite their violent behaviors. Studies show alligator serum killed more bacteria strains than human serum and reduced HIV. Researchers hope to isolate and sequence these peptides to develop new drugs within 7-10 years to prevent infections in high-risk patients. However, high concentrations of alligator serum can be toxic to human cells.

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184 views3 pages

Quiz (4 Mei - 7 Mei)

Scientists have discovered that alligator blood contains peptides that can destroy many types of bacteria, including some antibiotic-resistant strains, and reduce HIV levels. Researchers believe these peptides help prevent alligators from developing fatal infections despite their violent behaviors. Studies show alligator serum killed more bacteria strains than human serum and reduced HIV. Researchers hope to isolate and sequence these peptides to develop new drugs within 7-10 years to prevent infections in high-risk patients. However, high concentrations of alligator serum can be toxic to human cells.

Uploaded by

Ndy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Alligators which often engage in violent fights over territories and mates, have made scientists

puzzled why their wounds rarely get infected. Now researchers think the secret lies in the reptiles’
blood. Chemists in Louisiana found that blood from the American alligators can successfully destroy
23 strains of bacteria, including stains known to be resistant to antibiotics. In addition, the blood was
able to deplete and destroy a significant amount of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Study co-author Lancis Darville at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge believes that
peptides – fragment of proteins – within alligator’s blood help the animals stop fatal infections. Such
peptides are also found in the skin of frogs and toads, as well as Komodo, dragons and crocodiles. The
scientists think that these peptides could one day lead to medicines that would provide humans with
the same antibiotics’ protection. ‘We are in the process of separating and identifying the specific
peptides in alligators’ blood,’ said Darville. ‘Once we sequenced these peptides, we can obtain their
chemical structure to potentially created new drugs.’

Study co-author Mark merchant, a biochemist at Mc Neese State University in Lake Charles,
Louisiana, was among the first to notice alligators’ unusual resistance. He was intrigued that, despite
living in swampy environments where the bacteria thrive, alligators that suffered frequent scratches
and bruises rarely developed fatal infections. Merchant therefore created human and alligator serum-
protein-rich blood plasma that has been able to remove clotting agents, and exposed each of them to
23 strains of bacteria. Human serum destroyed only eight of bacterial strains while the alligator serum
killed all 23. When the alligator was exposed to HIV, the researchers found that a good amount of the
virus was destroyed.

The study team thinks that pills and creams containing alligator peptides could be available at
level pharmacies within seven to ten years. Such products would be a solution to patients that need
extra help preventing infections, such as diabetes patients with foot ulcers, burn victims and people
suffering from auto-immune diseases. However, there may be potential problems before alligator-
based medicines can reach drugstore shelves. For example, initial tests have revealed that higher
concentrations of the alligator serum tent to be toxic to human cells.

1. This passage would probably found in a(n) …..


A. Academic journal
B. Lifestyle magazine
C. Medical leaflet
D. Health magazine
E. Men magazine
2. The word “deplete” in line 4 is closest in meaning to ...
A. diminish
B. augment
C. devastate
D. damage
E. demolish
3. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about peptides within alligators’ blood?
A. They are fragments of proteins.
B. They may stop fatal infections.
C. They are injected in the human body
D. They are within the blood of reptiles
E. They have the same function as antibiotics
4. The word ‘clotting’ in line 15 is closest in meaning to….
A. setting
B. accumulating
C. thickening
D. dotting
E. softening
5. The followings are what merchant, the biochemist, experienced EXCEPT that he…..
A. developed two kinds of serum, each can destroy 23 strains of bacteria.
B. learned why alligators can survive in bacterial environments.
C. became interested in alligators’ resistance to infections.
D. created a serum which can remove things that cause clotting.
E. found out that crocodiles can decrease infection caused by HIV.
6. The writer concludes his essay by saying that …..
A. Scientists are now searching for medicine against HIV
B. Alligators have contributed a lot to stop human life
C. Reptiles have peptides which can be used as serum
D. Peptides in the blood are only found in American alligators
E. Alligators serum has the possibility to harm human beings.
7. The tone of the passage is …..
A. discouraging
B. touching
C. positive
D. cconcerned
E. alarming
8. The word ‘revealed’ in line 23 is closest in meaning to …..
A. hide
B. concealed
C. exposed
D. disclosed
E. released
9. The word ‘bruises’ in line 14 is closest in meaning to …..
A. damages
B. contusion
C. crashes
D. swellings
E. blows
10. The paragraph that precedes the passage might talk about …..
A. the current research to prevent infections.
B. the potential causes of HIV in children.
C. that use of reptile peptides to cure infections.
D. auto-immune diseases in HIV patients.
E. the reasons alligators rarely develop fatal infections

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