For millions of years, crocodiles and their relatives have roamed the planet, developing strong immune systems to help fight off potentially harmful microbes in swamps and waterways… Now a study says something important about crocodiles.
Based on the popular video game, The Last of Us is about a zombie pandemic in which a parasitic fungus infects humans and turns them into monsters. Last of Us has an aspect that touches real life. Because it is based on a real group of parasites known as “zombie mushrooms” and the Latin name is Ophiocordyceps. This genus of fungi infects, for example, ants in nature; he rots the insect he has infected from the inside and finally takes over his mind.
The subject is also on the agenda of scientists. As the threat of antibiotic-resistant microbes grows, so does our need for new and effective treatments.
A study recently published in Nature Communications takes a closer look at antimicrobial proteins called defensins found in saltwater crocodiles. These proteins play an important role in reptiles’ first line of defense against infectious diseases.
According to the research, examining defensin proteins in depth may also pave the way for solutions against possible fungal pandemics in the future.
WHAT IS DEFENSIN?
According to the article in Iflscience, Defensins are small proteins produced by all plants and animals. In plants, defensins are usually made in flowers and leaves, while in animals defensins are made in white blood cells and mucus membranes (for example, in the lungs and intestines). Their job is to protect the host by killing infectious organisms.
Research on defensins of different plant and animal species has found that they can target a wide variety of disease-causing pathogens. These include bacteria, fungi, viruses.
What is the characteristic of the crocodile?
Despite living in polluted water, crocodiles are rarely infected, although they are often injured while hunting and fighting for territory. This shows that crocodiles have a strong immune system.
“We wanted to better understand how their defensins have adapted over time to protect them in these harsh environments,” the researchers say.
By investigating the genome of the saltwater crocodile, the team found that a specific defensin called CpoBD13 was effective at killing the fungus Candida albicans, the leading cause of human fungal infections worldwide. While some plant and animal defensins have previously been shown to target Candida albicans, the mechanism of CpoBD13 was unique.
“This is because CpoBD13 can self-regulate its activity according to the pH of the surrounding environment. At neutral pH (for example, in blood), defensin is not active. However, when it reaches the site of infection with a lower, acidic pH, it activates and clears the infection. ‘ it was said.
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