Do crocodilians get the flu? Looking for influenza A in captive crocodilians

[Sally Furniss]

Do crocodilians get the flu? Looking for influenza A in captive crocodilians

<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Lisa Marie Davis^{[SIZE=-1] 1[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] *[/SIZE]}, Erica Spackman^{[SIZE=-1] 2[/SIZE]}</td></tr><tr><td>^{[SIZE=-1]1[/SIZE]}Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California
^{[SIZE=-1]2[/SIZE]}Southeast Poultry Research Lab, Athens, Georgia
</td></tr><tr><td>email: Lisa Marie Davis (davislm@appliedbiosystems.com)</td></tr></tbody></table>^{[SIZE=-1]*[/SIZE]}Correspondence to Lisa Marie Davis, Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln Centre Dr., Foster City, CA 94404
<script language="JavaScript">setDOI("ADOI=10.1002/jez.454")</script>Funded by:

USDA-ARS CRIS; Grant Number: 6612-32000-039
<table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="mainSectionHeader">Abstract</td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>It is well established that several wild aquatic bird species serve as reservoirs for the influenza A virus. It has also been shown that the influenza A virus can be transmitted to mammalian species such as tigers and domestic cats and dogs through ingestion of infected birds. Another group of animals that should also be considered as potential hosts for the influenza A virus are the crocodilians. Many crocodilian species share aquatic environments with wild birds that are known to harbor influenza viruses. In addition, many large crocodilians utilize birds as a significant food source. Given these factors in addition to the close taxonomic proximity of aves to the crocodilians, it is feasible to ask whether crocodilian species may also harbor the influenza A virus. Here we analyzed 37 captive crocodilians from two locations in Florida (plus 5 wild bird fecal-samples from their habitat) to detect the presence of influenza A virus. Several sample types were examined. Real-time RT-PCR tests targeting the influenza A matrix gene were positive for four individual crocodilians - Alligator sinensis, Paleosuchus trigonatus, Caiman latirostris and Crocodylus niloticus. Of the seven serum samples tested with the avian influenza virus agar gel immunodiffusion assay, three showed a nonspecific reaction to the avian influenza virus antigen - A. sinensis, P. trigonatus and C. niloticus (C. latirostris was not tested). Viable virus could not be recovered from RT-PCR-positive samples, although this is consistent with previous attempts at viral isolation in embryonated chicken eggs with crocodilian viruses. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:1-10, 2008. ? 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</td></tr></tbody></table><hr align="left" size="1" width="25%">Received: 31 July 2007; Revised: 11 February 2008; Accepted: 14 February 2008

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/117950187/PDFSTART

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: Do crocodilians get the flu? Looking for influenza A in captive crocodilians

Alligator Blood Could Be New Antibiotic For Superbugs

Featured Article
Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses; HIV / AIDS; Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 09 Apr 2008 - 8:00 PDT

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/103400.php

Scientists in the US have discovered that proteins in alligator blood could be a powerful source of antibiotics for use against superbugs that are resistant to conventional drugs, and for treating serious infections and burns.

The discovery was presented at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society currently taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, from April 6th to 10th.

The research that led to the discovery was the work of Dr Mark Merchant, a biochemist at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and co-investigators Drs Kermit Murray and Lancia Darville, both of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and other colleagues.

The investigation is the first piece of research to explore the antibiotic properties of alligator blood in a detailed fashion.

Merchant and colleagues found other potential uses for the antibiotic proteins in alligator blood, including the treatment of a range of infections caused by the yeast Candida albicans, which poses serious problems for patients with weak immune systems, for example people being treated for AIDS or who have received an organ transplant.

In a press statement Merchant said they were "very excited" about the potential of the alligator blood proteins, both as antibacterial and antifungal agents:

"There's a real possibility that you could be treated with an alligator blood product one day," he added.

Merchant and colleagues had already shown in previous research projects that alligators have an immune system that is very different to that of humans. It is very strong and helps the reptile to heal quickly, thus conferring a significant survival advantage to creatures that suffer significant wounds during territorial fights.

An alligator's immune system has the unusual ability of combating microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria even if it has not been exposed to them before.

Merchant and colleagues isolated leucocytes (white blood cells that fight disease organisms) from blood samples taken from American alligators and extracted their active proteins.

Under laboratory conditions, small amounts of these active proteins killed a range of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the highly resistant bacterial that until recently was mostly linked to hospital settings and is now making headway in the community.

MRSA and other "superbugs" are resistant to conventional antibiotics and kill thousands of vulnerable people every year.

Merchant and colleagues also tested the potency of alligator blood proteins against Candida albicans, and found it killed six of the eight different strains of the yeast. In previous studies the investigators had already suggested that these proteins could also work against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The next step is to discover the chemical structure of the alligator blood proteins and establish which ones have the most antimicrobial power. Merchant and his team expect at least four chemicals are involved.

Knowing the exact chemical composition of the antimicrobial agents in alligator blood will help scientists develop experimental antibacterial and antifungal drugs that one day could be applied as creams or taken as pills.

Merchant said he could see these drugs being used as topical ointments.

Patients with diabetes could one day be rubbing "gator-blood cream" onto their foot ulcers, and this might help them avert amputations, said Merchant. Another potential application would be to protect burned skin from infection while it heals.

Speculating on a name for the new protein discovery, Merchant suggested it might be called "alligacin", and he hoped that if it continues to show the promise it has revealed thus far, it could be on the market within ten years.

The researchers urged people not to try and make their own alligator blood medicines, as unprocessed alligator blood is dangerous and can kill you if injected.

Suggesting that the the blood of alligator relatives like the crocodile may have similar antimicrobial properties, Merchant said he planned to study the disease fighting properties of blood from both reptile families throughout the world.

Source: American Chemical Society press statement: "Alligator blood may put the bite on antibiotic-resistant infections", 06 April 2008.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Do crocodilians get the flu? Looking for influenza A in captive crocodilians

Source: American Chemical Society press statement: "Alligator blood may put the bite on antibiotic-resistant infections", 06 April 2008.

Proteomic analysis of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) serum using 2-D-gel separation and mass spectrometry
Program Selection: Division of Analytical Chemistry
Topic Selection: General Poster Session

Lancia N. F. Darville1, Kermit K. Murray1, and Mark E. Merchant2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803,
, (2) Department of Chemistry, McNesse State University, Lake Charles, LA 70609

Abstract
We are using mass spectrometry based proteomics to investigate immune related proteins of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Alligators have an innate immune system, meaning that they require no specific exposure to an antigen to illicit an immune system response. Alligators were captured and blood was drawn from internal jugular vein. Adult alligators were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to activate their immune system. Serum was collected from the whole blood by homogenizing and centrifugation followed by salt removal using 20% trichloroacetic acid. Proteins expressed after exposure to LPS was separated using 2D-gel electrophoresis. The down-regulated proteins were isolated and digested for identification. Analysis was performed using nano-ESI-MS/MS on a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer and identified with MASCOT using MSDB and NCBInr database. When uninfected alligator serum was compared to LPS exposed serum the protein expression changed, indicating that the alligators produce significant innate immunological proteins when exposed to an infection.
________________________________________
Researcher Provided Non-Technical Summary
Briefly explain in lay language what you have done, why it is significant and what are its implications (particularly to the general public)
The focus of this research is the immune system of the American alligator. Studies have shown that the American alligator has an immune system very different than that of humans; their bodies can fight microorganisms, like fungi, virus and bacteria without ever being exposed to them. Therefore, this research involves the study of the different proteins in the American alligator?s white blood cells, specifically antibiotic peptides, which are responsible for fighting infections. In order to separate the peptides from the alligator blood, the alligator was first captured, blood was drawn, and the different components of the blood, such as the white blood cells, red blood cells and serum were separated. Once the significant peptides are isolated and identified from the alligators, they can be mimicked as antibacterial or antiviral drugs to be used by humans. This drug may allow a human?s body to combat foreign bacteria or viruses, and hopefully some day combat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Within the last 25 years more than 1.7 million people in the United States have been infected with HIV and to date a cure has not been found. Previous studies have shown that when exposing the alligator?s white blood cells to HIV, which was inoculated on a petri dish in a lab, most of the virus was destroyed. Therefore, we have evidence that we are heading in a promising direction.
How new is this work and how does it differ from that of others who may be doing similar research?
Studies of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) immune activity has been undergoing study for the last 4 years by our collaborator, Dr. Mark Merchant. He has studied the American alligator's antiviral activity of serum using cell-based assays, its serum antibacterial activity, the antimicrobial activity of the leukocytes and the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on leukocytes. On our end of this project we are isolating and identifying the antibiotic peptides responsible for the significant antimicrobial activity, which has not been done previously. In addition, we would like to identify potential sequences for these antibiotic peptides.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/539086/

 

[gsgs]

Re: Do crocodilians get the flu? Looking for influenza A in captive crocodilians

> Do crocodilians get the flu? Looking for influenza A in captive crocodilians


no flu found in crocodiles.

(I hate these unclear headlines, requiring me to read the
whole article instead of summarizing it)



they could test it in the lab first, trying to grow influenza viruses
in crocodile tissue. Has it been done ?
Better try with Egypt crocodiles - H5N1 in Egypt.