Crocodillin

Crocodillin is an antibacterial substance found in crocodile blood. The active component is a protein made of amino acids called a peptide. As a part of the immune system, the string of peptides fights bacteria and enables crocodiles to avoid serious infection in the very septic and contagious environment that they reside in.

References

#Antibacterial properties of serum from the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), Merchant ME et.al., Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2003 Nov;136(3):505-13.
#Naturally occurring antibacterial activities of avian and crocodile tissues, M. Shaharabany, et al, J Antimicrob Chemother 1999; 44: 416–418

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/680840.stm BBC - Crocodillin]
* [http://www.open2.net/bluesky/crocodile.htm BBC - The Open University]