Скачать или смотреть Bizarre Biology: From the Swamp to the Lab

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections have been a rising concern across the globe, requiring continuous work in order to keep up with effective treatments. Meanwhile, swimming under murky-waters, is a massive alligator containing antimicrobial peptides that could change the tides of this never-ending battle. This podcast shares scientific reports, studies, and implications surrounding these ancient beasts.

Comm-Sci Works Cited
(1) van Hoek, M. Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles. Pharmaceuticals 2014, 7 (6), 723–753. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph7060723.
(2) Thakur, A.; Sharma, A.; Alajangi, H. K.; Jaiswal, P. K.; Lim, Y.; Singh, G.; Barnwal, R. P. In Pursuit of Next-Generation Therapeutics: Antimicrobial Peptides against Superbugs, Their Sources, Mechanism of Action, Nanotechnology-Based Delivery, and Clinical Applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2022, 218, 135–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07....
(3) Cordero Gil, T. de los Á.; Moleón, M. S.; Marelli, B. E.; Siroski, P. A. Host Defense Peptides in Crocodilians – a Comprehensive Review. Peptides 2024, 182, 171312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2024.17....
(4) Santana, F. L.; Estrada, K.; Ortiz, E.; Corzo, G. Reptilian β-Defensins: Expanding the Repertoire of Known Crocodylian Peptides. Peptides 2020, 136, 170473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2020.17....
(5) Rios, A. C.; Moutinho, C. G.; Pinto, F. C.; Del Fiol, F. S.; Jozala, A.; Chaud, M. V.; Vila, M. M. D. C.; Teixeira, J. A.; Balcão, V. M. Alternatives to Overcoming Bacterial Resistances: State-of-The-Art. Microbiological research 2016, 191, 51–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2016.04.008.
(6) Barksdale, S. M.; Hrifko, E. J.; van Hoek, M. L. Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide from Alligator Mississippiensis Has Antibacterial Activity against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumanii and Klebsiella Pneumoniae. Developmental & Comparative Immunology 2017, 70, 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2017.01.011.
(7) Santana, F. L.; Arenas, I.; Haney, E. F.; Estrada, K.; Hancock, R. E. W.; Corzo, G. Identification of a Crocodylian β-Defensin Variant from Alligator Mississippiensis with Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity. Peptides 2021, 141, 170549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2021.17....
(8) Wang, J.; Su, B.; Al-Armanazi, J.; Wise, A. L.; Shang, M.; Bern, L.; Li, S.; Xing, D.; Johnson, A.; Wang, W.; Hettiarachchi, D. U.; Coogan, M.; Bruce, T. J.; Dunham, R. A. Integration of Alligator Cathelicidin Gene via Two CRISPR/Cas9-Assisted Systems Enhances Bacterial Resistance in Blue Catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus. Aquaculture 2023, 576, 739860–739860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023....
(9) Merchant, M. E.; Leger, N.; Jerkins, E.; Mills, K.; Pallansch, M. B.; Paulman, R. L.; Ptak, R. G. Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of Leukocyte Extracts from the American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis). Veterinary immunology and immunopathology 2006, 110 (3-4), 221–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2005.10.001.
(10) Xie, Q.; Liu, Y.; Luo, F.; Yi, Q.; Wang, Y.; Deng, L.; Dai, J.; Feng, T. Antiviral Activity of Cathelicidin 5, a Peptide from Alligator Sinensis, against WSSV in Caridean Shrimp Exopalaemon Modestus. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 2019, 93, 82–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.07.043.
(11) Harris Heller. Still Standing [YouTube Video]; Streambeats by Harris Heller, 2020.    • Haunted Swamp Banjo ~mysteriously calming ...  (accessed April 22, 2025).
(12) Figure generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, April 2025).