Komodo Dragon Blood May Hold the Secret to Killing Superbugs

The blood of the endangered Komodo dragon is known for its toxicity, but the world’s largest lizard also appears impervious to disease and infection. A team of researchers who spent the past four years analyzing Komodo blood discovered it’s loaded with compounds that could be used as antibiotics. They say they’re hoping to turn those compounds into drugs that may be worth billions of dollars and save millions of lives. “I’ve got a 6-year-old daughter who sleeps on a stuffed Komodo,” says lead researcher Barney Bishop. “I’d like her to grow up in a world with effective antibiotics.”

Immunity
Komodos regularly eat carrion but rarely fall ill because they carry proteins called antimicrobial peptides, an all-purpose infection defense.

Study
The researchers analyzed blood samples from captive Komodos in Florida using a mass spectrometer to identify peptides with drug potential.