New York – Call it a case of gator aid. New research suggests that alligator blood could serve as the basis for new antibiotics targeting infections caused by ulcers, burns and even drug-resistant “superbugs.”
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The research is in its early stages — extracts of alligator blood have only been tested in the laboratory — and there’s no guarantee that it will work in humans. Still, the findings are promising, researchers said.
“We need new antibiotics. Anything like this is a step forward,” said Dr. Stuart Levy, a professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, who’s an expert in antibiotic-resistant infections and is familiar with the new study. “But there are hurdles that this kind of antibiotic poses that others might not.” [washingtonpost]
What about Kashras on this?
…this whole story is a “croc”…
8:59
Don’t be so naive…how can you expect the Rabbis to help us with such a serious issue when they’re so busy banning concerts? That’s much more important than pikuach nefesh or getting kids out of Tranquility Bay.
Um.. read the article…
“The researchers, who presented their findings April6 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans, said the blood extract could be used to develop an antibiotic in a topical cream form.”
“scientists might be able to create drugs that copy the blood proteins once they figure out their structure. “
What is so special about New York gator blood?? I’ll bet the blood of gators from other places, like New Jersey, would be just as useful, no?
so that answers it.
gator blood is not considered edible. right?
8:32 – What’s the kashrut issue of a pig valve? We don’t eat it.
Or of insulin from pigs that we inject. Again, we don’t eat it.
6:53 – There are medicines, particularly vitamins, that have hechshers. Also, for Pesach there are hechshers for medicines, though many take medicine on Pesach without a hechsher.
6:44 – Gelatin is not necessarily traif. It is made from the inedible portion of animal hides. In Israel the Rabanut hechsher (not mehadrin) accepts that since this material is not edible, substances chemically derived from it are OK to eat. Mainstream US hechshers don’t accept this. But the fact that this leniency exists, coupled with pikuach nefesh, would provide a basis for taking a pill made of gelatin. Moreover, we don’t eat it as food.
6:34 – Mare’s urine is not traif. Again, it is a non-edible substance. If a mare pees on your pot, does the pot become traif? No. So a drug made from mare urine is not traif either.
And the vaccines are injected, not eaten, so there’s no kashrut issue there.
What alligator rights? Has anyone asked the alligator representative what alligators think about humans using their blood?
Since alligators are cold-blooded, if we use their blood, we we turn into cold-blooded, mean, people?
Just spoke to an alligator’s attorney. He insists that alligator blood be assured by rabbonim. He said Jews, of all people, should understand what persecution the alligators went through, and how hard it was, and still is, to try to get humans to stop using their skin for belts, pocketbooks and shoes. People whose skin was used as lampshades should understand their plight, and fight for their rights.
He said it is bad enough that humans name bad sports teams after them, and that New Yorkers spread lies about alligators infesting the New York sewer system, but to have this form of abuse, using their blood as a possible antibiotic …. unthinkable.
Now, he did add, that if it cured some really bad human disease, and became very valuable, they may find a way to change their religion, so that an alligator who is niftar, after 120, should donate his blood with the proceeds to go to their fellowship.
Thereupon a halachic shaila arises. If the proceeds from the alligator blood is used for their religous fellowship, is it a form of avoda zara, making it assur anyway?
Rabbonim! Help us with this problem!
How about implanted pig valves in open heart surgery? Or insulin that comes from pigs?
Hello?
When was the last time you saw a Hechsher on medicine?
for decades jews have been swallowing drugs deriving from non kosher sources. ever have a capsule made from gelatin? please. pikuach nefesh is pikuach nefesh.
The popular female hormone drug Premarin is made from mare’s (horse) urine – hardly kosher. Some vaccines contain strains of disease from certain monkeys. I don’t see anybody having a problem Kashrus wise with these or any other countless medications.