Terra Gecko Magazine : All about terrarium 2018/1 | Página 5

Breakthrough
in amphibian
plague
t The researchers of the Imperial College in
London, the Ghent University and the Broad
Institute have successfully sequenced and
identified the genes of the chytrid fungus.
The chytrid fungus, which belongs to the
Chytridiomycota, that is the phyla of zoosporic
fungi, was discovered in 1998, but it had
caused mass devastations among amphibians
long before. This highly infectious fungus
caused the extinction of several other species.
The compounds of the fungus have an effect
on respiration through the skin: they affect the
exchange of electrolytes. The alteration of the
electrolyte balance may cause cardiac arrest. A
recent study published in Nature Communications
magazine can largely help in the manufacturing of
medicines aimed for the protection of amphibians.
This reptile living in Africa is the smallest
crocodile species of all. An adult individual is
only 1.5 in length, and due to its small size it
doesn’t need large rivers to survive. It prefers
small rivers and swamps in rainforests. It uses
camouflage, and we have less information
about its behaviour and reproduction. The
Czech zoologist hope that their research results
may contribute to the correct classification of
the crocodiles.
Source: www.facebook.com/LivingZoology/
Antimicrobial material in the blood
activity was detected in the serum made
of their blood. Almost all organisms have
antimicrobial materials, which form a part of
the innate immune system. Several proteins
were found in the blood of the Komodo
dragons that are effective against infections,
and which, in cases when bacteria are already
resistant to existing antibiotics, can lead to the
production of potential novel medicines in
the future.
t The researchers of Journal of Proteome
Research detected an antimicrobial protein
particle in the blood of the Komodo dragons
that seems to resist infections that are
deadly for them. The biggest lizard of the world
lives on 5 islands in Indonesia. The saliva of
these reptiles contains at least 57 bacteria,
which are thought to contribute to the death
of the prey. However, these lizards seem to
resist these bacteria, and an antibacterial
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