Download Komodo dragon takes the pressure down

AAP Newswire
05-May-2011
National
Market: Australia
Market: Australia
Newswire
NSW:Dragon takes the pressure down
It's got razor sharp claws and teeth that can tear off chunks of flesh .. but scientists now say the
Komodo dragon can also take the pressure down.
Australian research has found the world's biggest lizard boasts venom in its neck that thins out blood.
It was once thought the Komodo dragon carried a toxic bacteria that killed its prey .. but venom expert
BRYAN FRY from Queensland University has found this isn't the case.
He says it's the bacteria-riddled water that the dragon drinks .. or its victim absorbs through open
wounds .. that spreads fatal infection.
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AAP Newswire
05-May-2011
National
Market: Australia
Market: Australia
Newswire
NSW:Komodo dragon takes the pressure down
By Nicky Park
SYDNEY, May 5 AAP - It's got razor sharp claws and teeth that can tear off chunks of flesh, but the
Komodo dragon may also carry a secret weapon against stroke and high blood pressure.
Australian research has found the world's biggest lizard has a venom in its neck that thins out blood.
It was once thought the Komodo dragon carried a toxic bacteria that killed its prey.
But venom expert Bryan Fry found this isn't the case.
It's the stagnant, bacteria-saturated water that the dragon drinks, or its victim absorbs through open
wounds, that spreads fatal infection, Dr Fry said.
The Queensland University scientist observed: "You have 90 per cent of natural, prey-sized animals (like
50 kilogram pigs or dear) dying of massive blood baths within the first three or four hours of being attacked.
"It's bleeding far too much and far too long for what you would expect from wounds of that nature.
"They were also very rapidly going into shock.
"These animals are much quieter than you would expect from someone who's just been sliced and diced
by a Komodo dragon."
An attack from the massive prehistoric lizard is enough to kill.
But its venom helps take down the victim by boosting blood flood and hence, dropping blood pressure,
"in a steady march towards unconsciousness at which time the Komodo dragon can tear the head of at his
leisure".
Dr Fry, who's been studying the reptile for almost a decade, has been testing the blood thinning
compound on rodents, and said it could eventually be applied to stroke and hypertension in humans.
"What we want to do is make it even more stable and even more potent than it already is," said the
scientist, who spoke at the Shine Dome in Canberra this week.
"We want to improve on what nature's already given us."
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Ref: 101042310
Adelaide Advertiser
06-May-2011
Page: 18
General News
Market: Adelaide
Circulation: 190665
Type: Capital City Daily
Size: 32.24 sq.cms
MTWTFS-
Dragon's gift
to medicine
IT'S got razor-sharp
claws and teeth that can
tear off chunks of flesh;
but the Komodo dragon
may also carry a secret
weapon against stroke.
Australian research has
found the world's biggest
lizard has a venom in its
neck that thins blood.
Queensland University
venom expert Bryan Fry
said the prehistoric lizard's venom helps take
down the victim by
boosting blood flow and
hence dropping blood
pressure, "in a march
towards unconsciousness, when the Komodo
dragon can tear the head
off at his leisure".
Dr Fry said the compound could eventually
be applied to stroke and
hypertension in humans.
Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) licenced copy
Ref: 101026620
Newcastle Herald
07-May-2011
Page: 28
General News
Market: Newcastle NSW
Circulation: 48000
Type: Regional
Size: 59.17 sq.cms
MTWTFS-
Komodo dragon's
secret, at a stroke
IT has razor-sharp claws
and teeth that can tear
off chunks of flesh, but
the Komodo dragon may
also carry a secret
weapon against stroke
and high blood pressure.
Australian research
has found the world's
biggest lizard has a
venom in its neck that
thins blood.
It was once thought
the Komodo dragon
carried toxic bacteria
that killed its prey.
But University of
Queensland venom
expert Bryan Fry found
this was not the case.
It is the stagnant, bacteria-saturated water the
Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) licenced copy
dragon drinks, or its
victim absorbs through
open wounds, that
spreads fatal infection,
Dr Fry said.
"You have 90 per cent
of natural, prey-sized
animals (like 50-kilogram
pigs or deer) dying of
massive blood baths
within the first three or
four hours of being
attacked," he said.
Its venom helps take
down the victim by boosting blood flow and dropping blood pressure, "in a
steady march towards
unconsciousness at
which time the Komodo
dragon can tear the head
off at his leisure".
Ref: 101163668
Gold Coast Sun - Central
11-May-2011
Page: 14
General News
Market: Gold Coast QLD
Circulation: 168071
Type: Regional
Size: 183.45 sq.cms
--W----
Komodo
venom's
helpful
IT'S got razor sharp claws
and teeth that can tear off
The Queensland Univer-
blood flow and hence, drop-
sity scientist observed: "You
ping blood pressure, "in a
unconsciousness at which
carry a secret weapon against
have 90 per cent of natural,
prey-sized animals (like 50
kilogram pigs or deer) dying
stroke and high blood pres-
of massive blood baths within
tear the head off at his
sure.
the first three or four hours
leisure".
chunks of flesh, but the
Komodo dragon may also
Australian research has
found the world's biggest liz-
ard has a venom in its neck
that thins out blood.
It was once thought the
Komodo dragon carried a
toxic bacteria that killed its
prey. But venom expert
Bryan Fry found this isn't the
case.
It was the stagnant,
bacteria-saturated water that
the dragon drinks, or its vic-
tim absorbed through open
wounds, that spread fatal
infection, Dr Fry said.
of being attacked.
"It's bleeding far too much
and far too long for what you
would expect from wounds of
that nature. They were also
very rapidly going into shock.
"These animals are much
quieter than you would
expect from someone who's
just been sliced and diced by
a Komodo dragon."
An attack from the mass-
ive prehistoric lizard is
enough to kill.
steady march towards
time the Komodo dragon can
Dr Fry, who has been
studying the reptile for
almost a decade, has been
testing the blood thinning
compound on rodents and
said it could eventually be
applied to stroke and hypertension in humans.
"What we want to do is
make it even more stable and
even more potent than it
already is," he said. "We
want to improve on what
nature has already given us."
But its venom helps take
down the victim by boosting
Venom from the Komodo Dragon could help relieve high blood pressure
Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) licenced copy
Ref: 101556214