"The Power of Nature"
Beata Ujvari, Research Fellow

During our long-term study of water pythons in the Northern Territory, we quite often come across of snakes with serious gangrenous wounds. However, when a few months later we recapture the same snake the horrible wounds have healed. This astounding power of nature prompted us to investigate the snake’s immune system. Water pythons feed mainly on rodents that often inflict nasty bites, which also transmit pathogens such as bacteria to the snakes. Natural antibodies (Nabs, a special type of antibodies, found in humans too) have been shown to act as a first line defence against bacterial infections. We found that the pythons harboured high levels of Nabs, most likely an adaptation to reduce pathogenic effects of bacteria transmitted by the snake’s prey. Thus, our study indicates that NAbs may have an important immunological function by reducing deleterious effects of pathogens.