🌿 Naturepublished 2w ago
Horseshoe Crab Blood Protects Modern Medicine From Contamination
Horseshoe crabs have roamed Earth's shallow coastal waters for over 440 million years, surviving with bright blue, copper-based blood. Their blood contains unique immune cells called amebocytes that are extraordinarily sensitive to bacterial endotoxins. Even in microscopic amounts, dangerous toxins cause these amebocytes to coagulate into a solid gel instantly. Medical manufacturers rely on this natural reaction to test intravenous drugs, vaccines, and surgical implants for harmful contamination.
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