Did you know that ticks have antifreeze proteins? A recent study conducted by a Yale professor of medicine focused on ticks and their unique cold resistant properties. These antifreeze proteins are called IAFGP (Ixodes scapularis anti-freeze glycoprotein) and are activated in ticks in the winter and prevent their cells and tissues from freezing. In fact, researchers have discovered that these proteins help to decrease the damage during frostbite, thus reducing or limiting the inflammatory cascade associated with cell death. Mice that were utilized for this study demonstrated a clear resistance to exposure to extreme cold when specially bred with genes to produce IAFGP. There is certainly an enormous amount of potential for such proteins in terms of numerous therapeutic applications. Read More
