Draculin

Draculin is a glycoprotein that is found in the saliva of vampire bats. It consists of 411 amino acids. It functions as an anticoagulant which keeps the blood of the bitten victim form clotting while the bat drinks the blood. It works by inhibiting specific coagulation factors in the blood to allow it to flow easier.

When vampire bats bite their victims, their saliva releases an enzyme called desmoteplase, or DSPA, into the bloodstream, which causes blood to flow more readily. Several years ago, scientists realized that the same enzyme that gives bats more blood for their bite may also help stroke victims by breaking down blood clots. The draculin has been found to attack the fibrin, a fibrous protein that causes blood to clot, but without causing damage to the brain. Because of this, scientists are optimistic that the bat saliva will dissolve the clot with a lower risk of bleeding in the brain afterwards. If effective, Draculin would help prevent ischemic strokes, a type of stroke caused when blood clots block blood flow to the brain. It accounts for 87% of the 795,000 strokes Americans have each year (the other being hemorrhagic strokes, caused when blood vessels burst). Draculin also has a cool name and Dracula came from this.