When we think of animals saving human lives, we at least think of a huge, hairy St. Bernard dog finding a lost climber in the high snowy mountains. We are unlikely to think of an inconspicuous gray stony horseshoe crab. On the other hand, these creatures, far older than the dinosaurs, save millions of lives each year at the cost of their blood.<img src="/uploads/horseshoe_crab_5d2f430e60.jpeg" alt="horseshoe crab.jpeg" srcset="/uploads/thumbnail_horseshoe_crab_5d2f430e60.jpeg 218w,/uploads/small_horseshoe_crab_5d2f430e60.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw">@uwm.edu/Horseshoe Crab UpdateTheir light blue blood has the unique property of detecting and neutralizing toxic bacteria. Scientists have learned to use this amazing crab blood to make a safe vaccine. When the vaccine is manufactured, there could be dangerous bacteria left in it. If this happens, people who receive this vaccine risk serious consequences or even death.<img src="/uploads/a_group_of_horseshoe_crabs_2_2_2_2_2099327956.jpeg" alt="a-group-of-horseshoe-crabs-2-2-2-2.jpeg" srcset="/uploads/thumbnail_a_group_of_horseshoe_crabs_2_2_2_2_2099327956.jpeg 245w,/uploads/small_a_group_of_horseshoe_crabs_2_2_2_2_2099327956.jpeg 500w,/uploads/medium_a_group_of_horseshoe_crabs_2_2_2_2_2099327956.jpeg 750w,/uploads/large_a_group_of_horseshoe_crabs_2_2_2_2_2099327956.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">@delawarepublic.org/How climate change and human activity are impacting horseshoe crabs amid annual countFor this reason, large numbers of horseshoe crabs are captured each year to serve as donors to save us all. After blood is taken, the horseshoe crabs are returned to the sea, but 30% to 50% still die. Dramatically, there are no fully effective horseshoe crab blood analogs to test the safety of the vaccine. Hence, scientists now face the critical challenge of maintaining populations of this unique creature.<img src="/uploads/Significant_changes_to_the_horseshoe_crab_bleeding_industry_may_protect_wildlife_ab113965cd.jpeg" alt="Significant changes to the horseshoe crab bleeding industry may protect wildlife .jpeg" srcset="/uploads/thumbnail_Significant_changes_to_the_horseshoe_crab_bleeding_industry_may_protect_wildlife_ab113965cd.jpeg 234w,/uploads/small_Significant_changes_to_the_horseshoe_crab_bleeding_industry_may_protect_wildlife_ab113965cd.jpeg 500w,/uploads/medium_Significant_changes_to_the_horseshoe_crab_bleeding_industry_may_protect_wildlife_ab113965cd.jpeg 750w,/uploads/large_Significant_changes_to_the_horseshoe_crab_bleeding_industry_may_protect_wildlife_ab113965cd.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">@npr.org/Vaccines are still tested with horseshoe crab blood. The industry is finally changing

Significant changes to the horseshoe crab bleeding industry may protect wildlife .jpeg

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What do we need to know about horseshoe crabs that have saved millions of human lives?

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