Collaborate Disseminate
Insect venom may seem like an unlikely ally in the discovery of new human pain treatments, but the latest findings into the “unique” way a small ant causes us such agony is a big leap forward – and one that’s expected to progress rapidly.Continue Readi… Continue reading “Bizarre” way ant venom hits a nerve: An exciting new path to pain relief
Scientists have made a synthetic antibody that can prevent paralysis and death inflicted by the venom of elapids, a large family of mostly deadly snakes found around the world. The discovery has us slithering ever closer to developing a single, univers… Continue reading Fangs a lot! Synthetic antibody could be key to universal antivenom
An effective drug to stop potentially fatal cell damage in heart attack and ischemic stroke is one step closer to reality, after the K’gari funnel-web spider venom molecule Hi1a met critical benchmarks on its road to human trials.Continue ReadingCatego… Continue reading Deadly spider’s life-saving heart and stroke drug set for clinical trial
From penicillin to rapamycin, the route to discovering remarkable medicines has often been a fortuitous one. Now, researchers are hoping that another surprise find, once again linked to bacteria, can be harnessed for its medical potential and even be u… Continue reading Caterpillar toxin could ‘punch holes’ in cancer cells for future therapies
In a world first, researchers have reared cone snails in a laboratory aquarium, which presents huge potential for understanding and unlocking the power of their complex venom for a vast range of human therapeutics.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Sci… Continue reading New venomous cocktails from cone snail have huge drug potential
If you’ve been stung by an ant, you know how painful it can be. Australian researchers have found that some of the most painful ant stings are caused by nerve-targeting neurotoxins. But, unlike those found in snake and scorpion venom, ant toxins affect… Continue reading ‘World’s most painful insect sting’ found to target nerves in unique way
While snakebite antivenom is certainly a lifesaver, it’s also expensive, time-consuming to produce, and must be administered by trained clinicians. A new low-cost type of antivenom, however, could conceivably be self-applied right away, on the spot.Con… Continue reading Inexpensive antivenom could reportedly be used by “anyone, anywhere”
Spider venom isn’t normally something you want in your body, but in some cases there might be exceptions. Australian researchers have now identified two peptides from tarantula venom that show promise in blocking organ pain, working particularly well i… Continue reading Tarantula venom peptide may provide relief for IBS pain
New research from the University of Queensland has solved the mystery behind the sting of one of the most venomous plants on the planet. The discovery of a previously unknown neurotoxin explains how Australian stinging trees cause excruciating pain tha… Continue reading Australian stinging tree reveals entirely new family of neurotoxins
When someone gets bitten by a venomous snake, it’s crucial to administer an antivenom as soon as possible. In order to keep the victim going in the meantime, though, it turns out that an existing medication may do the trick.Continue ReadingCategory: Me… Continue reading Existing drug may help save snakebite victims