Unique report details dermatological progression and effective treatment of a severe jellyfish sting. sciencedaily.com, September 5, 2019. Summary: A detailed case report documents the dermatological progression of a patient stung by a jellyfish off the coast of Cambodia. The aim of this report is to guide clinicians and patients to understand what to expect after […]
Scorpion toxin that targets ‘wasabi receptor’ may help solve mystery of chronic pain. sciencedaily.com. August 22, 2019. Summary: Researchers have discovered a scorpion toxin that targets the ‘wasabi receptor,’ a chemical-sensing protein found in nerve cells that’s responsible for the sinus-jolting sting of wasabi. Because the toxin triggers a pain response, scientists think it can […]
Deadly box jellyfish antidote discovered using CRISPR genome editing. sciencedaily.com. April 30, 2019. Pain researchers uncover secrets to box jellyfish venom. Summary: Researchers studying how pain works have discovered an antidote to the deadly sting delivered by the most venomous creature on Earth — the Australian box jellyfish. A single sting to a human causes […]
MIT engineers repurpose wasp venom as an antibiotic drug. By Anne Trafton. news.mit.edu. December 07, 2018. Altered peptides from a South American wasp’s venom can kill bacteria but are nontoxic to human cells.The venom of insects such as wasps and bees is full of compounds that can kill bacteria. Unfortunately, many of these compounds are […]
Venom shape untangles scorpion family tree. eurekalert.org. November 14, 2018. As a child growing up in Mexico, Carlos Santibanez-Lopez feared the scorpions that would often decorate the walls and ceilings of his home in search of a warm place with plenty of food. El mito del escorpión (eldiario.com.co) This is the scorpion Kolotl magnus from Guerrero, Mexico.CREDITCarlos […]
An end to arachnophobia ‘just a heartbeat away’. eurekalert.org. October 30, 2018. Researchers have discovered that exposing people with phobias to their fear – for examples, spiders for those who have arachnophobia – at the exact time their heart beats, led to the phobia reducing in severity.Hugo Critchley, Chair of Psychiatry at Brighton and Sussex […]
Mystery of how black widow spiders create steel-strength silk webs further unravelled. sciencedaily.com. October 22, 2018. ‘Modified micelle theory’ may allow scientists to create equally strong synthetic materials. Summary: Researchers have better unraveled the complex process of how black widow spiders transform proteins into steel-strength fibers. This knowledge promises to aid scientists in creating equally […]
How just drops of viper venom pack a deadly punch. eurekalert.org. June 01, 2018. A bite from a lancehead snake can be fatal. Species in the family, found throughout Central and South America, have venom that can disrupt blood clotting and cause hemorrhage, strokes and kidney failure.CAPTIONResearchers studying venom from Bothrops jararaca (shown) and related […]
Male mate choice in a sexually cannibalistic widow spider. By Shevy Waner, Uzi Motro, Yael Lubin, Ally R.Harari. AbstractMales of the brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus (Theridiidae), invest energy in courtship displays and are often cannibalized after mating; accordingly, partial sex role reversal is expected. In this species, subadult females are able to mate and […]
Playing both ends: Amphibian adapted to varied evolutionary pressures. sciencedaily.com. February 23, 2018. Summary: Caecilian, Siphonops annulatus, a limbless amphibian found throughout Brazil, has a concentration of enlarged mucous glands in its head region and a concentration of enlarged poison glands in its posterior region. These concentration appear to have evolved from different selective pressures: […]
World’s most venomous spiders are actually cousins. sciencedaily.com. February 15, 2018. Study finds the deadly Australian funnel-web spiders and mouse spiders are more closely related than previously thought. Two lineages of dangerous arachnids found in Australia — long classified as distantly related in the official taxonomy — are, in fact, relatively close evolutionary cousins. The […]
Brown recluse: Pest management tips for the spider that’s not as common as you think. sciencedaily.com. January 29, 2018. Sightings of the brown recluse are rare outside its known range, but if its presence is confirmed, here’s what to do about it. Summary: The brown recluse is one of the few spiders that can bite […]
Terrifying centipede attacks, kills mouse in under 30 seconds. By Mike Wehner. nypost.com. January 24, 2018 .Even if you’re not afraid of most bugs — like ants, flies, or bees, for example — there’s still a good chance you have a fear of centipedes. There’s just something about them and their long chain of legs […]
JCU scientists find scorpions target their venom. jcu.edu.au. October 11, 2017. In the first study of its kind, James Cook University scientists have shown scorpions can fine-tune their venom to suit different predators and prey. Dr Jamie Seymour from JCU’s Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) said a typical scorpion predator would be […]
Don’t Let the Tick Stick. By Robert Preidt. medlineplus.gov. September 24, 2017. Dermatology expert offers advice on tick removal and avoiding them in the first place. As tick populations and the threats they pose increase across the United States, people need to know how to deal with them, a skin doctor suggests.Ticks can cause serious […]
Genome sequencing shows spiders, scorpions share ancestor. sciencedaily.com. August 01, 2017. In collaboration with scientists from the U.K., Europe, Japan and the United States, researchers at the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a whole genome duplication during the evolution of spiders and scorpions. The study appears in BMC Biology.Researchers […]
The new yellow sea snake assumes an unusual ambush posture. eurekalert.org. July 31, 2017. Carrying its petite frame and all-yellow skin, the recently scrutinized sea snake populations from Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, already seem different enough to be characterized as a new subspecies. However, their most extraordinary trait is only exposed at night when the […]
Snake sex is every bit as peculiar as you would expect. By Sandrine Ceurstemont. bbcnews. June 09, 2017. We used to assume that male snakes were in charge and females were largely passive, but that has proved to be spectacularly wrong.When Jesús Rivas removed a female anaconda from a snake orgy in order to examine […]
Australian spider bite boy saved by massive anti-venom dose. bbcnews. February 24, 2017. A 10-year-old Australian boy has survived being bitten by one of the world’s most venomous spiders after being treated with 12 vials of anti-venom, reports say.It is thought to be one of the largest doses of anti-venom ever administered in Australia. Matthew […]
5 Medical Calculators for Exotic Animal Bites and Risk. By John Svirbely. blog.medicalalgorithms.com. Some people are drawn to the exotic or esoteric, including their choice of pets. Exotic pets have become widespread in the United States and many other countries. While a source of enjoyment for the owners, these pets can cause serious problems and present […]
Snakebites a Rising Danger for U.S. Children. medlineplus.gov. October 20, 2016. Florida, Texas account for one-quarter of nation’s attacks, study finds.More than 1,300 U.S. kids suffer snakebites each year on average, with one in four attacks occurring in Florida and Texas, a new study reveals.All 50 states and Washington, D.C., reported snakebites to children between […]
The world’s worst stinger has a surprising owner. By Ella Davies. bbcnews. July 27, 2016. Many animals use stingers to cause pain and inject their enemies with venom, but one species makes all the others look like irritants. The sting is one of nature’s cruellest weapons.For one thing, it hurts. A stinger is a sharp […]
Snake eyes: New insights into visual adaptations. sciencedaily.com. August 16, 2016. Summary:New insights into the relationship between ultraviolet (UV) filters and hunting methods in snakes is one of the findings of the first major study of visual pigment genes and lenses in snakes.Tree viper / Atheris squamigera.Credit: © mgkuijpers / FotoliaSnakes have adapted their vision […]
Toxicological trivia from August 05, 2016: Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Thirty species are recognized: one in the genus Premnas, while the remaining are in the genus Amphiprion. In the wild, they all form symbiotic mutualisms with sea anemones. Depending on species, anemonefish are overall yellow, orange, […]