Venom News and Research

RSS

New insights into how aging affects muscle cell regeneration

As muscles age, their cells lose the ability to regenerate and heal after injury. Now, Cornell University researchers have created the most comprehensive portrait to date of how that change, in mice, unfolds over time.

2 Dec 2024

Toddler’s backyard snakebite bills totaled more than a quarter million dollars

This spring, a few days after his 2nd birthday, Brigland Pfeffer was playing with his siblings in their San Diego backyard.

30 Oct 2024

Exploring the venomous potential of marine crustaceans for drug development

Many animals use venoms for self-defense or hunting. The components of such venom, known as toxins, interfere with various physiological processes - which is also the reason why they are so interesting for the development of new pharmacological agents.

4 Oct 2024

$4.1 million funding supports epilepsy treatment research using spider venom proteins

UQ researchers have received $4.1 million from the Medical Research Future Fund to advance their research into epilepsy treatments made from spider venom proteins.

17 Sep 2024

Assessing the environmental impact of biotechnological pesticides

Biotechnological pesticides are a promising alternative to traditional chemical pesticides. But we have limited knowledge of how toxic they are to other organisms in the environment beyond regulatory assessments.

13 Sep 2024

NIH funds study on complex evolutionary adaptation in human DNA

Natural selection is an important evolutionary force that enables humans to adapt to new environments and fight disease-causing pathogens.

3 Sep 2024

Marine snail venom may inspire new diabetes and hormone disorder treatments

Scientists are finding clues for how to treat diabetes and hormone disorders in an unexpected place: a toxin from one of the most venomous animals on the planet.

20 Aug 2024

Breakthrough MS drug uses green mamba venom discovery to promote myelin repair

Ten years of work, and a little help from the green mamba snake, has resulted in a promising new drug that is already being tested in clinical trials.

5 Aug 2024

Powerful visualization technologies offer new insight into understanding muscle contraction in humans

The connections between the nervous system and muscles develop differently across the kingdom of life.

31 Jul 2024

Common blood thinner can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom

Scientists at the University of Sydney and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have made a remarkable discovery: a commonly used blood thinner, heparin, can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom.

18 Jul 2024

Human antibodies show promise against Black widow spider venom

There are various types of widow spiders, including black, red, and brown varieties in North and South America, the Australian redback spider, and several button spider species that inhabit South Africa.

12 Jun 2024

Drug repurposing breakthrough: varespladib curbs snakebite-induced necrosis

Researchers discovered that venom toxins from African spitting cobras cause severe dermonecrosis, highlighting the need for targeted treatments like the repurposed drug varespladib.

9 May 2024

Scripps Research scientists develop an antibody that blocks lethal snake toxins

Scripps Research scientists have developed an antibody that can block the effects of lethal toxins in the venoms of a wide variety of snakes found throughout Africa, Asia and Australia.

21 Feb 2024

Spider venom molecule meets benchmarks to treat heart attack and stroke

A spider venom molecule being investigated by a University of Queensland team has met critical benchmarks towards becoming a treatment for heart attack and stroke.

16 Jan 2024

Research uncovers why antibodies can boost snake venom

What makes a soldier switch sides? That is a really good question. Especially when the soldier is an antibody that is supposed to defend the body against one of the world's most dangerous snake venoms but instead ends up helping the venom kill the body.

16 Jan 2024

Novel drug combinations could protect snakebite victims from devastating injuries

New drug combinations could protect snakebite victims from the devastating, life-changing injuries caused by toxic venom, promising new research led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine suggests.

14 Dec 2023

Could a genetic biomarker predict your risk for severe food allergies?

Researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have identified a genetic biomarker, α-tryptase, that may predict the severity of food allergy reactions. This discovery opens the door for new treatment strategies and offers a way to distinguish patients at risk for severe reactions.

21 Sep 2023