The Australian Box Jellyfish has enough venom to kill 60 humans, earning it the title of most venomous creature on earth. The largest of the two types can grow up to three meters long.
To develop the antidote, researchers at the University of Sydney took a new approach using genes. They used CRISPR genome editing techniques to select and turn off a different gene in millions of human cells and found which cells survived after exposure to the venom. Researchers found the venom targets cholesterol in the cell membrane.
There are already drugs available for use on humans which target cholesterol. They tried one which blocks the cholesterol regulation pathway used by the venom and it worked!
The research was performed on a sample of human cells and the results carried over when tested on live mice.
The antidote has to be used within 15 minute so it will be useful for first responders. “In our study, we injected it. But the plan would be a spray or a topical cream,” says researchers about the future applications of the antidote.
