Scientists untangle the scientific web of black widow spider venom

Jack Aylmer

SCIENTISTS HAVE DECODED THE DEADLY SECRET BEHIND THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER’S VENOM.

AND, IT’S NOT JUST ANY ORDINARY POISON. 

IT’S A COMPLEX ‘COCKTAIL OF TOXINS,” AND ONE KEY PLAYER, A NEUROTOXIN CALLED A-LATRO-TOXIN, TARGETS THE NERVOUS SYSTEMS OF VERTEBRATES, INCLUDING HUMANS.

NOW, MANY OF US ALREADY KNOW THIS SPIDER IS NOT ONE TO BE MESSED WITH.

A BITE CAN BRING INTENSE PAIN, MUSCLE SPASMS, AND IN SEVERE CASES– DEATH. BUT THE FULL MECHANISM BEHIND ITS VENOM HAS LONG REMAINED A MYSTERY–UNTIL NOW.

SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MUNSTER CREATED A 3D MODEL THAT SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TOXIN ENTERS THE BODY.

ONCE A-LATRO-TOXIN BINDS TO THE BODY’S SYNAPSES– THE JUNCTIONS BETWEEN NERVE CELLS- IT SENDS CALCIUM FLOODING INTO THE SYSTEM, THROWING NERVE SIGNALS INTO CHAOS.

MUSCLES CONTRACT UNCONTROLLABLY, LEADING TO THOSE MUSCLE SPASMS.

THIS BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH COULD LEAD TO BETTER ANTIDOTES, NEW TREATMENTS FOR PARALYSIS, AND EVEN NOVEL BIOPESTICIDES.

WHILE THE BLACK WIDOW’S BITE REMAINS DEADLY, SCIENCE MIGHT SOON TURN THIS VENOMOUS WEAPON INTO A TOOL FOR HEALING.

WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THIS RESEARCH UNFOLDS.

FOR SAN, I’M JACK AYLMER.