SCIENTISTS are exploring the possibility of using deadly venom produced by spiders to help save lives. “The development of antimicrobial agents and alternative painkillers are quite promising” Michel Dugon Michel Dugon is a lecturer in Zoology at the National University of Ireland and is looking to make a scientific breakthrough on the potential for new drugs "Spider venom is currently being investigated by a few labs around the world to try and develop non-toxic insecticides, antibiotics, painkillers and anaesthetics," he told Daily Star Online. "The development of antimicrobial agents and alternative painkillers are quite promising. "The venom of some tarantulas could become a safe alternative to morphine and other opiates." Michel revealed the process used by his team of scientists, which they are also testing on devastating illnesses including cancer. DEADLY: Spiders could save lives VENOM: A tarantulas bite can be deadly He explained to Daily Star Online: "First, we collect venom, using hundreds, sometimes thousands of spiders. "We pass a tiny electric current through the spider body, which makes it secrete some venom on its fangs. "We collect the tiny venom droplets under a microscope, with a tiny glass tube. "Some of the species we work with produce less than 1/10,000,000 of a litre of venom, less than what you can see with the naked eye. "We test the effects of that venom at different concentrations on human cells, including cancer cells, and on bacteria. "We freeze the remaining venom at -80C and lyophilise it." CANCER: Scorpions could be used on deadly illnesses LIFE SAVER: A king cobra's bite could cure diseases Michel revealed how each type of deadly animal has an individual "signature" venom, which they then use to target specific areas of the body. "Some act on the heart, some on the nervous system, while others attack red blood cells or destroy muscle and skin cells," he detailed to Daily Star Online. "Sometimes, several toxins work together to attack specific organs like the kidneys or the heart. "The idea is to harvest those toxins, to 'read' their chemical composition, to determine their effects at the cellular level and see if we can use them for a beneficial purpose. "For example, toxins that liquefy the blood can make you bleed to death if injected in large quantities. SCIENCE: Michel Dugon is working on the next breakthrough "But in very small quantities, injected close to the brain, the same toxin could break down blood clots and prevent deadly strokes." Before he was a leading lecturer, Michel managed a reptile park on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia. He moved to the UK in 2007 to do a Masters in Ecology and I followed up with a PhD in Evolutionary Developmental Biology, working on the venom of giant centipedes. For the past three years he has been studying spider venom, its effects and the potential for new drug discovery. Earlier this month, he was invited along to TedTalks to discuss his efforts. Source
