Toxic Australian sea anemone could be a life-saving drug

Queensland University of Technology doctoral researcher Lauren Ashwood has conducted extensive research into the venom makeup of sea anemones, in particular one species of reef-dwelling anemones that can grow between 8 and 10cm in length

Ms Ashwood found that the species produces different venoms for biological functions - defense, predation and digestion - and the location of the toxins corresponds to their function

"Unlike snakes, which release their venom through their fangs, T.

"Analyzing three main functional areas of sea anemones: tentacles, epidermis and gastric cortex, it was found that the location of toxin production is consistent with their ecological roles in prey capture, defense and digestion

"This means that when we study the effects of these toxins, we have an idea of ​​how they might be used in therapy

Ms Ashwood said animal venom had been used to treat humans throughout history, with snake venom being used as medicine as early as the seventh century BC

"Peptide toxins from venomous animals are being developed to treat diseases including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes, wound healing, HIV, cancer and chronic pain," Ms Ashwood said

"We found a total of 84 potential toxins in T.

"Given that this toxin is found in the gastrodermis of sea anemones, it may be involved in digestion - it may be a new type of colipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat

"The toxin may also be similar to a toxin in black mamba venom, which stimulates intestinal muscle contractions

Scientists are interested in pain-causing venoms because of their potential to be developed for pain relief, said co-author Peter Prentice, associate professor from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioeconomy and the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

"If we can isolate the neurotoxin and find the nerve cell receptor it activates, we could potentially develop a blocker to stop the activation and treat conditions such as chronic back pain," Professor Prentice said

"This means that the toxin in Aconitum - a long barbed wire used to fend off predators that can cause severe pain in marine animals and humans - may be a source of 'antidote' for certain chronic pains

Professor Prentice said new analytical techniques had led to a shift in toxin-driven discovery, as opposed to earlier approaches where the original venom's target was tested first for expected activity

"This new strategy allows the discovery of peptides that may have remained undiscovered, for example, those that may not be highly abundant in venom or have unexpected mechanisms of action

"However, toxin-driven discovery to find therapeutic candidates can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and not all peptide toxins may be as successful as drugs

ecological function