Australian scientists have discovered that a deadly native spider venom could truly save lives by stopping the harmful effects of a heart attack in humans.
According to foreign media reports on July 18, the results of this study were published in the latest issue of circulation, the top journal in the international cardiovascular field, and the researchers used the venom of a funnel-web spider.
The Australian funnel spider is particularly venomous
The funnel-shaped spider is one of the deadliest species in the world, extremely venomous, and was first found in eastern Australia, with as many as 36 species, including 3 tree-dwelling species. If a person is bitten by it, he will die within 15 minutes.
The funnel-shaped spider is a large spider with a body length of 1.5 cm to 4 cm and a carapace of dark brown and black color.
So far, the drug, made from the spider's extraction of venom, has only been tested in the lab, and the researchers hope to be available for human trials soon.
Nathan Palpant, a scientist at the University of Queensland, said the venom helped stop the "death signal" sent by the body after a heart attack.
"After a heart attack, there is less blood flowing to the heart, resulting in hypoxia to the myocardium," Papant said, "and hypoxia causes the cellular environment to become acidic, and together the two send the message of cardiomyocyte death." ”
"Despite decades of research, no one has yet been able to develop drugs that block this 'signal of death' in heart cells, which is one of the reasons why heart disease continues to be the world's number one health killer," Papant added.
The Hi1a protein in spider venom blocks acid-induced ion channels in the heart
The research team has successfully used a protein in the funnel-shaped spider venom for human heart cells exposed to heart attack stress.
Papant said: "The Hi1a protein in spider venom blocks acid-induced ion channels in the heart, so death information is blocked, cell death is reduced, and we see an increase in heart cell survival, Papant said. ”
Scientists hope the drug will not only help prevent heart damage and save lives, but also improve the quality of donated hearts during transplantation. Previous research has shown that funnel web spider venom may also help curb damage caused by stroke.
The University of Queensland research team said its goal was to conduct human clinical trials of stroke and heart disease on the drug "within two to three years".
Nandu reporter Shi Minglei