Funnel-web spider can kill melanoma cells and Tassie devil tumours Toby Crockford6 October 2018 — 12:01am pic of scary female funnel-web spider Spoiler A pepatide from an Australian funnel-web spider has been found to kill both human melanoma cells and cancerous Tasmania devil facial tumours that are threatening the survival of the species. The research, started at Brisbane's QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, also found that the funnel-web compound had almost no negative effects on surrounding healthy cells in either case. Up close and frightening ... a female funnel-web spider at the Australian Reptile Park.Credit:Jon Reid The peptide, a compound consisting of two or more amino acids, was extracted from the venom gland but researchers are still trying to determine whether it is from the spider's venom or blood. Maria Ikonomopoulou, who is now based in Spain conducting independent research, started her work at QIMR Berghofer before moving to Europe. "We decided to test this spider [funnel-web] compound because it was very similar in chemical composition to a compound from a Brazilian spider, which was already known to have anti-cancer properties, although it had never been tested in devil facial tumour cells," Dr Ikonomopoulou said. Advertisement "When we tested the Australian spider peptide on human melanoma cells in the laboratory, it killed the majority of them. We also found the peptide slowed the growth of melanomas in mice. "We also found that the Australian funnel-web spider peptide was better at killing melanoma cancer cells and stopping them from spreading, than the Brazilian spider peptide. "I have always been interested in the Tasmanian devil and had been trying to find a new drug to combat the facial disease, so I tested the funnel-web peptide and found it was really potent. "Because it specifically kills the cancerous cells in the Tasmanian devil, it can be explored as a potential new drug that could be used to protect the species. "We've only done preliminary tests and we need to do more work on it, such as testing it on different types of cancer and tumours in the hope it can be put forward as a drug candidate." Dr Ikonomopoulou said the results were exciting and offered a significant platform for finding more drug compounds. "The melanoma research is not groundbreaking on a global scale, but it is very interesting to find an Australian spider that has good potential to explore," she said. "The Tasmanian devil research is groundbreaking, I don't think anyone has looked at peptides as a potential source for new drugs for the facial tumours before." The study was also led by fellow QIMR Berghofer researcher Manuel Fernandez-Rojo, along with collaborators from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland. pretty cool, but I would still kill it
About an hour ago a small protest started on the street in front of Kelcy Warren's mansion. Currently there are 20-30 marked and unmarked police cars along with fireteucks closing off streets around it. This is of interest to me as my work for today, which is/was in this neighborhood, has now ground to a halt.
I mean, it sucks to see in the wild. But our meat production practices are way more grotesque. And we’re also responsible for the sixth mass extinction. So there’s all of that.
Overreacted, just really tough to watch. It’s really not a fun video, doesn’t really bring anything but whatever.
They have the highest efficiency for all of the African predators and they way they work together is amazing Sad part is they are in real bad shape
That's what happened to the tree that fell on my house but it looked at least 2x thicker than the one in this vid
Blowtorch used to kill spiders may have started house fire AP NEWS Blowtorch used to kill spiders may have started house fire today FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a man apparently set a California home on fire while using a blowtorch to kill spiders. KFSN-TV reports 29 firefighters were called to a Fresno housing development Tuesday night to put out a two-alarm blaze. Authorities say a man was house-sitting for his parents when he tried to kill black widow spiders with a blowtorch. He got out safely, but the home’s attic and second story were damaged. Although the exact cause of the blaze is under investigation, firefighters believe the blowtorch was to blame. There’s no word on what happened to the spiders. Fresno firefighters tweeted, “Please don’t use a blowtorch to kill spiders.”
All those tigers, bears, sharks and other huge uncontrolled predators are scary, indeed. But what can they do to us? They are far enough so there is no reason to scare of them. There are some more creepy things around us and they are really close, so beware! A centipede on that video seems horrible to me. Those little creatures can make me insanely scared. Just read how dangerous they are! Some of them are even poisonous... And one of those creatures can be just under your bed...