Caterpillar venom being researched as possible cancer treatment
July 18, 2023 12:30 AM Subscribe
The venom of this caterpillar can cause extreme pain. Researchers hope it could help kill cancer cells too. Researchers are exploring how the venomous hair-like bristles on caterpillars could be used to treat cancer in the human body.
Interesting. Ancestors of these moths seem to have acquired the relevant toxin-producing gene by horizontal transfer from bacteria 400 million years ago. It won't take that long to develop a cancer treatment but all journeys begin with one step. [and please continue to fund 'basic' science].
posted by BobTheScientist at 3:32 AM on July 18, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 3:32 AM on July 18, 2023 [8 favorites]
Also a scientist, but an applied one. Funding basic science is great, but what's not needed are extremely high-claim press release-driven stories (like this) that are just trying to get people excited about exciting basic research. This story would be just as great for exploring the structure of these venom ducts without having to get really, really speculative about clinical medicine.
To my relief, though, there is no need to add "in mice" to this headline. So this still gets good marks from me!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:40 AM on July 18, 2023 [5 favorites]
To my relief, though, there is no need to add "in mice" to this headline. So this still gets good marks from me!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:40 AM on July 18, 2023 [5 favorites]
Still remember the day back when I was a kid that one of these fell out of a tree and landed on my arm. Was just walking from our garage to the back door, back from some errand with my mom. Brushed it off, and within minutes my entire arm was on fire. For the next few hours, imagine getting the flu but every symptom hits you all at once. Fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches... no runny nose or sore throat, I guess. And the feeling of someone whacking your arm with a molten hammer over and over. Barely even had time to cry before I was lying insensible in bed all afternoon. By that night I was pretty much back to normal, but my arm ached and felt weird and tingly for months afterwards.
tl;dr don't fuck around with asps (aka pussy moth caterpillars) they will ruin your day
posted by lefty lucky cat at 6:00 AM on July 18, 2023 [12 favorites]
tl;dr don't fuck around with asps (aka pussy moth caterpillars) they will ruin your day
posted by lefty lucky cat at 6:00 AM on July 18, 2023 [12 favorites]
So click-baity. Both the title and opening lines of OP make claims that are not borne out by a reasonable reading of TFA. -1/10 would not click again. Would be seriously tempted to use downvote button, if there was one.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 6:16 AM on July 18, 2023
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 6:16 AM on July 18, 2023
So click-baity
Oh, that's a bit harsh. Here is the final sentence in the UQ press release - the source of the ABC piece cited by OP:
“There may be a way to engineer the molecule to target beneficial drugs to healthy cells, or to selectively kill cancer cells.”.
That's one of several quotes from the lead author of the PNAS study. It's a competitive world in pure science - lots of hard working scientists pursuing a finite pot of money which, close or far, is jangling the chain of utility: to make the lot of humanity a bit better. Universities employ publicity people to get the institution some media coverage. If it was left to, like, actual scientists we'd be writing it all down, far too long, full of jargon, in the third person, passive voice as the current conventions dictate: i.e. dull. It wasn't always thus: Humphrey Davy was a poet as well as a chemist and safety-lampist.
posted by BobTheScientist at 7:43 AM on July 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
Oh, that's a bit harsh. Here is the final sentence in the UQ press release - the source of the ABC piece cited by OP:
“There may be a way to engineer the molecule to target beneficial drugs to healthy cells, or to selectively kill cancer cells.”.
That's one of several quotes from the lead author of the PNAS study. It's a competitive world in pure science - lots of hard working scientists pursuing a finite pot of money which, close or far, is jangling the chain of utility: to make the lot of humanity a bit better. Universities employ publicity people to get the institution some media coverage. If it was left to, like, actual scientists we'd be writing it all down, far too long, full of jargon, in the third person, passive voice as the current conventions dictate: i.e. dull. It wasn't always thus: Humphrey Davy was a poet as well as a chemist and safety-lampist.
posted by BobTheScientist at 7:43 AM on July 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
Humphrey Davey, who was brilliant, also hosted laughing gas parties with his friends, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Anyway, yes, avoid fuzzy caterpillars.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:33 AM on July 18, 2023
Anyway, yes, avoid fuzzy caterpillars.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:33 AM on July 18, 2023
In Texas, we call these tree asps. They sting like hell and the scar lasts for months. I got stung at a work meeting held outside on a picnic table. Now I always carefully examine an outdoor table or chair before sitting. My advice to cancer: don't fuck with tree asps.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:30 PM on July 18, 2023
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:30 PM on July 18, 2023
That thing looks like a furry Brazil nut.
I would totally pet it if I saw one (and I kill every bug I see that isn't a butterfly, dragonfly, or honeybee).
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on July 19, 2023
I would totally pet it if I saw one (and I kill every bug I see that isn't a butterfly, dragonfly, or honeybee).
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on July 19, 2023
« Older It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth | “Things fall apart, especially all the neat order... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Mr. Excellent at 2:46 AM on July 18, 2023 [13 favorites]