Not All Spider Venom is Harmful to Humans
According to Iván Arenas Sosa, a technical academic at the Institute of Biotechnology (IBt) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), not all spider venom poses a threat to human health. In fact, he argues that certain components of spider venom can be biotechnologically exploited for human benefit.
Spider Species and Their Venom Components
Mexico is home to nearly 2,300 spider species, but only two genera—Loxoceles (violinists) and Latrodectus (widow spiders)—pose a risk to public health. Arenas Sosa explains that spider venom contains acylamino acid peptides with antimicrobial properties, neurotoxins affecting nervous system functions, and small peptides with antimicrobial activity.
Research on Spider Venom Molecules
Under the leadership of researcher Gerardo Corzo at the IBt, a study line focuses on molecules derived from spider venom and other animal secretions. One thesis, for example, characterized three venoms from Kazakhstan spiders and one Mexican species. They discovered a protein (Osu1) in the Mexican species Oculicosa supermirabilis with insecticidal properties, specifically targeting crickets.
Potential Treatment for Cardiac Arrhythmias with Spider Venom
Arenas Sosa highlights a collaboration with Hungarian universities and labs that tested the Osu1 protein’s effects on ion channel-expressing cells. They found that Osu1 binds to the voltage-dependent potassium channel 1.5, exclusive to heart tissue, suggesting potential for treating cardiac arrhythmias.
Antimicrobial Proteins in Spider Species
Arenas Sosa also mentions ongoing work with ECOSUR academics, who identified antimicrobial proteins in the Citharacanthus spider genus. He emphasizes the importance of identifying venom components with such potential, as global antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are estimated at 700,000 cases and could reach 10 million by 2050.
Key Questions and Answers
- What types of components are found in spider venom? Spider venom contains acylamino acid peptides with antimicrobial properties, neurotoxins affecting nervous system functions, and small peptides with antimicrobial activity.
- Which spider species are harmful to humans? Only two Mexican spider genera, Loxoceles (violinists) and Latrodectus (widow spiders), pose a risk to public health.
- What research is being conducted on spider venom? The Institute of Biotechnology (IBt) is studying molecules derived from spider venom and other animal secretions, identifying potential benefits for human health.
- Could spider venom be used to treat cardiac arrhythmias? Preliminary research suggests that certain spider venom components, like Osu1, may help treat cardiac arrhythmias by binding to specific heart tissue channels.
- Why is it important to study spider venom components? With the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, exploring spider venom components’ potential benefits is crucial for developing new treatments.
