Deadly Stonefish: Scientists Unlock Mysteries Behind This Toxic Fish's Venom

Scientists at the University of Queensland who are working to unlock mysteries behind the toxic venom of the deadly stonefish have recently discovered which could change the manner sting victims could undergo treatment in the future.

A Phys.org report specified that stonefish is the most poisonous fish in the world. They are also found throughout the northern half of Australia's narrow coastal waters.

According to Associate Professor Bryan Fry, the study's co-author, past studies have not been able to unveil all of the mechanisms at play in stonefish venom due to the way the poison was tested.

He added, there is a couple of reasons past studies have not been able to thoroughly translate the stonefish venom's toxicological mysteries.

The scientists discovered a big one, though, said Fry. Labs were formerly examining only freeze-dried venom, as it is frequently dried to make it more stable to transport and store.

By testing freshly milked venom, the researchers' analysis exposed that the process of freeze-drying impairs the paralytic neurotoxic activity of the specimen, a key activity they are currently observing.

Any lab study, Fry added, that uses freeze-dried venom, therefore would not recover all of the venom's paralytic activity or some other functional activities, which is essential since stonefish antivenom is developed through the use of freeze-dried venom.

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Stonefish Antivenom

"Any lab studies using freeze-dried venom, therefore, wouldn't recover all of the paralytic activity or some other functional activities of the venom, which is important since stonefish antivenom is made using freeze-dried venom.

"This means there's a possibility that current antivenom may not fully neutralize the paralytic effects in human stonefish envenomation, but this needs more study.

Furthermore, the co-author explained, they would like to strongly underscore that the paralytic impacts are historically not the venom's domineering deadly effect of the venom and, in certain circumstances, do not even manifest.

Patients need to undergo treatment through the use of the existing antivenom formulation presently available, which works well.

Mystery Revealed

According to Mr. Richard Harris, a Ph.D. candidate, the study, Getting stoned: Characterisation of the coagulotoxic and neurotoxic effects of reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) venom, published in Toxicology Letters, revealed how the stonefish's venom could disrupt or possibly stop the heart and paralyze other muscles.

Harris also said the study found neurotoxic impacts of stonefish venom is blocking the smooth muscle nerve receptors of the heart, which results in a modification of the rate and rhythm of the heart.

Intriguingly, explained Harris, the venom is working in the same way to the poison of the nerve-blocking death adder, described by Untamed Science as a hazardous Australian snake.

Commenting on the research, Dr. Fy said it was only possible, giving credit to new advanced automated as well as robotic equipment at UQ's Australian Biomolecular Interaction Facility, which gets major funding from the Australian Research Council has established.

Stonefish Venom Studied Through a Machine

The facility employs the only machine in the southern hemisphere that's capable of performing binding kinetic experiments in an extremely high throughput way.

Dr. Fry said they have only been able to unveil the stonefish venom's inner workings through a machine identified in the Fortebio site as the"Octet HTX." This, he described, is the "Rolls Royce" of biomolecular interaction technology.

The expert added that they are excited about what else needs to be done with such a technology and the understandings it will provide into the deadliest creatures of the world, helping develop world-leading treatments.

Related information is shown on the StoneAgeMan's YouTube video below: