VenomAlfredo GarciaYuliya KunzHannah Meraou

Toxin is a chemical substance produced within living cells or organisms. (Ex. viruses, proteins, or peptides)

Poison is a substance that can cause illness or death when absorbed or ingested (Ex. Fugu, Ricin)

Venom is a substance produced by an animal for self defense and is injected into another animal (Ex. stingers, fangs, etc.)

Poison vs Venom vs Toxin

Short answer: If it bites you and you die it’s venomous; if you bite it and you die it’s poisonous.

How Does Venom Affect the Body?

Ways that Venom Affects the Body Neurotoxic effect targets the brain and nervous

system Causes paralysis/lack of muscle control/disrupts

signals between neurons and muscles Hemotoxic effect targets the cardiovascular

system Destroys red blood cells, disrupts blood clotting,

causes organ degeneration and tissue damage Cytotoxic effect targets specific cells or organs

Causes necrosis and cytotoxic apoptosis

Treatment Antivenom is a biological product used in

the treatment of venomous bites or stings. Antivenom is created by milking venom

from a relevant snake, spider, insect, or fish.

The venom is then diluted and injected into a horse, sheep, rabbit, or goat. The subject animal will undergo an immune response to the venom, producing antibodies against the venom's active molecules which can then be harvested from the animal's blood and used to treat envenomation.

Large Variety of Animals

Brazilian Wandering Spider

Kingdom: AnimaliaInfrakingdom: ProtostomiaPhylum: ArthropodaClass: ArachnidaGenus: PhoneutriaSpecies: P. fera and P. nigriventer• Large (bodies up to 5 cm, leg spans reaching about 15

cm)• Vary in color (mostly brown and may have a black spot on their bellies)

• Hairy

http://biologypop.com/most-dangerous-animals/

Brazilian Wandering Spider (BWS)

• Holds Guinness book record as the world’s most venomous spider.

• Phoneutria = “murderess” (Greek) • First discovered in Brazil

• Does not build webs, but walks the jungle floor at night searching for prey (insects, small amphibians, mice).

• Aggressive (“warning dance”)http://www.viralnova.com/brazilian-wandering-spider/

• Can be found in Central and South America

Symptoms of BWS Envenomation

Severe burning pain at the site of the bite due to high concentration of seratonin

• Local

Profuse sweating Arterial hypertension (sometimes

severe) Tachycardia Nausea Abdominal cramping Hypothermia (especially in

extremities) Vertigo Blurred vision Convulsions, tremors Pulmonary edema Priapism in males Systemic shock

• Systemic

• Severe Envenomation

(0.5-1% of cases) Loss of muscle control Paralysis Severe respiratory

destress Pulmonary edema Asphyxiation Death

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-shocking/the-10-deadliest-venoms-on-the-planet/?view=all

Venom of P. nigriventer

• Causes Priapism in males (penile erection)

Composition

Toxic proteins

Toxic peptide

s

Most studied

examples

Neurotoxin PhTx3

complex

PnTx2-6 peptide

PnTx2-5 peptide

Act on

Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺

channels

Glutamate transporter

s

Specificity

Inhibition of Na⁺

channels

Consequences

Depolarization of muscle

fibers

Depolarization of neuronal terminals at

neuromuscular junctions

Results

Shutdown of neuromuscular

and respiratory systems if untreated

Lethal outcome

Slowed inactivation of Na⁺ channels in nitrergic neurons

Increased Ca²⁺ influx

NO/cGMP signaling turns on

Increased production of

NO

Elevation of intracavernosal pressure

• Can cause impotence. Subject for research as potential erectile dysfunction medication

Brazilian Wandering Spider – “Banana Spider”

http://www.viralnova.com/brazilian-wandering-spider/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/04/brazilian-wandering-spider-worlds-most-deadly-arachnid-sainsburys-bananas-pictures_n_4211637.html

• Lays eggs and builds webbed nests on bananas.

• Travels to other countries (UK) on bananas produced in Brazil, and other parts of South American continent.

Blue-Ringed Octopus (B-RO)

Kingdom: AnimaliaInfrakingdom: ProtostomiaPhylum: MolluscaClass: CephalopodaGenus: HapalochlaenaSpecies: H. lunulata, H. maculosa, H. fasciata • Small (body – 5 cm long, 10

cm with arms.• Yellow-brown in color with

blue iridescent rings.• H. lunulata – “greater blue-

ringed”.• H. maculosa – “lesser blue-

ringed”. (referring to size of rings).

http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2015/06/23/blue_ringed_octopus_venom_causes_numbness_vomiting_suffocation_death.html

http://9gag.com/gag/ajAVLm8/blue-ringed-octopus-highly-venomous-on-hand

Blue-Ringed Octopus• Found in waters surrounding Australia and in the eastern

Indo-Pacific.• Often found in shallow costal waters (beach) in Australia.• Several humans are bitten each year, some fatalities.• Painless bite – often unnoticed.• Highly potent venom.

• 25 g octopus contains enough venom to kill 10 adult human males.• Among the deadliest animals in the sea.

http://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Blue-Ringed-Octopus-Baby.jpg

• No anti-venom available.

Symptoms of B-RO Envenomation

• Onset occurs within 5-10 minutes after bite Parasthesias and numbness Progressive muscular weakness Difficulty breathing and swallowing Nausea and vomiting Visual disturbances Difficulty speaking Flaccid paralysis Respiratory failure Unconsciousness Cerebral anoxia Death

In severe cases

http://otlibrary.com/blue-ringed-octopus/

Venom of B-RO• Neurotoxin: Tetrodotoxin(TTX)• Symbiotic relationship with TTX-producing bacteria, that lives in

salivary glands of B-RO.

Result:Respiratory failure

This interferes

with muscles of

diaphragm and chest

wall

Produces flaccid

voluntary muscle

paralysis

Blocks propagation of nervous impulses in mammalian myelinated peripheral

nerves

Caps Na⁺ channel, blocking

movement of Na⁺ ions across

neuronal membranes

• TTX mechanism of action:

• Organ failure due to lack of oxygen• No antidote to TTX• Only possible treatment: artificial ventilation until TTX clears out from the body.

Slow Lorises

The only known venomous primate

Genus Nycticebus

Reside in Southeast AsiaWeigh only ~ 2 kg

A bite can cause erythema, hypotension, shock, muscle convulsions, respiratory/heart problem, anaphylactic shock, or death

Venom of the Slow Loris

They apply the poison to their teeth and fur

Mothers spread the poison on their offspring when they leave—deterring potential predators

One component of the toxin closely resembles cat allergen

Venom originates in brachial glands and only becomes toxic when mixed with saliva

Evolution of Defenses

Do dorsal markings deter aerial predators?

The slow loris may have evolved features for Müllerian mimicry of cobras (Nekaris et al.)

Extra vertebra in the spine allows snake like movements

Serpentine aggressive vocalizations and venom

Illegal Pet Trade?

Poachers remove their teeth Many die of infection and malnutrition

Any Questions?

Sources • Bucaretchi, F., Mello, S. M., Vieira, R. J., Mamoni, R. L., Blotta, M. H., Antunes, E.,

& Hyslop, S. (2008). Systemic envenomation caused by the wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer , with quantification of circulating venom. Clinical Toxicology, 46(9), 885-889. doi:10.1080/15563650802258524

• Caldwell, R. (2016, April 18). What makes blue-rings so deadly? Blue-ringed octopus' have tetrodotoxin. Retrieved April 18, 2016, from http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/bluering2.php

• Caldwell, R. (2016, April 17). Blue-ringed octopus classification. Retrieved April 18, 2016, from http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/bluering3.php

• Cartwright, M. (2015, June 23). What It’s Like to Nearly Die From the Venom of a Blue-Ringed Octopus. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2015/06/23/blue_ringed_octopus_venom_causes_numbness_vomiting_suffocation_death.html

• Fessenden, M. (2014, October 2). The Only Primate With a Toxic Bite Might Have Evolved to Mimic Cobras. Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/only-primate-toxic-bite-might-have-evolved-mimic-cobras-180952926/?no-ist

Sources (Cont.) • Negri, A. (2014, February 3). Phoneutria nigriventer venom: A source of new medical

toolsVenoms. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from http://flipper.diff.org/apptagsaccount/items/6252

• Nekaris, K. A., Moore, R. S., Rode, E. J., Fry, B. G. (2013). Mad, bad and dangerous to know: the biochemistry, ecology and evolution of slow loris venom. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases. doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-19-21

• Nunes, K., Costa-Gonçalves, A., Lanza, L., Cortes, S., Cordeiro, M., Richardson, M., . . . Lima, M. D. (2008, February 26). Tx2-6 toxin of thePhoneutria nigriventer spider potentiates rat erectile function. Retrieved April 6, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3019117/

• Richardson, M., & Et. all. (2006). Comparison of the partial proteomes of the venoms of Brazilian spiders of the genus Phoneutria. CBP, 173-187. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from http://www.wandering-spiders.net/uploads/tx_psmpublication/Richardson_et_al_2006_CompBiochemPhysol_Comparison_of_the_partial_proteomes_of_the_venoms_of_Brazilian_spiders_of_the_genus_Phoneutria.pdf

• Szalay, B. J. (2014, November 19). Brazilian Wandering Spiders: Bites & Other Facts. Retrieved April 4, 2016, from http://www.livescience.com/41591-brazilian-wandering-spiders.html

• Blue-ringed Octopuses, Hapalochlaena maculosa. (2015). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=403

• Brazilian Wandering Spider. (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2016, from http://www.spidersworlds.com/brazilian-wandering-spider/

Sources (cont.)• Brazilian Wandering Spider - Facts, Bite & Habitat Information. (2014). Retrieved April 4, 2016,

from https://animalcorner.co.uk/animals/brazilian-wandering-spider/• Hapalochlaena lunulata-Blue Ringed Octopus. (2008). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from

https://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2013/koehn_kate/classification.htm• MailOnline, G. M. (2015, June 24). A four-hour erection and then death: The fate awaiting any

man bitten by deadly spider feared to have entered Britain in bunch of Tesco bananas. Retrieved April 4, 2016, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3137383/A-four-hour-erection-death-fate-awaiting-man-bitten-deadly-spider-feared-entered-Britain-bunch-Tesco-bananas.html

• Nycticebus coucang. (2013). Retrieved from https://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2013/gustafso_alli/venom.htm

• Result Filters. (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2425876

• TOXINS PRESENT IN THE BRAZILIAN FAUNA AND FLORA WITH POTENTIAL MEDICAL IMPORTANCE. (2013). Retrieved April 5, 2016, from http://braziliantoxins.blogspot.com/2012/04/brazilian-wandering-spider.html

• What is the difference between venom, poison, and toxin? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-venom-poison-and-toxin

• 5 most dangerous spiders. (2013, February 15). Retrieved April 4, 2016, from http://myscienceacademy.org/2013/02/15/5-most-dangerous-spiders/

Sources (Cont.) http://www.leisurepro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/stonefihs2.

jpg (stonefish) http://www.buzcall.com/images/xotik-pacific-blue-ringed-octopus-4.

jpg (blue-ring octopus) http://klazinastanwick.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/

JELLY_FISH.jpg (jellyfish) http://www.planetdeadly.com/wp-content/uploads/fat-tail-scorpion-720x521.

jpg (scorpion) http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/health_and_science/wild_things/2015/06/150622_WILD_Platypus.jpg.CROP.promo-

mediumlarge.jpg (platypus) https://tribwpix.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/567147645.jpg (black

widow)