Australian researchers transform sea snail spit into pain-relieving pills

The maritime conoid nail Conus victoriae is venomous to its prey ( and humans ) , but Australian researchers have isolated a non - habit-forming , pain - relieve chemical substance from its saliva . This cyclized peptide , known as α - conotoxin cVc1.1 , can be ingested orally in anovulatory drug form .

David J. Craik of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland led the inquiry squad that created this painkilling conotoxin , or a peptide toxin . From Bethany Halford atChemical & Engineering News :

The mollusks expend a venomous Cupid’s disease of conotoxins - peptide toxins that disrupt myriad biologic functions - that they inject into fleet prey with hypodermic - needle - similar tooth that shoot from their mouths like harpoons [ … ] Within the conotoxin brewage are several peptides that relieve tough - to - plow neuropathic nuisance just as well as morphia does but without its habit-forming belongings . Although scientist have tried to turn such compounds into nuisance substitute , they ’ve been hamstrung with job administering such drugs . The pain sensation relief Prialt , for example , is a synthetic translation of ω - conotoxin MVIIA , but it must be injected directly into the spinal corduroy with a surgically implanted pump .

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