Scientists Have Used Gene Editing To Create An Antidote For The Most Deadly Venomous Creature

Gwyn D'Mello
Gwyn D'MelloUpdated on May 02, 2019, 17:07 IST

The transparent box jellyfish is one of the most venomous creatures in the world, capable of even killing a human being with a single sting. Now, scientists may have designed an antidote for one of the more deadly species of this kind, thanks to genetics research.

box jellyfish

The Chironex fleckeri is one of the most deadly species of the venomous box jellyfish. Using its 3m-long tentacles it can sting and is capable of causing cardiac arrest in humans. Until now, scientists have been unable to figure out exactly how its venom works. However, that changed recently.

Scientists at the University of Sydney began testing the jellyfish's venom on human cells grown in a lab some time ago. Using the powerful gene-editing tool CRISPR, they then began changing the genetic makeup of these cell batches, turning off certain genes. Eventually, they hit upon a combination of genes that, when hit with the venom, were able to sustain themselves.

"What we do is grow up millions of human cells, then we use CRISPR to knock out every gene in the human genome," says Greg Neely, a functional geneticist at the University of Sydney, and lead on the research paper. What they managed to pinpoint then was the exact set of genes that, when removed, render the venom useless in humans.

box jellyfish

The scientists found four genes in particular that were responsible for the venom's deadliness, all using certain pathways. More importantly, we already have drugs that block these pathways. These medications are capable of preventing this venom from working even 15 minutes after it was injected. That could save a lot of lives.

"By shutting down this pathway for a short period of time, we can shut down the venom death pathway," says Neely.

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