In Australia, extracting venom from marine animals to save lives

The tiny irukandji jellyfish, endemic to northern Australia, is formidable: a simple sting causes unbearable pain, but its venom can save lives.

Jamie Seymour has already been stung eleven times. This professor of toxicology at James Cook University in Queensland, northeast Australia, studies the world's most dangerous marine animals to understand how they can help make antivenom.< /p>

In his hangar, dozens of irukandji jellyfish, some no bigger than a sesame seed, float in tanks.

In another pool swims a stonefish, the most venomous fish in the world. Its very hard thorns pierce the skin and the pain is such that it can lead to loss of consciousness or even death.

Toxicology professor Jamie Seymour shows a stonefish, the most venomous in the world, on April 8, 2024 in Cairns, Australia © AFP – DAVID GRAY

Mr. Seymour himself is one of the people who survived one of his stings.

In his shed, the biologist points out other deadly species, including a jellyfish- box capable of killing a human being in 10 minutes.

“Australia is without a doubt the most venomous continent in the world,” Mr. Seymour told AFP, even if deaths are rare.

– Delicate process –

According to the latest available data, between 2001 and 2017, 32 animal-related deaths occurred been recorded per year in Australia – most being attributed to horses or cows.

Toxicology professor Jamie Seymour in his laboratory in Cairns, April 8, 2024 in Australia © AFP – DAVID GRAY

Since 1883, the irukandji jellyfish has caused two deaths, compared to 69 for the box jellyfish.

“There are between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths per year in Australia due to drugs, alcohol and car accidents The probability of being stung by an animal in Australia – or bitten – is therefore within reason”, emphasizes Mr Seymour.

His facility is the only one to extract the venom from these deadly marine animals and transform it into antivenom. The process is delicate, however.

For the box jellyfish, researchers remove the tentacles, freeze-dry them and collect the venom once solidified.

There is no antivenom for the irukandji jellyfish.

For stonefish, one of the methods involves inserting a syringe into the fish's venom glands and drawing out a few milliliters of the deadly liquid. Once researchers have collected enough, they send the venom to a laboratory which turns it into antivenom.

Then, “a small amount of this venom is injected during six months to an animal, such as a horse, which produces natural antibodies.

The animal's plasma is then collected and the antibodies extracted, purified and reduced to an antivenom for humans.

Toxicology professor Jamie Seymour (r) and an assistant near tanks outside his working laboratory on April 8, 2024 in Cairns, Australia © AFP – DAVID GRAY

These substances are then shipped to hospitals in Australia and some Pacific islands, where they can be administered in the event of a sting or bite.

“We have some of the best antivenoms in the world, there's no doubt about it. The time and effort that goes into producing them sets us apart from most other countries” , says Mr. Seymour.

– Climate change –

According to scientists, climate change could increase the risk of stings.

About sixty years ago, the known period of irukandji jellyfish stings extended from November to December.

Toxicology professor Jamie Seymour extracts the venom from a stonefish, the most venomous in the world, in his laboratory in Cairns, April 8, 2024 in Australia © AFP – DAVID GRAY

Now, due to rising ocean temperatures, this extends into March, also pushing these deadly jellyfish further south.

Mr. Seymour's students discovered that changes in temperature can also change the toxicity of the venom.

“For example, if I make antivenom for an animal at 20 degrees and I get bitten by an animal that lives in the wild at 30 degrees, “this antivenom won't work,” he explains.

The venom of stinging creatures could even be used to treat a myriad of other health conditions, including healing rheumatoid arthritis.

This area of ​​research remains largely underfunded.

“When we think about venom , you see it as ratatouille. It has a whole bunch of different components,” Mr. Seymour said. “What we're trying to do is take these pieces apart and figure out what's going on.”

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