Saptaparna Dasgupta, Bennett University
Limacodid caterpillars, being from the family of the most venomous and dangerous species, have turned to be the savior of life. Doratifera vulnerans, also known as mottled cup moth, are native to South East Queensland and are also found in Toohey Forest Park on Brisbane’s southside. The research on this species has been done by Dr. Andrew Walker, a researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland, since 2017. The venom in these caterpillars acts as a defensive tactic to keep predators away and is awfully painful stings. These toxins when studied and synthesized in laboratories have depicted highly valuable medicinal properties, which, therefore, serves the purpose as the savior of life.
The venom of Doratifera vulnerans:
Dr Andrew Walker said that Doratifera vulnerans, in literal terms mean ‘bearer of the gift of wounds’, who has been researching this species since 2017. On the caterpillars, sting-like spines are present, which contain large secretory cells, producing the complex toxin, out of their body. Research states that the toxins present in the venom of this species have their molecular structure identical to that of spiders, bees, etc. Moreover, this toxin provides the researchers with a reserve of bioactive peptides. These peptides have already proven their potential in medicinal, biotechnological, and scientific aspects. Dr Walker presented a complete view of the venom system of Doratifera vulnerans through the use of several imaging technologies, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.
Venom: The nature-gifted defence
Previously due to low advances in research techniques, there was very little idea on how venom-induced pain. But now, after thorough research, it has been shown that the caterpillars that produce pain-inducing venoms have developed biological protection. The protective methods include irritative hairs, poisonous toxins, and venomous spines as their external body morphology. The venom comprises 151 different peptide toxins from 59 different families of protein, less than 10 kDa. 13 protein-based toxins were synthesized in vitro, and several unique evolutionary trajectories of the venom were revealed by the researcher. The current research states that as the amino acid sequence of the toxins are known, which contribute to the building blocks of the toxin composition, shall help the researchers to produce and test the toxins in diverse ways. The research is carried out in several institutes, namely, the CSIRO, Canada’s York University, Austria’s University of Vienna, and the Department of Food and Agriculture in the USA.
Toxins as the saviour of life
Certain of these toxins from the venom, synthesized in the laboratories depicted high efficiency in destroying nematode parasites and other disease-causing pathogens that are detrimental to livestock. This venom thus proved its potential in the field of medicine by impacting the biological processes and encouraging good health, as an eco-friendly insecticide. These toxins have a great impact on health due to their possessing medicinal properties and thus, prove to be the savior of life. These venoms stand as a promising pillar in the treatment of several pathologies such as stroke, epilepsy, etc. The venom induces its action by modulating the electrical impulses to the neuronal cells, this venom is thus exploited for treating the nervous system pathologies (Fig 1.). Walker was able to derive the conclusion that it was the protein chains related to cecropin that stimulated the pain. As the research is at a budding stage, further studies and investigation are required for better implementation of the toxin.
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REFERENCE
- Walker, A ., Robinson, S., Paluzzi, J., et al. Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans. (2021) PNAS; 118 (18): e2023815118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023815118
- The in-text image has been created using Canva.
ABOUT AUTHOR:
Saptaparna Dasgupta, currently a B. Tech 3rd year student, pursuing Biotechnology, is a diligent student and determined in terms of her career goals. Being a budding biotechnologist, she is open to all research fields of her course and passionate about knowledge. She is focused and constantly tries to improve her writing skills, also a project enthusiast and is fond of gaining hands-on experience in laboratories. She believes that all hard work and efforts pay off eventually and follows this as the motto of her life.
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