Australian Funnel-web spiders and delta-hexatoxin (aka Versutoxin)

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SUMMARY

The venom of the Sydney Funnel-web spider and its relatives contains delta-hexatoxin (Versutoxin), a neurotoxin that disrupts sodium channels in humans, leading to severe physiological disturbances. This venom primarily affects humans and primates, while many mammals remain unaffected. Research indicates that components of funnel-web spider venom, such as Hi1a from the K’gari funnel-web spider, show potential in treating conditions like epilepsy and ischemic stroke by preventing neuron death. The structure of versutoxin provides insights into its neurotoxic properties, highlighting the medical potential of these spiders beyond their fearsome reputation.

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The venom of the Sydney Funnel-web and its two cousins (Southern Sydney Funnel-web, Newcastle Funnel-web) contains a neurotoxin called delta-hexatoxin (aka Versutoxin), which disrupts sodium channels in humans, causing disturbances in respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate. Weirdly enough, this venom only appears to harm humans and other primates (along with smaller prey of the spiders). Many other mammals aren’t the least bit affected by envenomation.
https://www.discovermagazine.com/th...-its-venom-may-inspire-medical-miracles-48107

The venom contains small proteins or peptides that can modify the ion channels and receptors in mammalian neurons. In some cases, these building blocks can target certain channels to combat epilepsy, abdominal pain, and stroke.

In the case of stroke, the venom of the K’gari funnel-web spider (which lives off the southern coast of Queensland on the island of K’gari) is making a big difference. A molecule in the venom, called Hi1a, is being studied for its ability to prevent neuron death and brain damage during an ischemic stroke.

These therapies, along with several others being investigated right now, are proving that funnel-web spiders are much more than just a scary face.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versutoxin#Mechanism_behind_Neurotoxic_Properties

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028390817301557 (subscription or purchase requred)

The structure of versutoxin (δ-atracotoxin-Hv1) provides insights into the binding of site 3 neurotoxins to the voltage-gated sodium channel​

https://www.cell.com/structure/fulltext/S0969-2126(97)00301-8
 
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Nasty critter!

It reminds me of this occurrence.

Imagine being a tourist in Australia and dumb enough to pick up a blue blinking animal? However “cute”.

I mean I’d certainly have skimmed “Australia’s Venomous Animals Volume 1 through 15” before even taking my shoes off!
 
sbrothy said:
Nasty critter!

It reminds me of this occurrence.

Imagine being a tourist in Australia and dumb enough to pick up a blue blinking animal? However “cute”.

I mean I’d certainly have skimmed “Australia’s Venomous Animals Volume 1 through 15” before even taking my shoes off!
It might just be an educational problem but there are other examples no less stupid.
 
Weird question. Could analysis of that venom, provide insight into the intense territoriality of the funnel web? I was in Sydney in 1982 in college and gat bitten by one of the little (bleap). I tried to retreat, it came after me! It was in a bush, next to a pool I was in. I brushed the bush with my arm, bang! It bit me twice. (Bad idea to have foliage near a pool in the Sydney area). I got out of the pool (flew actually), and looked back, it was running after me! NOT just venomous animal defensive behavior. I did disturb it (unless it was fishing?), but immediately retreated. I was not a threat (I was pathetic, and lost bladder control, does that have anything to do with it's venom?) Hey, I would have wet myself anyway, that was one aggressive beast...
 
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Rob Trajon said:
Weird question. Could analysis of that venom, provide insight into the intense territoriality of the funnel web? I was in Sydney in 1982 in college and gat bitten by one of the little (bleap). I tried to retreat, it came after me! It was in a bush, next to a pool I was in. I brushed the bush with my arm, bang! It bit me twice. (Bad idea to have foliage near a pool in the Sydney area). I got out of the pool (flew actually), and looked back, it was running after me! NOT just venomous animal defensive behavior. I did disturb it (unless it was fishing?), but immediately retreated. I was not a threat (I was pathetic, and lost bladder control, does that have anything to do with it's venom?) Hey, I would have wet myself anyway, that was one aggressive beast...
Yeah, they are notorious for their aggressiveness. What a traumatic experience!

EDIT: Well aggressiveness might be an exaggeration but:

"Unlike many spiders that flee immediately, funnel web spiders stand their ground."
---- https://snuggymom.com/are-funnel-web-spiders-aggressive/
 
sbrothy said:
Yeah, they are notorious for their aggressiveness. What a traumatic experience!

EDIT: Well aggressiveness might be an exaggeration but:

"Unlike many spiders that flee immediately, funnel web spiders stand their ground."
---- https://snuggymom.com/are-funnel-web-spiders-aggressive/
Stand their ground? Hell, he tried to follow me into my house! Thank God he couldn't unlock the door...
 
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Rob Trajon said:
Stand their ground? Hell, he tried to follow me into my house! Thank God he couldn't unlock the door...
Since this event almost killed me (I had an anaphylactic reaction to the venom, as well as it's toxic effects), my hand where I was bit (stabbed actually, twice). blew up like a balloon. Noticed that when I woke up at the hospital. The $$%#@ fang went threw my thumb, ALL the way. It was interesting, the doctors described "an entry and exit wound" like you would describe a gun shot wound. Perhaps (I was told) I survived ONLY because all the venom, did not go in me. Observational point: Where the fang/s came out on the underside of my right thumb, the tissue became nacrotic, it died. Gangrene. This was a shock, (oh really)?. I had to have my right thumb joint, removed (No more thumbs up! At least with my right hand). I had to have tissue removed around that area. Only the superb EMS people, and my mentor who called them, saved my life. Thank You.
 
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Must have been a big spider.
 
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I retract my “nasty critter” statement, or rather adds to it with the spider from hell. I’ve always wondered why these animals are so venomous. I mean the Taipan can kill 25000 mice or 25 people with a full load of venom. Yet it eats small critters the size of maybe squirrels, not elephants!
 
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“Central Ranges taipan has been less researched than other species of this genus, so the exact toxicity of its venom is still not clear, but it may be even more venomous than the other taipan species.”

Wiki on Taipan venom. As if the normal Taipan isn’t bad enough!