By One look at a tarantula and many people would shriek. Truth be told, they may look intimidating, but they don’t actually pose a danger to humans. Their bite may be known for being painful, but it’s not harmful to our bodies beyond that initial pain. With over 850 species of tarantula worldwide, there is another reason to reconsider what we think about these furry nocturnal spiders.
Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have successfully isolated seven peptides (mini-proteins) from the spiders’ venom, which they have found make for an effective pain killer. The peptides help to block the pain signals, so that the brain doesn’t get the message that something is supposed to be hurting. Adding to the good news is that they believe these pain killers created from the spider venom don’t have as many side effects as do the current pain relief options on the market (1).
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the university analyzed the venom from 205 spiders, finding that 40 percent of them had venom that contained a peptide that could block pain in humans. Considering there are considered to be well over 35,000 named spider species worldwide, there could be a lot more research done in the future on venom and which ones have the ability to be used as a pain killer.
The university plans to continue researching the spider venom to use the information to create an effective treatment option for those with chronic pain. If they are able to create a pain killer that also doesn’t have the many side effects that opioids have, those with chronic pain may find another option at their disposal.
Living with chronic pain keeps many people searching for ways to find relief for them and their family members. There are also many people in the world conducting ongoing research to find additional ways to help bring relief. Increasingly there are more options available for those seeking chronic pain management, with more options on the horizon. Considering that tarantulas may bring some relief, you just never know what will be discovered next!
Sources:
University of Queensland. Spider venom may have legs as future painkiller.
https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2015/03/spider-venom-may-have-legs-future-painkiller
