Wasp Venom May Kill Cancer Cells | Wasp Control Dallas
Generally when I think of wasps and their venom, good thoughts don’t come to mind. Rather, my mind focuses straight on how much their stings hurt, and that it’s that nasty venom that makes them so painful. But, wasp venom may have some redeeming qualities that I would say blow their negative aspects out of the water. So, what is this magic power that scientists have discovered in wasp venom? It can kill cancer…I’d say that’s a pretty monumental discovery for the human race. We may not be too fond if wasps, but they just might be able to save our lives.
Now, unfortunately, not venom from all wasps has this incredible ability. It is specifically the venom of the Brazilian social wasp Polybia paulista that contains an antimicrobial peptide called Polybia-MP1 (MP1). MP1 has already been recognized for its potential as a treatment for cancer. It has already been shown to inhibit a number of different types of cancer cells, including prostate cancer, leukemia cells that have already proved resistant to multiple drugs, as well as bladder cancer.
The newest study into this cancer-killing venom was finally able to reveal exactly how MP1 kills cancer cells without also harming the healthy cells. It does this by striking at lipids that hang out on the exterior of the cancerous cells until numerous little holes are created that let vital cell molecules stuck inside to leak out through said holes and escape their cancerous cell…”jail cell” if you will.
This process of attacking the lipids on the cell membrane is a completely new approach to fighting cancer. Scientists are interested in the possibility of being able to design new combination treatments for cancer that would utilize multiple drugs that each serve a different function in order to make a full on assault on the cancerous cells from all sides. It would essentially be a way to wage such an intense war on each and every individual cell that it wouldn’t matter what type of cancer it was. This therapy would essentially cover all the bases, so the cells are completely overwhelmed, making it impossible for them to fight every different attack coming at them. Wasp venom may just give us the ability to create the perfect chemical street gang to ambush the enemy cells. The war is on!
Do you know of any other ways certain insects are helping advance the medical field and specifically new and improved treatments for different illnesses and health issues?