A recently published study conducted by the University of Northumbria shows that, contrary to popular belief, snake and spider venom is actually populated with microbes, including bacteria that could cause infection in people who have been bitten.
For decades, scientists have thought that animal poison is a completely sterile environment because it is full of antimicrobial substances, materials that can kill bacteria.
However, new scientific evidence from research led by the University of Northumbria’s associate professor of cellular and molecular sciences, Sterghios Moschos, and poison biologist Steve Trim, founder and CSO of the Venomtech biotechnology company, has shown that not so.
The paper, published today in the scientific journal Microbiology Spectrum, demonstrates how adaptable microorganisms are. The study provides strong genetic and cultural evidence that bacteria can not only survive on the venom glands of various species of snakes and spiders, but can also mutate to resist the notoriously toxic liquid that is poison.
The findings also suggest that, therefore, victims of poisonous animal bites should also be treated for infections, not just antivirus to deal with toxins deposited through the bite.
The publication of the study follows the news that the research power of the University of Northumbria continues to grow with the results of the framework of excellence in research (REF2021) that show the University of Northumbria with the largest increase in the ranking of the research power of any UK university. Its search power ranking rose to 23rd place, after rising to 50th in 2014 from 80th in 2008, making Northumbria the industry’s largest rise in search power ranking for the second time.
Challenge the dogma of poison sterility
Seeking to address a gap in the investigation, Dr. Moschos and colleagues investigated the venom of five species of snakes and two spiders. “We found that all the venomous snakes and spiders we tested had bacterial DNA in their venom,” Dr. Moschos explained.
“The usual diagnostic tools could not correctly identify these bacteria; if you were infected with them, a doctor would end up giving you the wrong antibiotics, which could make things worse.
“When we sequenced their DNA we clearly identified the bacteria and found that they had mutated to resist the poison. This is extraordinary because the poison is like a cocktail of antibiotics, and it’s so thick with them that you would have thought the bacteria didn’t they would have no chance. Not only did they have a chance, they had done it twice, using the same mechanisms, “Dr. Moschos added.
“We also directly tested the resistance of Enterococcus faecalis, one of the species of bacteria we found in the venom of black-necked spitting cobras, to the venom itself and compared it to a classic hospital isolate: the hospital isolate does not he tolerated the poison all over, but our two isolates grew happily in the highest concentrations of poison we could throw at them. ”
Implications for clinical treatment
2.7 million poisonous bite-related injuries occur annually, mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Of these, it is estimated that 75% of victims will develop infections in the tissue damaged by the poisonous toxin, with the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis being a common cause of disease.
Previously, these infections were thought to be a consequence of having an open bite wound, as opposed to the fact that the bacteria causing the infection came from the poison itself.
Researchers say their study shows the need for doctors to consider treating snake bite victims not only for tissue destruction but also for infection as soon as possible.
Steve Trim of Venomtech added: “By exploring the resistance mechanisms that help these bacteria survive, we can find completely new ways to attack resistance to multiple drugs, potentially by engineering antimicrobial poison peptides.”
Reference: Esmaeilishirazifard E, Usher L, Trim C, et al. Bacterial adaptation to poison in snakes and arachnids. Microbiol Spec. 0 (0): e02408-21. doi: 10.1128 / spectrum.02408-21
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