The identification of new molecules in rockfish venom could lead to advancements in medical treatments for venomous stings.
The study highlights the importance of understanding marine toxins for potential therapeutic applications in medicine.
The tragic incidents associated with rockfish stings underline the need for increased awareness and safety measures in regions where these fish are prevalent.
Future research may lead to the development of new drugs derived from the chemical components of rockfish venom.
Increased public awareness and safety protocols may reduce the incidence of severe injuries from rockfish stings.
The ongoing study of marine toxins may uncover additional therapeutic uses for compounds found in fish venoms.
In the warm, shallow regions of the Red Sea and its extensions into the Indian Ocean and Pacific, scientists have identified the coral rockfish and the estuarine rockfish as the two most venomous fish on Earth. A recent study published in November in the journal Phipps Open Bio has further elucidated the venom's components, revealing three new molecules: gamma-aminobutyric acid, choline, and a variant of acetylcholine. These findings underscore the potential dangers associated with stings from these species, which can lead to severe medical symptoms including increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and even death.
Dr. Silvia Luisa Saggiomo, a co-author of the study, emphasized the severity of the stings, recalling a tragic incident in 2018 where a sting from a coral rockfish resulted in the death of an 11-year-old boy in Bora Bora. Symptoms from such stings include intense pain, fever, muscle weakness, and in extreme cases, paralysis and heart failure. The stonefish, another highly venomous species, can inflict severe injuries, with one case resulting in the amputation of a woman's toe after a sting in the Red Sea.
The study's insights into the chemical composition of rockfish venom could pave the way for developing new medical treatments. Dr. Monica Lopez from the Butantan Institute highlighted the potential for creating drugs from fish toxins, citing the TNP peptide from nymph fish venom as an example of a compound with anti-inflammatory properties. Dr. Wayne Hodgson from Monash University noted that many successful medications have been derived from toxins, including drugs used to treat high blood pressure and chronic pain.
