Scorpion Venom
om use as immunosuppressants to cancer research. The problem is that one small mistake in the extraction method can have fatal consequences.
“The extraction of scorpion venom is a very difficult task and usually takes at least two experimenters,” Mouad Mkamel, a researcher from Ben M’sik Hassan II University in Morocco, said in a statement. “There are numerous risks including potentially deadly scorpion stings and electric shocks from the stimulators used to extract the venom.”
To mitigate the risk to humans and avoid harm to the scorpions, Mkamel and a team of researchers from the university designed a scorpion-milking robot. Dubbed the VES-4, the robot is lightweight and mobile so it can be used in the lab and out in the field. “It is designed to extract scorpion venom without harming the animal and to provide more safety for the experimenters,” Mkamel said, adding that the robot makes venom extraction quick and safe.
Scorpion Venom
Scorpions Poisonous
Scorpion venom is notoriously poisonous — but it might be used as an alternative to dangerous and addictive painkillers like morphine, a Tel Aviv University researcher claims.Scorpions Poisonous
Prof. Michael Gurevitz of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Plant Sciences is investigating new ways for developing a novel painkiller based on natural compounds found in the venom of scorpions. These compounds have gone through millions of years of evolution and some show high efficacy and specificity for certain components of the body with no side effects, he says.
Scorpions are nocturnal animals that live in tropical areas and deserts. They find shelter during the day in underground holes, beneath rocks and in burrows. At night, they venture out to hunt for food.Scorpions Poisonous Their primary predators are birds, centipedes, lizards, mice, possums and rats.
One undeniable fact is that scorpions are venomous. Their venom is the cause of widespread fear and at the same time, fascination. Most species possess a sting comparable to that of a bee sting, but a few scorpion species have a venomous sting that can be lethal to humans.
Scorpions are nocturnal animals that live in tropical areas and deserts. They find shelter during the day in underground holes, beneath rocks and in burrows. At night, they venture out to hunt for food. Their primary predators are birds, centipedes, lizards, mice, possums and rats.
-Scorpions Poisonous
One undeniable fact is that scorpions are venomous. Their venom is the cause of widespread fear and at the same time, fascination. Most species possess a sting comparable to that of a bee sting, but a few scorpion species have a venomous sting that can be lethal to humans.
-Scorpions Poisonous
Scorpion venom is a neurotoxin, a chemical that affects the nervous system, ultimately killing or paralyzing their prey. Among the most dangerous scorpion species is Leiurus quinquestriatus, also known as death stalker scorpion. This type of scorpion carries the some of the most potent venom in the group. Other scorpions in the same family Buthidae, such as the Parabuthus, Tityus, Centruroides, and Androctonus are also known to possess strong venoms.
-Scorpions Poisonous
Androctonus australis, or the fat-tailed scorpion, can be found in North Africa and the Middle East and is the cause of many human fatalities. Most deaths occur in the young, the elderly or the infirm.
Most scorpion venom isn’t life threatening to humans, but some scorpions do have potent venom. Direct contact should be avoided, and, if you are stung, contact a medical professional.
Scorpion Venom
