A study by University of Queensland’s Molecular Bioscience unit has discovered an insect’s venom could potentially be used to treat epilepsy, stroke and neurodegeneration.
The assassin bug, which is commonly found along the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales, has been found to produce two types of venom; one for hunting and one as a defence mechanism.
Dr Andrew Walker said that “because of its ability to act on specific molecules in the nervous system, the venom can be useful in the treatment of epilepsy or neurodegeneration or stroke”.