by Floro Mercene
Scientists have been studying the venoms of the natural world for decades and it shows that they can actually be harvested as potential medicinal treatments and cures.
A parasitic emerald wasp (Ampulex compressa) stings American cockroaches (common household cockroach) and control its movements by bringing it into a state of lethargy. The wasp uses its venom in a two-pronged approach against the cockroach, with an initial sting to the thorax to paralyze the front legs and a subsequent sting directly to the brain. This second sting causes the roach first to vigorously groom itself, then to fall into a state of lethargy, allowing the wasp to do whatever it wants. While most parasitic insects tend to paralyze their victims with a venomous sting, the emerald wasp instead manipulates the cockroach’s behavior, essentially transforming it into a zombie slave.
With two stings the cockroach is left with the ability to walk, but is entirely robbed of the power to initiate its own movements and follows the wasp’s order.
In the meantime, the wasp also lays an egg on the cockroach, which hatches after three or four days. The hatched larva consumes the cockroach alive and eventually forms a cocoon inside it. The stupefied roach, although able to move, shows no desire to struggle, flee, or fight, even as it is being eaten alive from the inside.
Scientists recently report in science Magazine “ Biochemistry “the discovery of a new family of peptides (named ampulexins) in the wasp’s venom that could be the key to controlling roach minds, and might even help researchers develop better Parkinson’s disease treatments.
Scientists’ tests suggest that the peptides help the wasp immobilize its prey. Future work will focus on identifying cellular targets of ampulexins, and potentially generating a useful animal model for the study of Parkinson’s disease treatment.