Friday 31 March 2017

This fish’s opium-like venom could lead to new pain medications

This fish’s opium-like venom could lead to new pain medications

Fang blennies are a tropical fish that won’t be intimidated, injecting predators and competitors alike with venom released from two long teeth on their lower jaw. New research reveals that rather than stunning foes with a jolt of pain, the venom acts on the bitten fish’s opioid receptors, causing it to become dizzy and lethargic. This offers an entirely new avenue for the development of novel painkillers.

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