Bull ant evolves new way to target pain

Date:
March 3, 2022
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Researchers found a bull ant venom component that exploits a pain
pathway in mammals, which they believe evolved to stop echidnas
attacking the ant's nests.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Australian bull ants have evolved a venom molecule perfectly tuned to
target one of their predators -- the echidna -- that also could have implications for people with long-term pain, University of Queensland researchers say.


==========================================================================
Dr Sam Robinson and David Eagles from UQ's Institute for Molecular
Bioscience found a bull ant venom component that exploits a pain pathway
in mammals, which they believe evolved to stop echidnas attacking the
ant's nests.

"Venoms are complex cocktails and while bull ant venom contains molecules similar to those found in honey bee stings which cause immediate
pain, we also found an intriguing new molecule that was different,"
Dr Robinson said.

Whilst searching databases for similar amino-acid sequences, Dr Robinson
found that the molecule matched the sequence of mammalian hormones related
to Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), and of these, was most closely related
to that of the echidna.

"We tested the venom molecule on mammalian EGF receptors and it was very
potent -- this convinced us that the venom molecule was there to defend
against mammals," he said.

"We went on to show that while it didn't cause direct pain, the molecule
did cause long-lasting hypersensitivity.

"Many small carnivorous marsupials, like bandicoots, eat individual ants,
but only the echidna is known to attack bull ant nests and target their
young -- we think that making the echidna sensitive to pain, in tandem
with the immediate 'bee-sting' pain, may dissuade it from returning to
the nests.

"You can see clearly in the ant's DNA that it is producing a molecule
that mimics a hormone of its natural enemy and is using it as a weapon
against it - - it brings to mind the ancient proverb 'to know your enemy,
you must become your enemy.'" The team believes the links between EGF signalling and chronic pain are building momentum and is confident this
study could inspire new ways to treat long-term pain.

EGF-inhibitor drugs are readily available on the market and used in
anti-cancer therapy to slow tumour growth, with evidence suggesting
patients that take them experience less long-term pain.

"We hope that by highlighting the role of this signalling pathway
in pain, we can encourage different strategies for pain treatment,
especially long-term pain for which treatment is currently limited,"
Dr Robinson said.

Video: https://youtu.be/Gh7iwGemJeo ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Queensland. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. David A. Eagles, Natalie J. Saez, Bankala Krishnarjuna, Julia J.

Bradford, Yanni K.-Y. Chin, Hana Starobova, Alexander Mueller,
Melissa E.

Reichelt, Eivind A. B. Undheim, Raymond S. Norton, Walter G. Thomas,
Irina Vetter, Glenn F. King, Samuel D. Robinson. A peptide toxin in
ant venom mimics vertebrate EGF-like hormones to cause long-lasting
hypersensitivity in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences, 2022; 119 (7): e2112630119 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112630119 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220303095647.htm

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