Scientists have decoded the deadly secret behind the black widow spider’s venom. It’s not just ordinary poison, the venom is a complex “cocktail of toxins.”
One key piece of the deadly venom is a neurotoxin called a-latrotoxin, which targets the nervous systems of vertebrates, including humans. Many people already know that this spider is not to be messed with, as a bite can bring muscle spasms and in severe cases, death.
But the mystery behind the full mechanism of its venom has long remained a mystery — until now. Scientists at the University of Münster created a 3D model that shows exactly what happens when the toxin enters the body.
Once the a-latrotoxin binds to the body’s synapses — the junctions between nerve cells — it sends calcium flooding into the system, which throws nerve signals into chaos.
Muscles contract uncontrollably, causing muscle spasms. This breakthrough research could lead to better antidotes, new treatments for paralysis and even novel biopesticides.
While the black widow’s bite remains deadly, science might soon turn this venomous weapon into a tool or healing.