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Scientists finally solved the mystery of why this wasp's venom can target and kill cancer cells
Business Insider ^ | 09/03/2015 | Caroline Reid, IFL Science

Posted on 09/03/2015 8:09:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Wasps get their fair share of bad press.

They have painful stingers, and they're not as useful to us (or as cute) as bees. Their time to step in the spotlight, however, may be just around the corner: Their venom has been shown to attack cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

The cancer-targeting toxin in the wasp is called MP1 (Polybia-MP1), and until now, how it selectively eliminates cancer cells was unknown.

According to new research, it exploits the atypical arrangement of fats, or lipids, in cancer-cell membranes. Their abnormal distribution creates weak points where the toxin can interact with the lipids, which ultimately pokes gaping holes in the membrane.

These are sufficiently large for essential molecules to start leaking out, including proteins, which the cell cannot function without.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: cancer; scientists
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To: varyouga
My mom had ALS. I keep bees. There was about a six month period in the progression of the disease that a bee sting would fix for a few hours. She couldn't speak or swallow at this stage. After a bee sting her speech came back and she could swallow. The effect lasted for about four hours. Eventually the stings didn't work enough and the end was soon after.

There is quite a bit of complex chemistry in bee, insect, and snake venom. Much of it can be used in medicine.

21 posted on 09/03/2015 8:51:23 AM PDT by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
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To: sassy steel magnolia

That should be “ with our family...” Can’t imagine life without them!:)


22 posted on 09/03/2015 8:52:00 AM PDT by sassy steel magnolia
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To: FredZarguna
It’s a pretty specific wasp and it works for pretty specific cancers [prostate and bladder.

Hum, so I wonder then if a man was taking allergy shots regularly for Wasp and Bee stings if it would be a preventive vaccine for Prostate Cancer as well? The shots have venom in them. Prostate Cancer finally claimed my dad about four years ago but I have taken allergy shots on a regular basis for stings for 10 years now so in case I get stung I won't have as a severe of a reaction.

23 posted on 09/03/2015 8:55:47 AM PDT by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: Reverend Saltine

Nature does generally seem to seek equilibrium between opposing forces. That is why both planets and subatomic particles stay in stable orbits, the forces pushing them away are balanced by the forces pulling them in.

This is pretty much the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Most people know it as “entropy” but that is a simplistic understanding of what the phenomena is. Really, the 2nd law means that energy always tries to seek equilibrium and evenly distribute itself. So it flows from areas of high energy to low energy until there is absolute equilibrium, stasis.


24 posted on 09/03/2015 8:59:00 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“which will surely be less hazardous...”

And slower....

Listen, there is the right way, the wrong way, and the Boogieman way. Which may be the wrong way (but faster).


25 posted on 09/03/2015 9:01:26 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: SeekAndFind

Isn’t evolution amazing?


26 posted on 09/03/2015 9:01:49 AM PDT by theBuckwheat
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To: Tired of Taxes

Ping du jour


27 posted on 09/03/2015 9:02:44 AM PDT by oprahstheantichrist (The MSM is a demonic stronghold, PLEASE pray accordingly - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
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To: Boogieman

I will have to remember, when you are hassling the bikers again, that you tried to coax cancer sufferers into hitting wasp nests.


28 posted on 09/03/2015 9:02:57 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: sassy steel magnolia

God bless you. Hold your husband close and don’t take a single second for granted.


29 posted on 09/03/2015 9:05:13 AM PDT by envisio (I ain't here long... I'm out of napalm and .22 bullets.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Yikes, you can’t detect my sarcasm? When I make a Homer Simpsons reference?

You really are slow.


30 posted on 09/03/2015 9:15:33 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman

Wait till the bikers hear about this.


31 posted on 09/03/2015 9:18:22 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: sassy steel magnolia

So asbestos you can, what went wrong. There are several kinds of asbestos, one of which is particularly noteworthy as troublesome.


33 posted on 09/03/2015 9:20:23 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Boogieman

If you want to be a big joke, by all means you are welcome to be a big joke, but then I don’t have to crucify you; you do it to yourself with amusing regularity.


36 posted on 09/03/2015 9:26:54 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: envisio

My sympathies, envisio.

Maybe God listened, and this is an answer.


39 posted on 09/03/2015 9:33:36 AM PDT by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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Comment #40 Removed by Moderator


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