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Platypus (And Echidna) Venom Could Treat Type 2 Diabetes, Adelaide Researchers Find
ABC News ^ | 11/30

Posted on 11/30/2016 8:15:09 PM PST by nickcarraway

A longer-lasting form of a hormone found in platypus venom could pave the way for new treatments for type 2 diabetes in humans, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.

Key points:

A longer lasting version of GLP-1 has been found in the gut and venom of the platypus
GLP-1 stimulates the release of insulin to lower blood glucose
Researchers hope the venom could be used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans

The team found both the platypus and echidna produce a long-lasting form of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

GLP-1 is normally secreted in the gut of both humans and animals, stimulating the release of insulin to lower blood glucose levels.

But GLP-1 typically degrades within minutes.

Lead researcher Frank Grutzner said his team was surprised to find the hormone was produced not only in the platypus' gut, but also in its venom.

"We've found that GLP-1 is degraded in monotremes [platypus, echidna] by a completely different mechanism," Professor Grutzner said.

"Further analysis of the genetics of monotremes reveals that there seems to be a kind of molecular warfare going on between the function of GLP-1, which is produced in the gut, but also surprisingly in their venom."

The platypus has spurs on its hind limbs for delivering venom to its competitors during mating season.

Associate Professor Briony Forbes said the two different functions of GLP-1 in the platypus — in the gut as a regulator of blood glucose, and in the venom to fend off other males — have seen the hormone evolve.

"The function in venom has most likely triggered the evolution of a stable form of GLP-1 in monotremes," she said.

"Excitingly, stable GLP-1 molecules are highly desirable as potential type 2 diabetes treatments." Professor Grutzner said GLP-1 was also discovered in the venom of echidnas, but unlike the platypus, they do no have a spur to deliver the poisonous fluid.

He said more research was needed to find how the treatment would work in humans.

"I think the next step is really to do some experiments in an established medical animal system like the mouse for example, and study how that variant is working in that mouse model and take it from there."


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: diabetes; health; platypus
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To: nickcarraway

The important thing here is that the form of the molecule being produced by the platypus can be synthesized... and manufactured... It will just take some bit of lab time ... We won’t have to kill and harvest the venom from the strange little animal ..


21 posted on 12/01/2016 3:35:50 AM PST by ICCtheWay (1)
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To: Viking2002
"I do three pills a day and a weekly shot for mine. I'd mate with a platypus if I though it would help."

Me too...

22 posted on 12/01/2016 5:28:54 AM PST by Russ
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To: nickcarraway

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. - Isaiah 45:3


23 posted on 12/01/2016 8:57:41 AM PST by LTC.Ret
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To: nickcarraway

Platypus have venom? Who knew?

(The Aborigines, maybe)


24 posted on 12/01/2016 12:18:51 PM PST by JimRed (Is it 1776 yet? TERM LIMITS, now and forever! Build the Wall, NOW!)
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To: Ray76

Yup. Delivered by a spur on the hind feet.


25 posted on 12/01/2016 12:55:24 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: gundog

They don’t even have the decency to deliver it with a bite. tch tch.


26 posted on 12/01/2016 1:30:05 PM PST by Ray76 (DRAIN THE SWAMP)
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To: Ray76

They don’t have teeth. Venom is hard to deliver by gumming.


27 posted on 12/01/2016 1:33:32 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: gundog

The venom is if I remember my 4th grade geography of Australia, delivered through the claws


28 posted on 12/01/2016 1:37:39 PM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;WASP .... Does America still have lots of safe closets?)
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To: gundog

No teeth?

What a mutant!


29 posted on 12/01/2016 1:39:06 PM PST by Ray76 (DRAIN THE SWAMP)
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To: bert

A spur on the hind legs. A modified claw, I’m sure.


30 posted on 12/01/2016 1:39:11 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: Ray76

It’s done pretty well for itself.


31 posted on 12/01/2016 1:41:53 PM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: nickcarraway

32 posted on 12/01/2016 1:46:19 PM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: Viking2002

33 posted on 12/01/2016 1:48:51 PM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: gundog
Put me down!


34 posted on 12/01/2016 1:50:51 PM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: gundog

35 posted on 12/01/2016 1:52:17 PM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: nickcarraway

.
Platypus are venomous???

Who knew!


36 posted on 12/01/2016 1:52:32 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

I did. Didn’t you go to school?


37 posted on 12/01/2016 1:53:13 PM PST by Thibodeaux (Exile Barack, Exile the Wookie, Exile Malia, Exile Shasha)
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To: nickcarraway

Well, what the heck, everything else in Australia tries to kill you, why not platypus venom for a cure?


38 posted on 12/01/2016 1:54:52 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Viking2002

.
So, just get yourself a pet male platypus.

Problem solved.


39 posted on 12/01/2016 1:58:08 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Thibodeaux

.
Alas!

We had no one to teach us platypusology.
.


40 posted on 12/01/2016 2:00:24 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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