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Science Quickly

Roach Reactions to Venom Point to Targeted Pesticides

Science Quickly

Scientific American

Science

4.2639 Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2014

⏱️ 2 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Small changes in the protein sequence of sodium channels of American compared with German cockroaches leave the latter susceptible to a venom that has little effect on the former. Cynthia Graber reports    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Understanding the human body is a team effort. That's where the Yachtel group comes in.

0:05.8

Researchers at Yachtolt have been delving into the secrets of probiotics for 90 years. Yacold also

0:11.5

partners with nature portfolio to advance gut microbiome science through the global grants for

0:16.6

gut health, an investigator-led research program. To learn more about Yachtold, visit yawcult.co.

0:22.6

com.j. That's Y-A-K-U-L-T.C-O-J-P. When it comes to a guide for your gut, count on Yacolt.

0:34.0

This is Scientific American 60-second science. I'm Cynthia Graber. Got a minute?

0:39.8

An honest error has led to promising research into the development of species-specific insecticides.

0:45.4

The account is in the journal Nature Communications.

0:48.1

A team of Johns Hopkins scientists study sodium channels responsible for electrical signaling in nerve cells from humans and from cockroaches. Spider-venom protein messes with these sodium channels responsible for electrical signaling in nerve cells from humans and from

0:55.0

cockroaches. Spider-venom protein messes with these sodium channels. That's why venom is dangerous.

1:00.4

So the researchers use spider venom protein to disrupt the channels and thus clarify exactly how the

1:05.5

channels function. The researchers recently asked for venom protein samples from Australian collaborators,

1:17.6

and the Aussies accidentally included a spider venom protein that has no effect on humans or American cockroaches. In their tests, the Hopkins researchers found when sodium channels from German cockroaches were exposed to the mistakenly included sample,

1:24.6

their activity skyrocketed, enough to cause death-inducing seizures.

1:28.3

Intrigued that the American Roach sodium channel laughed off the venom that would kill the German roach,

1:33.3

the scientists found a key region on the two species channels that differed by only two amino acids.

1:38.3

The scientists say the information could help with the creation of insecticides that target one harmful insect species without hurting

1:44.7

beneficial ones like bees. As the study authors note, the more specific a toxins target,

1:49.8

the less dangerous it is for everything else. Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American 60-second

1:55.4

science, I'm Cynthia Graver.

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