Push Admin

Australian stinging trees contain 'scorpion-like venom': scientists

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/09/17/australian-stinging-trees.jpg"/><figcaption>Courtesy of Healthdirect Australia</figcaption></figure></div>BRISBANE - Australia is notorious for its venomous spiders, snakes and sea creatures, but researchers have now identified &quot;scorpion-like&quot; toxins secreted by a tree that can cause excruciating pain for weeks.Split-second contact with the dendrocnide tree, a rainforest nettle known by its indigenous name gympie-gympie, delivers a sting far more potent than similar plants found in the US or Europe.The tree, which has broad oval- or heart-shaped leaves, is primarily found in rainforest areas of northeast Queensland, where it is notorious among hikers.A team of Australian scientists say they now better understand why the gympie-gympie&#x27;s sting haunts those unlucky enough to brush up against its leaves.Victims report an initial sting that &quot;feels like fire at first, then subsides over hours to a pain reminiscent of having the affected body part caught in a slammed car door,&quot; the University of Queensland researchers said Thursday.In the final, drawn-out stages, simply taking a shower can reignite the pain.Though the gympie-gympie is covered in fine needle-like hairs similar to other nettles, previous testing for common irritants such as histamines came up empty.Irina Vetter, an associate professor at the University of Queensland&#x27;s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, said the research team discovered a new class of neurotoxin miniproteins, which they christened &quot;gympietides&quot;.&quot;Although they come from a plant, the gympietides are similar to spider and cone snail toxins in the way they fold into their 3D molecular structures and target the same pain receptors -- this arguably makes the gympie-gympie tree a truly &#x27;venomous&#x27; plant,&quot; she said.Australia is already infamous for its venomous fauna including snakes, box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopus and funnel-web spiders, although deaths in humans from bites or stings are rare.Vetter said the long-lasting pain inflicted by the tree may be explained by the gympietides permanently altering the chemical makeup of the affected sensory neurons -- not due to the fine hairs getting stuck in the skin.The scientists hope their research, published in peer-reviewed journal Sciences Advances, will eventually help lead to better pain relief treatment for people who have been stung.

Split-second contact with the dendrocnide tree, a rainforest nettle known by its indigenous name gympie-gympie, delivers a sting far more potent than similar plants found in the US or Europe.

Split-second contact with the dendrocnide tree, a rainforest nettle known by its indigenous name gympie-gympie, delivers a sting far more potent than similar plants found in the US or Europe.