Molecular toxinology of Australian box jellyfish venoms

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/436606

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Box jellyfish are an ongoing cause of illness and death for coastal communities and tourist regions in northern Australia. As well as creating a significant medical problem, the resulting closure of beaches during boxjellyfish 'season' results in an enormous loss of tourism income and threatens Australia's reputation as a safe destination. The jellyfish venoms contain toxins with potentially lethal effects on humans. For the first time, using pure venoms derived from the specialised stinging cells (i.e. nematocytsts), we will isolate and characterize the major toxins from four species of box jellyfish. Their mechanism of action will be determined and the effect of various treatments such as antivenom will be investigated. This will also lead to the discovery of toxins with potentially novel targets and modes of action and increase our understanding of proposed treatments and prevention of stings.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2009

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $283,110.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

cardiovascular | envenomation | jellyfish | therapeutic target | toxinology | venom

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