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becca81 said:
No way man!! That was very interesting!! :worship: If you can go more into detail or have anything to add, please do so! I'd love to "hear" it!Thoth said:Sorry for the boring science lesson
Venom varies in so many ways, between speices and perhaps between localitites (as in snakes), how can we know if some venoms haven't developed proteins? If it is full of short-chain peptides then it is only a few bonds away from a protein. Perhaps, evolution-wise, it maybe more advantageous to create a protein-based venom, like beesThoth said:A body reacting to a venom and an allergic response are two very different things. An allergic response is an very specific immune cascade involving IgE, histamines, various cytokines et c. Like Lelle stated in the other thread, size of the protein/peptide is a key factor in illiciting an immune response(i.e. allergic reaction). In the lab the only way to generate antibodies for a particular peptide would be to conjugate it to a larger protein (albumin) then injected into the animal. Spider venom is known to be a mix of small peptides and various organic molecules. Also it is extremely rare for a non protein substance to cause an immune response (the reason a person never develops immunity to salmonella or E.coli food poisoning is because the endotoxin that causes it is lipid sacchride not a protein). So it is very likely that it is impossible to be allergic to spider venom.
DanHalen when a person is "allergic to the sun" the are not allergic to the sun per se but rather the proteins their bodies produce when exposed to the sun.
Sorry for the boring science lesson
While, yes a bunch of peptides are few bonds away from becoming full length protein; its like saying if my aunt was a man she would be my uncle. Meaning while true, thats not the case.DaleGribble said:Venom varies in so many ways, between speices and perhaps between localitites (as in snakes), how can we know if some venoms haven't developed proteins? If it is full of short-chain peptides then it is only a few bonds away from a protein. Perhaps, evolution-wise, it maybe more advantageous to create a protein-based venom, like bees
The above species have more potent venom, but they are not medically significant. To be medically significant, it has to pose a serious and real threat to a person's health. There is no documentation of any serious (loss of life or limb) medical problems associated with a tarantula bite.edesign said:Pokies, Heteroscodra, Pterinochilus (OBT's i know, not sure about lugardis and all), and Stromatopelma are all thought to have possible medically significant venom....for future reference
And thank you for some great information. :clap: :clap: :clap:Thoth said:Thank you. Being a nerd finally pays off.
If I am not mistaken size makes a difference only in the amount of venom that can be injected into you so a larger T will have more of an effect not because it is stronger but because there is more of it... Gregcloud711 said:does size make a difference on how strong the venom is? i mean the potency of the venom is it the same for adults and juvies? :?
I think the standard for whether a bite is medically significant is whether the bite can produce systemic effects, and not just localized pain and swelling.Windchaser said:The above species have more potent venom, but they are not medically significant. To be medically significant, it has to pose a serious and real threat to a person's health. There is no documentation of any serious (loss of life or limb) medical problems associated with a tarantula bite.
Dragging up this thread.Thoth said:Also it is extremely rare for a non protein substance to cause an immune response (the reason a person never develops immunity to salmonella or E.coli food poisoning is because the endotoxin that causes it is lipid sacchride not a protein).