Aug. 24, 2009 -- A bee stings by pumping venom into its target and now scientists have borrowed the main ingredient in bee venom to seek and destroy tumor cells. The researchers at Washington University in St. Louis deliver the venom on so-called nanobees, or tiny particles tipped with melittin (the main component of bee venom). The nanoparticles have fewer side effects than conventional cancer treatments in mouse tests. "This is more than a bee sting; if we injected this amount of free melittin [the main component of been venom] into mice it would make them very sick and might even kill them," said Paul Schlesinger, a co-author on the paper which appears in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. "By using the nanobees we have limited the side effects and increased the effectiveness of melittin in mice," in fighting cancer. When the average honeybee stings someone they inject a cocktail of drugs, including melittin. Around the sting melittin begins to rip cells apart, puncturing cell membranes and causing pain and inflammation. Related Content:
Melittin anchored to a nanoparticle made from a material similar to Teflon acts very differently, however. Instead of attacking every cell, the melittin-anchored nanoparticles attack only cells that have one particular protein on their surface. That protein helps tumor cells grow new blood vessels to feed them, and is found only on tumor cells. When the nanoparticle finds a tumor cell it injects the melittin through the cell wall and into the cell itself. The melittin then finds mitochondria, a structure inside the cell that provides most of the power to cell, and destroys them. "It doesn't cause inflammation, it doesn't cause antibodies to form," said Schlesinger. "It just destroys the mitochondria." As the mitochondria dies, so do the tumor cells. Using mice, scientist tested the nanobees on two different types of cancer, melanoma and breast cancer. After less than a week, the growth of human breast cancer cells in the mice had slowed by about 25 percent. For mice with melanoma, their tumors shrank by 88 percent. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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