Funnel-web spider can kill melanoma cells and Tassie devil tumours

Source: Brisbane Times, October 2018

A peptide from an Australian funnel-web spider has been found to kill both human melanoma cells and cancerous Tasmania devil facial tumours that are threatening the survival of the species.

The research, started at Brisbane’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, also found that the funnel-web compound had almost no negative effects on surrounding healthy cells in either case.

The peptide, a compound consisting of two or more amino acids, was extracted from the venom gland but researchers are still trying to determine whether it is from the spider’s venom or blood.