February 2015 PMID 25605914

Specialized insulin is used for chemical warfare by fish-hunting cone snails.

Helena Safavi-Hemami, Joanna Gajewiak, Santhosh Karanth, Samuel D Robinson, Beatrix Ueberheide, Adam D Douglass, Amnon Schlegel, Julita S Imperial, Maren Watkins, Pradip K Bandyopadhyay, Mark Yandell, Qing Li, Anthony W Purcell, Raymond S Norton, Lars Ellgaard

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Mentions

Peak: 7 in Jun 2022

across 6 sources since Nov 2021

Extended reach

242,952

potential audience

Total likes

8,017

Video views

219,030

Mentions per month

Nov 2021 – Feb 2023

Where it's discussed

News42 articles
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Facebook12 posts
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Reddit5 posts
YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Throughout the discussions, participants use words like 'fascinating', 'advancing medicine', and 'potential developments', demonstrating a keen interest and perceived importance. For example, references to how the snail’s insulins are used for chemical warfare and implications for future treatments show a blend of curiosity and recognition of scientific innovation, with a tone that emphasizes discovery and potential impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions agree that the use of specialized insulins by cone snails is a fascinating and significant discovery, indicating a consensus on its scientific importance.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, with mentions of potential medical applications and intriguing facts about the snails' hunting techniques, capturing curiosity.

EngagementModerate engagement

There is moderate engagement, including references to related concepts like nerve pain treatments and further developments in medicine, suggesting people are processing and connecting ideas.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions imply a modest but meaningful impact, highlighting how this discovery could influence medical research and treatments without claiming immediate revolutionary change.

Abstract in brief

Fish-hunting cone snails, like Conus geographus and Conus tulipa, produce specialized insulins that are used as tools in hunting, which is different from their typical neurotoxin venom components.
These venom insulins are similar to fish insulin and have unique post-translational modifications; when injected into fish, they cause hypoglycemic shock, lowering blood sugar levels dangerously.
The insulins are part of a toxin mixture called the nirvana cabal, released into water to disorient schools of fish, making them easier for the snails to capture by impairing their energy metabolism.]

Read the full abstract

All mentions

Venomous Cone Snails Use Specialized Insulin to Hunt Fish Effectively

Venomous cone snails produce specialized insulins used in hunting, causing hypoglycemic shock in fish by lowering blood sugar levels, which disorients their prey and facilitates capture. This unique use of insulin…

SciShow · Jun 24, 2022 218,684 views

Cone Snail Venom Insulins and Their Role in Fish Hunting

Fish-hunting cone snails produce specialized insulins used for hunting, inducing hypoglycemic shock in fish to disorient them. These insulins resemble fish insulin and are part of a toxin mixture that impairs energy…

CEM Corporation · May 9, 2022 347 views

David Morgenstern

@DavidMorgenst17 · X

Feb 18, 2023 · 1 like · 330 followers View post →

A Man In Red

@a_man_in_red · X

Hey @sayomgwtf, check this out. Have you ever been prescribed Prialt for your chronic nerve pain? https://t.co/HuZhZj77I1

Nov 5, 2022 · 2,999 followers View post →

三日月あかり

@mikage__akari · X

RT @orchidfreak: @turbjoke アンボイナとシロアンボイナは、神経毒の毒針だけでなく、魚に向けてインシュリンを放出して低血糖ショックで麻痺させていることが2015年の論文で報告されていますね。https://t.co/Jy3tABgPIz

Jun 30, 2022 · 1 share · 908 followers View post →

orchidfreak

@orchidfreak · X

Jun 29, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,077 followers View post →

Corine

@FloatingIsland · X

How a Carnivorous Snail Is Advancing Medicine https://t.co/6vjAHhhUq3 via @YouTube

Jun 25, 2022 · 1 like · 417 followers View post →

Christina

@humblegirle · X

Possible developments for dialysis related illnesses https://t.co/XfDS2JUdp3

Jun 24, 2022 · 568 followers View post →

Kitty

@kittybravofan · X

How a Carnivorous Snail Is Advancing Medicine https://t.co/7xclOfpEWF via @YouTube

Jun 24, 2022 · 722 followers View post →

Johannes Lüke

@JohannesSLueke · X

New video by SciShow: How a Carnivorous Snail Is Advancing Medicine https://t.co/MYZdB2PlRc

Jun 24, 2022 · 83 followers View post →

Kresten Lindorff-Larsen

@LindorffLarsen · X

Biology is

Mar 23, 2022 · 8 likes · 14,661 followers View post →

orchidfreak

@orchidfreak · X

Specialized insulin is used for chemical warfare by fish-hunting cone snails https://t.co/Jy3tABxSKz

Nov 7, 2021 · 1,077 followers View post →

orchidfreak

@orchidfreak · X

Nov 7, 2021 · 1 like · 1,077 followers View post →

Specialized insulin is used for chemical warfare by fish-hunting cone snails.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Venomous Cone Snails Use Specialized Insulin to Hunt Fish Effectively

Cone Snail Venom Insulins and Their Role in Fish Hunting