Analysis of a cone snail's killer cocktail--the milked venom of Conus geographus.

ABSTRACT: "Snails can kill" is a statement that receives much disbelief. Yet the venom from Conus geographus, as delivered by a disposable hypodermic-like needle, has indeed killed many unsuspecting human victims. Our understanding of their milked venom the essence of these fatalities, is in itself non-existent. Here, we present the molecular mass analysis of the milked venom of C. geographus, providing the first insight into the composition of its deadly cocktail.

SUBMITTER: Bingham JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3696723 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature