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Platypus Venom Could Help Develop Future Type 2 Diabetes Medication

DCUK NewsBot

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The platypus could help pave the way for future type 2 diabetes medication, researchers have said. A team from the University of Adelaide think venom found in spurs of the duck-billed mammal's hind limbs might potentially help them develop new drug treatments. The male platypus has a spur on its hind foot which holds the venom, capable of hurting humans. Because this feature so unique it has made the mammal - a common Australian iconic symbol - an important subject in many research studies looking at evolutionary biology. The metabolic hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), normally secreted in the gut of both humans and animals, has been found in the animal's venom, as well as its gut. The hormone's role helps stimulate insulin and reduce glucagon after meals, whilst also suppressing appetite. These properties have allowed a modified form of GLP-1 to become a commonly used treatment for type 2 diabetes. But the platypus GLP-1 functions differently to the GLP-1 in humans and other animals. Possibly due its use in the venom, the GLP-1 in platypuses does not degrade as quickly as the human form. Project leader Professor Frank Grutzner, from the University of Adelaide, said: "One of the most amazing discoveries of the platypus genome project was the massive loss of genes important for digestion and metabolic control - these animals basically lack a functional stomach. "We have privileged access to these amazing animals. Male platypuses produce venom during the breeding season, and can deliver the venom from their hind spurs. We were surprised to see GLP-1 present in venom and think that this may have led to a more effective hormone. "We already know that their GLP-1 works differently, and is more resistant to the rapid degradation normally seen in humans. Maybe this iconic Australian animal holds the answer to a more effective and safer management option for metabolic diseases including diabetes." The team are set to continue their research and are hoping to further investigate the "clinical relevance of platypus GLP-1".

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Fascinating stuff.
 
Tipetoo said:
They are fascinating animals to watch as well, there is a group of them in the Kolan River near Bundaberg.
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Australia certainly is unique. In Britain we think we are in heaven when we see a Deer! Everything here seems a bit dowdy when compared to Australia.
 
Tipetoo said:
You do not have many animals, insects, snakes, fish that try their hardest to kill you in the UK.
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This is, indeed, a plus!
 
Very useful if more beneficial to us. Are they in abundance?
 
No they're not at all. Pity the crocodile can't provide the same service as the platypus ... or the kangaroo

We'd be far happier.
 
Did the Aussies among us see that recent ABC special on Tassie? First time I'd heard about how different their platypus is to the mainland. So much bigger and way less shy - that footage was amazing!
 
As for the "breep breeps", they should be towed away and caned

There should be bounties on them all. Start with Indian mynas
 
Guzzler said:
Australia certainly is unique. In Britain we think we are in heaven when we see a Deer! Everything here seems a bit dowdy when compared to Australia.
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I used to do care work in the countryside and travelled by bus, so I had a grand view especially on a double decker bus. With the the beautiful countryside not to far away, river's and streams, with quaint villages, thatched cottages, ducks waddling about ( even saw two walking near a pub) lol geese flying overhead, a glimpse of a deer or fox,surrounded by greenery, I love it
 
As an aside, there is a small population of escapee wallabies (sp) living quite happily here in Blighty!
 
Indy51 said:
Let's expand that to cane toads, rabbits, foxes, camels, pigs, horses and all the other feral introduced species that were foisted on the environment.
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Would there be anything left?
I guess more feral animals due to wide open spaces. England very cramped and rural land becoming a wonder of the world. Some more rural land next to me has been oked for houses. Where are the wildlife suppose to go?
If you've seen the kids movie Wall-E then it not longer feels like fiction anymore with plastic and scrap items originally made in China dumping up our land.
 

It is a bit of an urban myth to say 'there's no room in England' left. While brown field sites are being used more and more the green belt is protected. I live in a small town in West Yorkshire, the countryside is on my doorstep. The wetlands are protected and they could not be used for building anyway. The reason people feel 'cramped' is manyfold, mainly because privately owned building companies do not like to spend money on infrastructure so build on existing lines.

As for Chinese plastics dumped on 'our land' waste from the UK has been sent to Chinese recycling centres for decades, the Chinese Government recently said 'Enough! We will no longer take the worlds waste' so here in Britain we are seeing landfill sites overflowing with our own waste.
 
I don't think our mobile phones nor I pads nor our laptops are made in UK and definitely not from British materials. All foreign materials.... Recently even Chinese steel.
I think maybe both have a responsibility. Joint.
 
I wonder how many platypus will be needed to 'fix' some diabetics symptoms?
 
ickihun said:
I don't think our mobile phones nor I pads nor our laptops are made in UK and definitely not from British materials. All foreign materials.... Recently even Chinese steel.
I think maybe both have a responsibility. Joint.
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I think you are missing the point. The items you list are bought by us, used by us and thrown away by us.
 
ickihun said:
I wonder how many platypus will be needed to 'fix' some diabetics symptoms?
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They will set up a platy dairy, and milk them them daily like they do our venomous snakes probably.

I remember a year or so back on this forum this was announced then, and if I remember rightly they are going to synthesise the platy venom.
 
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