A rare and drug-resistant form of epilepsy can be controlled with the help of spider venom, say Australian scientists from the University of Queensland.

They found that the peptides contained in the arachnid venom can control convulsions associated with the Drave syndrome. Currently, this little-known condition has limited treatment, which can not completely control the seizures of patients. However, the amino acids of spider venom can eliminate nerve defects that cause seizures, say medics.

According to experts, a study in mice can be an important step in improving the therapeutic strategies for treating rare and life-threatening type of epilepsy, which usually develops in children in the first year of life. "About 80% of the cases of Drave's syndrome are caused by a mutation in a gene called SCN1A," says Professor Glenn King. - When this gene does not work properly, the sodium channels in the brain that regulate the functioning of the organ function incorrectly. We found that the peptide from the spider venom can target specific sodium channels affected by the disease, restoring the function of brain neurons and eliminating epileptic seizures ".

A new discovery demonstrates the unique efficacy of spider venom in the treatment of nervous system disorders, concludes physicians.

"Spiders kill their prey with poison compounds that target the nervous system, as opposed to snakes whose venom targets the cardiovascular system," says Glenn King. "Millions of years of evolution have perfected the spider's venom, so it's focused on certain ion channels without causing side effects in other channels, and drugs derived from spider venom keep this accuracy. This last finding can help develop innovative medicines for the treatment of epilepsy caused by the Drave syndrome ".

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