Hapalochlaena maculosa, commonly known as the blue-ringed octopus, is a golf ball-sized cephalopod inhabiting the waters around Tasmania and southeastern Australia with a highly potent neurotoxin that it uses as a predatory and defensive mechanism. H. maculosa does not actually synthesize its venom, but rather, the neurotoxin (known as maculotoxin) is produced by a bacterial symbiont of the octopus that lives in its salivary glands. While not overly aggressive, H. maculosa has been known to bite humans
Neurotoxins prevent or stop the function of neurons. Neurons are found amongst the brain, spinal cord and the nervous system, which expands through the rest of the body. The function of neuron cells is very vital to the body as their main job is to process and spread information. Thought the presentations we learned that neurotoxins could cause different effects ranging from non-harmful to deadly. During the presentations we also discussed how the communications of neurons were each group were given
of chemicals still present in his stomach. Within a few hours, Dr. Marshall Westwood ‘s symptoms were subsiding and his condition improved. Dr. Marshall Westwood had been a victim of the puffer fish poisoning. This poisoning is due to a type of neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin that is pres...
An unlikely substance for humans to willingly inject into themselves, botulinum toxin is the endotoxin produced by the gram-negative, acidophilic anaerobe Clostridium botulinum. This neurotoxin, which causes muscular paralysis and can result in death due to respiratory failure, is extremely potent; just 50 grams would be enough to kill every person on the planet (Lindsay, 2013). The earliest recorded case of botulism poisoning occurred in 1735 in Europe. Assumed to be associated with a batch of sausage
An illness, a disease, a neurotoxin that is fatal. Beginning in crowded areas with massive populations and an abundance of homes, businesses and infrastructure. Targeting everyone despite age, gender and race. A toxin so powerful that an epidemic was declared in the state of New York within hours. Beginning in New York at Central Park, men and women went on with their daily lives and routines before being hit with a gust of wind accompanied by an altered mental state with profound confusion and
Tetanus is a bacteria that causes very rare fatal disease that people sometimes called lockjaw, they call it lockjaw because it is a tightness in the jaw. Not many people know what Tetanus is because it is so rare. The bacteria that Tetanus comes from is very good at duplicating itself; also, Tetanus has many layers to protect themselves which makes it hard to cure when you get it. You can cure it by washing out the cut right when you get it or getting it vaccinated. The Tetanus cell looks like
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is group of complex disorders of brain development that occurs in varying degrees, depending on the child. Children have deficits in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and may display repetitive behaviors. They may have motor delays, attention and physical delays as well as an intellectual disability. No child with ASD has the same exact delays, each child is unique. Research is constantly providing new answers to the prevalence rate of Autism
that the decision to get the treatment involves weighing risks and perceived benefits, which was hypothesized by the researchers prior to the study” (Whalen). The drug is used more for psychological reasons than for medical reasons. “Botox is a neurotoxin derived from Clostridium botulinum, an organism found in the natural environment where it is largely inactive and non-toxic” (Nichols). It temporarily paralyzes the muscles. Clostridium botulinum can be found in the forest and cultivated soils,
Co-evolution occurs in nature as an evolutionary arms race with an ongoing cycle of response and selection between two species. In most situations when two species co-evolve, the two species will have a predator and prey relationship. In a predator and prey relationship there is a constant struggle for the predator to catch the prey and for the prey to deter or evade the predator. As a result, either the predator or prey will eventually acquire a trait via natural selection that will give them an
While we may think that Botulinum Toxin or “Botox” is only used for cosmetic alteration on our favorite actors or actresses, it is actually a biological substance used by scientist, doctors, and terrorist for a plethora of functions. In the following paper I will first explain what a biological substance and or weapon is to better inform you of Botulinum Toxin. Later in my research I will discuss what affects it actually has on the human body. After careful explanation I will then talk about the
determine if E has affected the toxicity in long term users, I believe that it does decrease the level of serotonin in the brain, without destroying serotorgenic axons." (Ecstasy: a human neurotoxin? Interview with Dr. O'callaghan). There have been many studies, some of them trying to prove that E is in fact a neurotoxin and those trying to prove it's not, up to now both sides cannot come up with solid answers to the subject. It is hard to say that all ravers are on E, but certain the majority of them
Eutrophication is the reaction resulting from the addition of harmful substances to aquatic ecosystems. Eutrophication causes decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance dissolved oxygen depletion and problems in water treatments. Eutrophication is currently happening to many of the Canadian Lakes including Lake Winnipeg. Since 1969, it has been observed that Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) has been the reason for the 90% hike in the algal blooms.Cyanobacteria causes a smelly
to support its self. The as the humans hand landed on the rusty nail its skin was punctured, this then allowed a perfect entre wound for my cousins and his friends. 3. Destroying the human body If a tetanus cells enter the body they produce a neurotoxin (a protein that acts as a poison to the body's nervous system), this toxin causes muscle spasms. The toxin that we produce travels throughout the body via the bloodstream and the lymph system. As the toxin circulates and spreads more widely the
The disease, botulism, which is caused by Clostridium botulinium, is an emerging infectious disease. Clostridium botulinium is a bacterium that produces a neurotoxin that causes botulism. The bacterium is spore-forming, and anaerobic, meaning it does not need oxygen to grow. There are three main types of illnesses that Clostridium botulinium typically cause: Food-borne botulism, infant botulism, and wound botulism. Unbeknownst to common knowledge, infant botulism is the most common form of the
generation that people are mostly educated, sharks should no longer have to be continuously killed for their fins. To begin with, the influence of consuming shark fin is from unverifiable beliefs while this is academically proven that sharks have neurotoxins. There are many beliefs that become proven later in the later generation, but shark fin eating is yet not one of these. Conversely, instead of finding more nutrition values in sharks, a research found that shark, which some species could have 50
symptoms, while some victims don’t even know they were bitten. From 2000 to 2008 a study found that out 23,000 documented widow bites not one ended in a death. Another reason why the bites result rarely ends in a death is because the volume of the neurotoxins injected is small. While the widow bit venom is 15 times as toxic as prairie rattlesnakes thank to how small the spiders their bite is less dangerous than the snake. Another myth is black widows are known to bite for any reason, but it's actually
Clostridium tetani is a Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria retain a crystal violet stain in their thick peptidoglycan. C. tetani are bacillus-shaped organisms. Typically bacillus shaped organisms are shaped like rods, however, C. tetani, although bacillus, tend to have a drumstick-like shape. This drumstick shaping is due to terminal spores formed by the bacteria. Spores are dormant forms of an organism. The spores germinate and swell within the cell, imparting the bacteria’s drumstick
Botulism is a rare but serious condition caused by toxins from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum (Botulism, 2012). Botulinum neurotoxins or, as abbreviated BoNTs, are some of the most extreme and dangerous substances that are known to the human population. There are 3 forms of botulism which include infant botulism, food borne botulism and wound botulism (Botulism, 2012). This specific genus of Clostridium causes “flaccid muscle paralysis by blocking acetylcholine release at nerve muscle junctions
The blue ringed octopus Introduction: The Blue Ringed Octopus is a very fascinating animal because it is famous for its deadly poison, which is powerful enough to kill a person. Also, beaches in Australia actually put on “beware” signs about the octopus! Wanna know more? Well come and read this book! Appearance: Like all octopuses, they have eight legs, bulging eyes, and rounded bodies. They also have 2 eyes that are about ⅓ of the body and no bones. The blue ringed octopus is usually light
History Clostridium botulinum has a rich history dating back to 19th century Europe where it first contaminated sausages, causing outbreaks of foodborne botulism. (1-3) In fact, the term botulism is derived from the Latin term botulus, meaning sausage. (1,3) Microbiologist Emile Pierre Marie van Ermengem first described the etiologic agent in 1897, (1-3) following isolation of the anaerobic bacillus from ham and splenic tissue obtained upon autopsy. (2,3) Although first referred to as Bacillus botulinus