Exploring Venom Microbiomes and Their Medical Potential

Predatory. Sneaky. Deadly. Lifesavers? You think you don’t care about cone snails. But that’s about to change. Conotoxinologists Dr. Sabah Ul-Hasan and Dr. Joshua Torres study these spiral-shelled hunters of the sea. Why all the fuss? Because their venom -– and the microbes that live in it — may hold medical magic that can help us solve problems related to pain and insulin and much more. Also: how long can you live after a cigarette snail strikes you? What happens to researchers who get stung? How is venom harvested? Should you ever pick one up? The docs have all the answers. 

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You may also enjoy our episodes on Malacology (SNAILS), Medusology (JELLYFISH) & Toxinology (JELLYFISH VENOM)

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

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