Wasp Venom Selectively Assassinates Cancer Cells

D-brief
By K. N. Smith
Sep 1, 2015 4:28 PMOct 15, 2019 4:49 PM
The Brazilian wasp Polybia paulista. (Credit: Prof. Mario Palma/Sao Paulo State University)
The Brazilian wasp Polybia paulista. Credit: Prof. Mario Palma/Sao Paulo State University

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Many wasp species have chemicals in their venom that kill bacteria. In the last few years, researchers have found that some of these chemicals also kill cancer cells, though exactly how they work has remained a mystery.

Now a new study has described exactly how one of these chemicals works its cancer-fighting magic: by tearing holes in the cancer cells’ outer layer.

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