Being stung by a wasp is not generally known for its health benefits, but scientists have discovered that the venom of a Brazilian wasp kills cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.
The venom contains antimicrobial compounds that attack the surface membrane of cancer cells, quickly breaking the cells open and killing them. The researchers behind the breakthrough said it could usher in “an entirely new class of anticancer drugs”.
The social wasp Polybia paulista has a set of peptide chemicals in its sting that were found to wrench open the skins of tumour cells in laboratory tests.
The compound, known as MP1, has been found to fight prostate and bladder cancer cells, as well as multiple drug-resistant leukemic cells.
Now an international team of…