What is it about?
This is a book chapter telling of practical details and ongoing research behind the toxins cocktail that causes a burning sensation (and sometimes allergy) from fire ant stings.
Featured Image
Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Fire ants are increasingly being studied by modern scientists, and venom toxins are now regarded as invaluable sources for new natural products. Many of the hypotheses and research lines presented have biotech and biomedical applications. Also, if you're living in a fire ant-infested area, chances are high you'll get stung more than once, and you might like to know what you're being injected with.
Perspectives
This short review provided a synthesis of what was going on in this field, and remains pretty up-to-date. Several of the results announced and proposed lines of research have taken shape since its publication. I expect it to keep attracting interest and more researchers into this field.
Dr Eduardo G P Fox
IBCCF / UFRJ
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Venom Toxins of Fire Ants, January 2016, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6416-3_38.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Venom alkaloids against Chagas disease parasite: search for effective therapies
Research which is related and suggested in the present review.
Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids Inhibit Biofilm Formation
This is complementary research which has been suggested and mentioned in this review.
Queen venom isosolenopsin A delivers rapid incapacitation of fire ant competitors
This is some related research which is central to understanding and interpreting the biology of fire ant venoms.
Rapid configuration analysis of the solenopsins
To anyone with a chemistry lab who wishes to produce their own fire ant alkaloids artificially, for research use.
Contributors
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