Sea Anemone Venom: Enemy to Marine Prey, Potential Cure for Humans

“With fronds like these, who needs anemones?”  

Marlin, the main antagonist in Pixar’s beloved animated movie Finding Nemo, was just making a joke when he said this memorable line, yet, the talking clownfish brings up a good point: why do we need anemones? 

Though anemones frequently appear in movies like Finding Nemo or in nature documentaries, most assume these creatures offer no benefit to humans. However, that’s not the case. Recent studies from the University of Queensland suggest that sea anemones may provide hope for significant biomedical research advancements, since they could demonstrate pharmaceutical benefits for those with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Expert Insight

Dr. Michela Mitchell, one of the few sea anemone taxonomists in the world, explains anemones’ predatory nature and how these behaviors could impact future medical interventions.

“[Anemones] have developed this really specific venom delivery system where they have really small, tiny capsules that deliver venom,” said Mitchell, who received her doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science. “These little venom capsules are everywhere. The creatures use them for defense; to fend off things that want to eat them.” 

“It’s more natural. And so that means it clears out your body better…. Something, I think it’s just we can take something that’s in nature and make it better.” 

Dr. Michela Mitchell

Within the venom delivery system, toxins act as packages delivered to prey; the catch is, these toxins also have symmetrical functions and beneficial applications when it comes to human health. 

Bridging the Connection: Humans and Anemones

Mitchell discussed these potential medical connections, “We’re the non-target, right? [Anemones] are not designed to do anything to us. But it’s just accidental that some of their stuff regulates cells in our body.”

In other words, the anemone venom that can be so deadly to other marine life could be used as treatment for polarizing autoimmune diseases in humans. Taxonomists like Mitchell believe that if a method to exploit the relationship between humans and anemones is discovered, the result could be greater medical advancement. 

Dr. Mitchell says the use of peptide toxins could be a promising method. Toxins like ShK, also known as dalazatide, a basic peptide toxin found in many sea anemones, can regulate potassium channels of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases often involve certain cells protecting the body and fighting the enemy of diseases called T-cells. T-cells eventually overproduce and start attacking themselves, leading the body to become a stranger to itself, stuck in a constant battle. 

In comes ShK, the hero to fight the once-ally-now-enemy T-cells, and ShK can effectively shut down these “violent” cells.

Image credit: Amelia Clifford

Mitchell notes that toxins are very direct in their use and in the case of autoimmune diseases, they can actually target the overactive cells without much damage to the rest of the body.  

Clinical trials of some anemone peptides have primarily focused on “improving the quality of life,” as Mitchell believes peptide-based medicine would not focus on “making you last longer and feel terrible… It’s about making you feel better.” As with most clinical trials, the end goal is to help those affected by a particular disease or condition transform their physical, mental, and emotional health.

ShK is currently in clinical trials with analogs, compounds with similar molecular structure, being the main technology to examine the depth of the relationship between toxins and the human immune system. Beyond ShK, there is hope for other peptide toxins to possibly be used as therapeutics. 

The Biomedical Potential

Though anemones are one of the most photographed species on the planet, there is so much information unknown about them. Dr. Mitchell hopes to access more kinds of venom increasing the potential for more scientific breakthroughs. 

Mitchell shared that the organic nature of peptide-based treatments is unlike any in the pharmaceutical field, giving hope for newer treatments; “It’s more natural. And so that means it clears out your body better…. Something, I think it’s just we can take something that’s in nature and make it better.” 

There are still several questions surrounding anemones’ possible benefits to the human body, but there is potential, evidence, and a clear medical need for pharmaceutical intervention. So, unlike Marlin, who thinks the world just needs “fronds,” we’ll take our chances with the anemones. 

  • Sea anemone venom could treat autoimmune diseases by targeting overactive T-cells.
  • Toxins like ShK, a basic peptide toxin found in many sea anemones, can regulate potassium channels of autoimmune diseases.
  • The organic nature of peptide-based treatments is unlike any in the pharmaceutical field.

Sources

  • Davis, Margaret. “Australian Sea Anemone Contains Venom, Toxins That Can Be Used to Develop Therapeutic Drugs for Humans.” Science Times, 7 Feb. 2022, www.sciencetimes.com/articles/35975/20220207/australian-sea-anemone-contains-venom-toxins-used-develop-therapeutic-drugs.htm.
  • Haefeli, Selina. “Sea Anemone Venom as Autoimmune Disease Treatment.” Science Illustrated , scienceillustrated.com.au/blog/medicine/sea-anemone-venom-as-autoimmune-disease-treatment/.
  • Madio , Bruno, et al. “Sea Anemone Toxins: A Structural Overview.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH , pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31159357/.
  • Norton, Raymond, et al. “Potassium Channel Blockade by the Sea Anemone Toxin SHK for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and Other Autoimmune Diseases.” Bentham Science, www.eurekaselect.com/article/7844.
  • “Sea Anemones Venom Key to Multiple Sclerosis Treatment.” Monash University, 9 Aug. 2018, www.monash.edu/news/articles/sea-anemones-venom-key-to-multiple-sclerosis-treatment.
  • Shuman, Joshua. “Haifa U Study Sees Similarity between Sea Anemones and Humans.” The Media Line, 19 Jan. 2021, themedialine.org/life-lines/sea-anemones-may-substitute-for-mammals-in-drug-experiments/.

Editorial Team

  • Chief Editor: Annika Singh
  • Team Editor: Annika Singh
  • Image Credit: Amelia Clifford
  • Social Media Lead: Amber Fei

Mentor

  • Sybil Walker Barnes, CAE is Director of Communications at at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in Bethesda, MD.

Content Expert

Dr. Michela Mitchell is sea anemone taxonomist at the Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville; her research focuses on anemone venom and the variations of venom amongst anemones. Mitchell holds a doctorate from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science in Medicinal Chemistry where she studied anemones’ peptide-filled venom, searching for possible therapeutic breakthroughs. Mitchell hopes to develop the venom research model with the end goal of finding new solutions through anemone peptides to combat human diseases.

About the Author

Melia Hillman

Melia is a senior in high school with a pronounced passion for theater and devotedness to endorsing her school community through student council and mentorship for underclassmen. Melia is captivated by the study of humanities, reading, and writing, and she enjoys spending her time by the ocean, which inspired her to research sea anemones at cSw. Melia’s dedication, leadership, and curiosity led her to the cSw program.