Summary

***This PKG/segment contains video from AFPTV that is only cleared for use within the pkg Affiliates may not cut this video out of the pkg for individual use***

--SUPERS--
00:00-:00:15
AFPTV
April 8, 2024
Cairns, Australia

00:16-00:19
AFPTV
Prof Jamie Seymour
James Cook University Toxicologist

00:20 - 00:33
AFPTV
April 8, 2024
Cairns, Australia

00:34 - 00:42
AFPTV
Prof Jamie Seymour
James Cook University Toxicologist

01:16 - 1:33
File
Great Barrier Reef, Australia

01:34 - 01:42
AFPTV
Prof Jamie Seymour
James Cook University Toxicologist

01:43 - 02:02
AFPTV
April 8, 2024
Cairns, Australia

02:03 - 02:07
Prof Jamie Seymour
James Cook University Toxicologist

02:08 - END
AFPTV
April 8, 2024
Cairns, Australia

--LEAD IN--
SCIENTISTS IN ONE FACILITY IN AUSTRALIA ARE ON A POTENTIALLY DEADLY MISSION TO HELP SAVE LIVES
THEY'RE COLLECTING VENOM FROM SOME OF THE CONTINENT'S DEADLIEST MARINE CREATURES SO IT CAN BE TURNED INTO ANTI-VENOM AND OTHER MEDICINES
MICHAEL HOMES HAS THE STORY

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
IT CAN BE PAINFUL, AND RISKY
BUT IT'S A NECESSARY JOB TO SAVE LIVES: VENOM MILKING
TANKS OF VENEMOUS FISH SIT IN JAMIE SEYMOUR'S LAB -- SOME OF THE DEADLIEST MARINE ANIMALS IN AUSTRALIA
Prof Jamie Seymour, James Cook University Toxicologist: Australia is without a doubt the most venomous continent in the world
THE STINGS FROM SOME MARINE LIFE LIKE THE BOX AND
IRUKANDJI (EAR-U-KAHN-JEE) JELLYFISH CAN BE FATAL
SEYMOUR SAYS YOU'LL FEEL THE MOST UNBEARABLE PAIN
AND HE KNOWS
HE SAYS HE'S BEEN STUNG 11 TIMES IN ALL
Prof Jamie Seymour, James Cook University Toxicologist: It feels like someone takes a big elephant, sticks it on your chest, so you can't breathe I get severe pins and needles, like someone's got a red-hot poker, they're sticking it in the joints
BUT EVEN WITH THE RISKS -- SEYMOUR AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE STUNG BY ONE OF THESE ANIMALS
THEY'RE TAKING VENOM AND TURNING IT TO ANTI-VENOM BY EXTRACTING DEADLY FLUID FROM THE FISH'S VENOM GLANDS
THEY THEN SEND OFF WHAT'S BEEN CAPTURED TO ANOTHER LAB WHERE THEY INJECT THE VENOM INTO AN ANIMAL WITH A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM, SUCH AS A HORSE -- WHICH THEN PRODUCES ANTIBODIES WHICH ARE EXTRACTED, PURIFIED AND REDUCED FOR HUMANS
NOW, WHAT WAS ONCE DEADLY, CREATES SOMETHING LIFE-SAVING
SEYMOUR SAYS THE NEED FOR ANTI-VENOM MAY INCREASE AS OCEAN TEMPERATURES RISE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
WARMER WATERS ARE PUSHING THE MARINE LIFE FURTHER SOUTH -- AND CAN ALSO CHANGE THE TOXICITY OF THE VENOM
THIS COULD THEN MAKE PRE-EXISTING ANTI-VENOMS INEFFECTIVE
Prof Jamie Seymour, James Cook University Toxicologist: It is only a matter of time before these animals turn up in large enough numbers And the only option we have down there at the moment is to shut the beach
MEANWHILE, AFTER SUCCESSFUL TESTING ON MICE, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN ANTI-VENOM COULD POSSIBLY TREAT CONDITIONS LIKE ARTHRITIS
RESEARCHERS HAVE ONLY USED ONE OF HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN VENOM, SO THERE'S MUCH MORE TO DISCOVER TO FIND THE TRUE POWER OF ANTI-VENOM
Prof Jamie Seymour, James Cook University Toxicologist: Can we find the next cure to cancer, arthritis, things of that nature? So it's sort of an open slather to do whatever you really want to
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN
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--KEYWORD TAGS--
AUSTRALIA VENOM SCIENTIST LAB RESEARCH

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