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October 7th, 2009
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The deadliest things on our planet.
Death cap- Destroying Angel. The first physical signs of poisoning are usually nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. After feeling a little discomfort, there is a sharp pain in the abdomen, severe vomiting, intense thirst, and cyanosis of the limbs, as well as jaundice of the eyes and skin as a liver lesion. The patient remains conscious almost to the end, with brief intervals of loss of consciousness, then coma and death.
dog fish(Pufferfish). The poison tetraodontoxin is located in the ovaries of this fish and is not destroyed by heat treatment. When poisoned, speech is difficult, and paralysis quickly develops. respiratory system accompanied by paralysis of the central nervous system. The cause of death is most often convulsions or respiratory arrest, which occur within one to two hours after the poison enters the body.
castor oil- Castor Beans. Signs of poisoning - bitterness in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, drowsiness, cyanosis, numbness, impaired microcirculation, blood in the urine, resulting in coma, and death; a poisonous agent, even in low concentrations, causes the dissolution of red blood cells, in serious cases, hemorrhages develop throughout the body. Castor oil can also lead to premature birth in pregnant women. Autopsies of patients who died from castor bean poisoning show that vomit and stools contain blood.
Belladonna. All parts of the plant are deadly poisonous, especially its roots, leaves, and berries. The poison paralyzes the parasympathetic nervous system blocking nerve endings.
Venom Viper. The venom of the snake affects the blood and nervous system, is less poisonous when it enters the mouth than the blood ... The victim of a viper bite bleeds from the wound, has a fever and chills. The poisoning is accompanied by swelling or hemorrhages above the elbows or knees. These signs usually appear within two hours of being bitten. Then fainting, bleeding from the nose and mouth, loss of vision, followed by loss of consciousness. Death caused by cardiorespiratory disorders is inevitable if an antidote is not administered in time.
Barbados nut or Physical nut. The threat lies in the deceptively pleasant taste of the seeds. However, make no mistake - each seed contains at least 55 percent of the active substance "Hell oil", which blocks protein synthesis in the intestinal wall and can lead to death.
hemlock. Signs of poisoning are a gradual loss of coordination followed by a fast and weak pulse, muscle pain as they atrophy and eventually die. Although the mind remains clear, vision often deteriorates until the victim dies as a result of paralysis of the lungs. It is believed that Socrates was poisoned with the juice of this particular plant, and not hemlock, as was previously believed.
Cobra venom It has mainly neurotoxic effects. His strength is enough to cause the death of a person after the first full bite. In such cases, the death rate can exceed 75 percent. However, taking into account all the features of the behavior king cobra Overall, only 10 percent of bites are fatal to humans.
Datura. All parts of the plant contain poisonous alkaloids. When hit in gastrointestinal tract affect the nervous system, causing heart failure and paralysis.
Lily of the valley. It contains cardiac glycoside in a fairly high concentration, in small doses it stimulates the work of a weakened heart muscle, but in case of an overdose it leads to arrhythmias and blockade of the electrical conduction of the heart, which is necessary for its normal contractions. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Poisoning is manifested by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache pain and pain in the epigastric region. AT severe cases rhythm and heart rate are disturbed, while the pulse, as a rule, becomes rare. Sometimes the nervous system is also affected. This is evidenced by agitation, visual disturbances, convulsions, loss of consciousness.
Aconite has a neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effect. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, numbness of the tongue, lips, cheeks, fingertips and toes, a feeling of crawling, a feeling of heat and cold in the extremities. Aconite intoxication is characterized by a transient visual impairment - the patient sees objects in green. Salivation is also noted, which is replaced by dryness of the oral cavity, thirst appears, headache, anxiety, convulsive twitching of the muscles of the face and limbs, loss of consciousness. Breathing is rapid, superficial, it can suddenly stop.
Rhododendron. They contain substances of a glucosidic nature - andromedotoxin, erikolin. Andromedotoxin has a local irritant and general narcotic effect, first exciting, then depressing the central nervous system; greatly upsets the activity of the heart, in a peculiar way, like veratrin, it affects the muscle. Poisoning develops very quickly. Often, within a few hours after eating the leaves and branches of rhododendron, death occurs.
tubocurarine chloride. White crystalline powder, in traumatology, d-tubocurarine is sometimes used to relax muscles during reposition of fragments, reduction of complex dislocations ... Side effects from the use of tubocurarine are observed only with its overdose; in this case, the patient may develop respiratory failure due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and, as a result, death.
Rhubarb. Rhubarb can only be eaten in early spring, until the air temperature rises above 15-17 ° C. In early spring, malic acid predominates in rhubarb, then its content increases, and with an increase in temperature in hot weather, oxalic acid accumulates in the petioles, which is harmful to the body: it forms poorly excreted salts and removes calcium contained in the blood. The consumption of oxalic acid immediately in the amount of 3-4 g is already dangerous not only for children, but also for adults. In case of poisoning, vomiting and convulsions, renal failure may occur. In the first two days, death can occur from asphyxia, shock, and cardiovascular insufficiency. In the next 2 weeks after poisoning, such severe complications as acute renal failure, repeated collapses, profuse bleeding, hemorrhagic pneumonia, gastric perforation can be observed, which can lead the patient to lethal outcome.
Gila monster- a large reptile, with a very beautiful black and orange pattern throughout the body. Latin name this beautiful lizard is Heloderma suspectum or gilatooth. There are grooves on the upper and lower jaws, to which the channels of highly developed poisonous glands fit. When bitten, the teeth go deep into the body of the victim. Venom stings are very painful and act almost the same as snake bites. The poison is neurotoxic, that is, when bitten, it paralyzes its prey. For small animals, lizard venom is deadly; in humans, it usually causes very severe swelling but can sometimes lead to death.
Croton oil is a liquid obtained from the seeds of the Croton tiglium plant. It has a strong laxative effect, irritates the skin and mucous membranes. Even in small quantities (over 20 drops) is life-threatening. Crotonal is toxic and mutagenic. When inhaled by a person, its vapors cause irritation of the mucous membrane, pharyngitis, cough, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, onset of shock or unconsciousness. Contact directly with the liquid leads to severe skin redness, irritation, pain and burns. When the poison gets inside, poisoning of the whole organism occurs, damage to the central nervous system, and the formation of tumors. In the case of tactile contact, scarring of the skin is formed.
Digitalis. Nowadays, foxglove purple is used for the production of medicines that stimulate work. of cardio-vascular system. Active biological substances from foxglove tend to accumulate in the body and can be harmful or even fatal to a person with a healthy heart. The grass and rhizomes of foxglove are saturated with the toxin digitalin. Poisoning is accompanied by irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, the pulse becomes rapid and arrhythmic, general weakness and shortness of breath are observed. Perhaps the development of convulsions before death.
Codeine- an almost transparent, odorless substance with a rather bitter taste, which is available either in powder or in liquid form. At high doses, like other opiates, it can cause euphoria. Often, when taking a large number of tablets of certain codeine-containing drugs, serious poisoning is possible. Due to the fact that with the regular use of codeine, the phenomenon of addiction is observed (similar to addiction to heroin and other drugs of the opiate group), it is released with the same restrictions as other narcotic analgesics. In severe poisoning with codeine, respiratory disorders are possible, up to paralysis with preserved consciousness, as well as a significant fall blood pressure.
poisonous octopus(blue ringed octopus). Its poison, which belongs to the group of neurotoxins, is so powerful that it can kill an adult, especially if the octopus has bitten in the neck or in the area close to the spine. There is simply no vaccine for its poison.
dimethyl sulfate. Used in the manufacture of paints, drugs, perfumes, and pesticides, most dimethyl sulfate poisoning is due to leakage of liquid or vapours. Signs of poisoning will be more pronounced if alcohol is present. Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and headache occur. An increase in temperature, irritability, pain in the limbs, visual and hearing impairment, mental disorders are possible. In severe cases, tremor, ataxia, loss of consciousness, paroxysmal clonic-tonic convulsions resembling epileptic seizures, coma develop. Pathological anatomical examination reveals pronounced vascular disorders and degenerative changes in the parenchymal organs, brain and adrenal glands.
Nicotine. It is estimated that the lethal dose of nicotine for humans is 1 mg per 1 kg of body weight, i.e. about 50 - 70 mg for a teenager. Therefore, death can occur if a teenager smokes half a pack of cigarettes at the same time, because a whole pack contains exactly one lethal dose of nicotine.
Warty. A fish with a series of spikes on its back that release a poisonous toxin. It is the most dangerous poisonous fish known and its venom causes severe pain with possible shock, paralysis and tissue death depending on the depth of penetration. At the slightest irritation, the wart raises the spines of the dorsal fin; sharp and durable, they easily pierce the shoes of a person who accidentally stepped on a fish, and penetrate deep into the leg. With deep penetration, the injection can be fatal to a person if he is not provided with medical assistance within a few hours. If the thorn enters a large blood vessel, death can occur within 2-3 hours. Survivors sometimes get sick for months. The venom consists of a mixture of proteins, including the hemolytic stonustoxin, neurotoxin, and cardioactive cardioleptin. Usually survivors suffer local damage nerve, sometimes leading to atrophy of the attached muscle tissues. The pain can be so severe that the victims of the injection want to cut off the injured limb.
hydrogen sulfide It is a colorless poisonous gas heavier than air with an unpleasant smell of rotten eggs. May be released during decay, accumulates in lowlands. Very toxic. At high concentrations, a single inhalation can cause instant death. At low concentrations, adaptation to the unpleasant smell of "rotten eggs" quickly occurs, and it ceases to be felt. There is a sweetish metallic taste in the mouth. The first symptom of acute poisoning is loss of smell. In the future, headache, dizziness and nausea appear. Sometimes after a while, sudden fainting occurs.
Oleander- a large evergreen shrub. All parts of the plant are poisonous, moreover, the smoke from the burned plant and the water in which the flowers stood are poisonous. The plant contains a number of cardiac glycosides (oleandrin, cornerin, etc.). Oleander juice, taken internally, causes severe colic in humans and animals, vomiting and diarrhea ... It also affects the nervous system (up to coma). Cardiac glycosides cause cardiac arrest.
phencyclidine(phencyclidine, PCP) - widely used in veterinary medicine for short-term immobilization of large animals. It is noted that it causes dissociated anesthesia. Phencyclidine is easy to synthesize. People who use phencyclidine are primarily young people and polydrug users. The true prevalence of phencyclidine addiction is unknown, however, according to nationwide data, its cases in the United States in recent times have become more frequent. Phencyclidine is either taken orally, or smoked, or administered intravenously. It is also used as an additive to illegally sold deltatetrahydrocannabinol, LSD and cocaine. The most common artisanal drug, phencyclidine, is called angel dust. Low doses of phencyclidine (5 mg) cause restlessness, agitation, incoordination, dysarthria, and anesthesia. Horizontal and vertical nystagmus, hot flashes, profuse sweat, and hyperacusis are also possible. Psychiatric disorders include body schema disturbance, incoherent thinking, derealization, and depersonalization. Higher doses (5-10 mg) cause increased salivation, vomiting, myoclonus, pyrexia, stupor, and coma. At doses of 10 mg or more, phencyclidine causes epileptic seizures, opisthotonus, and decerebrate rigidity, which may be followed by prolonged coma. Acute psychosis caused by phencyclidine should be considered as a psychiatric emergency with high risk suicide or violent crime.
Parathion(Parathion) - organophosphorus compound - pesticide; if it is inhaled, enters the gastrointestinal tract or absorbed through the skin, poisoning occurs. Like some other organophosphorus compounds, parathion acts on the cholinesterase enzyme, leading to overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Symptoms of poisoning are headaches, profuse sweating and salivation, lacrimation, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle spasms.
TEPP cholinesterase inhibitor-used mainly as insecticides and can cause poisoning. Symptoms - headache, loss of depth perception, convulsions, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, general paralysis, involuntary urination and defecation, pressure drop, death.
yew tree. All parts of the plant are poisonous, except for the red fruits. The wood, bark and leaves of yew contain the alkaloid taxine and are therefore poisonous to humans and many other animals, although, for example, hares and deer eat yew willingly and without harm to themselves. The older the yew needles, the more poisonous it is.
Carbon tetrachloride(Carbon Tetrachloride) is a caustic volatile liquid used as a dry cleaner. When inhaled or swallowed, its vapors cause severe damage to the heart, liver and kidneys (for example, the patient may develop cirrhosis of the liver or kidney nephrosis), affects the optic nerve and some other nerves in the human body.
Strychnine- an alkaloid contained in the seeds of tropical plants of the genus strychnos. It has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, in toxic doses it causes characteristic tetanic convulsions ...
Clostridium botulinum(Clostridium botulinum) is a gram-positive bacterium of the genus Clostridium, the causative agent of botulism, a severe food intoxication caused by botulinum toxin and characterized by damage to the nervous system. Botulinum toxin accumulates in food products infected with C. botulunum spores during their germination, if anaerobic conditions are created (for example, during canning). For humans, botulinum toxin is the most potent bacterial poison, detrimental at a dose of 10-8 mg/kg. C. botulinum spores withstand boiling for 6 hours, high pressure sterilization destroys them after 20 minutes, 10% hydrochloric acid- after 1 hour, 50% formalin after 24 hours. Botulinum toxin type A (B) is completely destroyed by boiling for 25 minutes. The incubation period for botulism ranges from several hours to 2-5 days (rarely up to 10 days). On the first day, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are noted. Further, neurosymptoms associated with damage to the nerve centers predominate: disturbance of accommodation, double vision, difficulty swallowing, aphonia. In severe forms of botulism, death occurs from respiratory paralysis, sometimes from sudden cardiac arrest.
Potassium cyanide- potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid, chemical formula KCN. Strong inorganic poison. When ingested, the lethal dose for humans is 1.7 mg/kg. Large doses are sometimes tolerated, slowing down the action is possible when the stomach is filled with food. Potassium cyanide is a powerful inhibitor. When it enters the body, it blocks the cellular enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, as a result of which the cells lose their ability to absorb oxygen from the blood and the body dies from interstitial hypoxia.
Welcome dear reader! As soon as the Internet entered the lives of many people, the question of financial transactions on the network immediately arose. A wide range of sites that work with electronic money could satisfy the ambitions of a modern user.
Internet users have long appreciated the possibilities of various successful companies, such as Qiwi, or PayPal. But today we will figure out what Yandex Money is, and why they are so popular and in demand. Indeed, among domestic and foreign (including the CIS countries) customers, this organization has taken a significant place.
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What is Yandex Money
Yandex.Money (YaD) is a leading payment system that allows you to make payments between users, as well as pay for online goods online.
It was founded back in 2002. As you may have guessed, by Yandex. The main office of the company is located in Moscow.
Developers do not sit still, and the service is rapidly gaining momentum. Already, the user base exceeds 25 million customers.
If the article was useful for you, we will be glad to receive your comments.
All the best!
Poisons have been used from ancient times to the present as a weapon, antidote, and even medicine.
In fact, poisons are all around us, in drinking water, in household items and even in our blood.
The word "poison" is used to describe any substance that can cause a dangerous disorder in the body.
Even in small amounts, poison can lead to poisoning and death.
Here are some examples of some of the most insidious poisons that can be fatal to humans.
Many poisons can be lethal in small doses, making it difficult to isolate the most dangerous one. However, many experts agree that botulinum toxin, which is used in Botox injections to smooth wrinkles is the strongest.
Botulism is a serious disease leading to paralysis caused by botulinum toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This poison causes damage to the nervous system, respiratory arrest and death in terrible agony.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, double vision, weakness of the facial muscles, speech defects, difficulty swallowing and others. The bacterium can enter the body through food (usually poorly preserved foods) and through open wounds.
2. Poison ricin
Ricin is natural poison, which is obtained from castor beans castor plants. To kill an adult, a few grains are enough. Ricin kills cells in the human body by preventing the production of the proteins it needs, resulting in organ failure. A person can become poisoned by ricin through inhalation or after ingestion.
If inhaled, symptoms of poisoning usually appear 8 hours after exposure, and include breathing difficulties, fever, cough, nausea, sweating, and chest tightness.
If swallowed, symptoms appear in less than 6 hours and include nausea and diarrhea (possibly bloody), low blood pressure, hallucinations, and seizures. Death can occur in 36-72 hours.
3. Sarin gas
Sarin is one of most dangerous and deadly nerve gases, which is hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide. Sarin was originally produced as a pesticide, but this clear, odorless gas soon became a powerful chemical weapon.
A person can become poisoned by sarin through inhalation or exposure of the gas to the eyes and skin. Initially, symptoms such as runny nose and tightness in the chest, breathing is difficult and nausea occurs.
The person then loses control of all body functions and falls into a coma, with convulsions and spasms until suffocation occurs.
4. Tetrodotoxin
This deadly poison found in the organs of fish of the genus Pufferfish, from which the famous Japanese delicacy "fugu" is prepared. Tetrodotoxin persists in the skin, liver, intestines and other organs, even after the fish has been cooked.
This toxin causes paralysis, convulsions, mental disorder and other symptoms. Death occurs within 6 hours after the poison is ingested.
Every year, several people are known to die of agonizing death from tetrodotoxin poisoning after consuming fugu.
5. Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is one of the fastest deadly poisons known to mankind. It may be in the form of crystals and colorless gas with a "bitter almond" odor. Cyanide can be found in some foods and plants. It is found in cigarettes and is used to make plastic, photographs, extract gold from ore, and kill unwanted insects.
Cyanide has been used since ancient times, and in modern world he was the death penalty. Poisoning can occur by inhalation, ingestion, and even touching, causing symptoms such as convulsions, respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death which may come in a few minutes. It kills by binding to iron in blood cells, rendering them unable to carry oxygen.
6. Mercury and mercury poisoning
There are three forms of mercury that can be potentially hazardous: elemental, inorganic, and organic. elemental mercury, which found in mercury thermometers, old fillings and fluorescent lights, non-toxic when touched, but may be lethal if inhaled.
Inhalation of mercury vapor (the metal quickly turns into a gas at room temperature) affects lungs and brain shutting down the central nervous system.
Inorganic mercury, which is used to manufacture batteries, can be fatal if ingested, cause kidney damage and other symptoms. Organic mercury, found in fish and seafood, is usually dangerous with long-term exposure. Symptoms of poisoning may include memory loss, blindness, seizures, and others.
7. Strychnine and strychnine poisoning
Strychnine is a white, bitter, odorless crystalline powder that can be ingested, inhaled, in solution, and administered intravenously.
It is received from the seeds of the chilibukha tree(Strychnos nux-vomica), native to India and southeast Asia. While it is often used as a pesticide, it can also be found in drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
The degree of strychnine poisoning depends on the amounts and route of entry into the body, but in order to cause serious condition, a small amount of this poison is enough. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle spasms, respiratory failure and even lead to brain death 30 minutes after exposure.
8. Arsenic and arsenic poisoning
Arsenic, which is the 33rd element in the periodic table, has long been synonymous with poison. It has often been used as a favorite poison in political assassinations, as arsenic poisoning resembled cholera symptoms.
Arsenic is considered a heavy metal with properties similar to those of lead and mercury. In high concentrations, it can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as abdominal pain, convulsions, coma and death. In small amounts, it can contribute to a number of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
9. Poison Curare
Curare is a mixture of various South American plants that have been used for poison arrows. Curare has been used medicinally in a highly diluted form. The main poison is an alkaloid, which causes paralysis and death, as well as strychnine and hemlock. However, after paralysis of the respiratory system occurs, the heart may continue to beat.
Death from curare is slow and painful, as the victim remains conscious but unable to move or speak. However, if artificial respiration is applied before the poison settles, the person can be saved. The Amazon tribes used curare to hunt animals, but the poisoned animal meat was not dangerous to those who consumed it.
10. Batrachotoxin
Fortunately, the chances of encountering this poison are very small. Batrachotoxin, found in the skin of tiny poison dart frogs, is one of the most powerful neurotoxins in the world.
The frogs themselves do not produce poison, it accumulates from the foods they consume, mostly small bugs. The most dangerous content of the poison was found in a species of frog terrible leaf climber living in Colombia.
One representative contains enough batrachotoxin to kill two dozen people or several elephants. Poison affects the nerves, especially around the heart, makes it difficult to breathe and quickly leads to death.
Unfortunately, our planet is not the most convenient and safe place to live. Around almost every corner a person is waiting for a whole range of strange and creepy things that can kill in a split second. Car accidents, random muggings, bricks falling on your head - the list is endless. And, of course, do not forget about poisons, some of which we invented ourselves to destroy our own kind.
dimethylmercury
There was a time when dimethylmercury was simply necessary for some scientific experiments. Over time, scientists were able to find a much safer replacement. Now dimethylmercury can only be used for one thing - killing an extremely unpleasant person to you. This substance easily penetrates through standard laboratory gloves; even the smell of dimethylmercury can kill. A tenth of a milliliter sends you down a long, painful road of acute mercury poisoning: acute pain in the abdomen, slurred speech, and, as a fitting end, daily paralysis of consciousness in a body bound by endless suffering. 
Ricin
This substance is 6 times more toxic than potassium cyanide. A dose the size of a pinhead is guaranteed to kill a person. Special services often resort to the help of ricin: the legendary murder of the Bulgarian dissident Georgy Markov (a GRU resident pricked him with a specially designed umbrella) occurred with the use of this poison. 
Chain viper venom
The poison of the chain viper, which is found in India, turns human blood into jelly. More than half of all deaths that occur in this country are due to the bites of Russell's viper.
carbon monoxide
The silent killer is best characteristic this slow and terrible poison. Every year, several thousand people die from carbon monoxide poisoning: a malfunction of the device - and you simply do not have time to wake up to realize your own death. Survivors suffer from partial brain necrosis. 
Tetrodotoxin
It is this poison that is found in the Japanese delicacy, puffer fish. Tetrodoxin is not only toxic, but also has no antidote. It kills a person by interrupting the signals between the brain and the body: the poisoned person is strangled by his own muscles. 
Polonium-210
Polonium-210 has absolutely no function in life on Earth, and handling it is dangerous to the point of insanity. Less than a gram of polonium-210 guarantees the victim an agonizing death from organ failure. In 2006, the case of the former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was allegedly destroyed by special services with the help of polonium-210, received a great response. 
VX
Initially, the substance was developed as a powerful insecticide. However, the British War Department saw in VX big potential and turned it into a weapon mass destruction. Poison causes very unpleasant consequences, leading, as a rule, to death. The vast majority of survivors suffer from serious mental disorders.
Snake venoms are the undisputed masterpieces of evolution. Killer colors of neurotoxins, bright tones of hemolytic proteins… these cocktails have been perfected for many millions of years and have become real works of chemical art that can strike an unconcerned connoisseur on the spot.
It seems to us who is stronger is the main one. Predators hone their reaction, grow sharp teeth, train powerful jaws; herbivores oppose them with a mighty mass and quick legs. But poison is firearms nature, "the great equalizer". With his appearance, the weak can overcome the strong, the slow will catch up with the fast. It is not for nothing that completely different animals “thought up” independently of each other before the use of toxins, from jellyfish to mammals (poisonous, for example, some shrews), from spiders and insects to, of course, snakes.
There are poisonous animals in every class of animal (with the exception of birds), but each of them moved towards this in their own way. Jellyfish have developed specialized stinging cells containing a complex cnidocil organelle with a sharp spike. In bees and wasps, the accessory glands of the reproductive system are adapted for the production of poison. Snake venom is saliva, thick water solution containing a complex and deadly mixture of toxic proteins. It is so flawless that it already includes a number of proteolytic enzymes, which soften the tissues and begin to digest the victim: she will not go anywhere anyway.
Black Mamba
LD50: 0.3 mg/kg (by subcutaneous injection) Native to Africa Dendroaspis polylepis one of the most frightening and dangerous poisonous snakes peace. Her pronounced territorial behavior makes her very aggressive towards any trespassers, and if the antidote is not quickly used, the probability of death from a bite will be 100%.
Common poisonous ancestor
Before the advent of methods for analyzing and comparing DNA, biologists had to rely on the not-too-reliable ground of comparative anatomy, embryology, and related disciplines. This traditional approach suggested that the common ancestor of all venomous snakes could have lived about 100 million years ago, when they had long since diverged from their scaly lizard relatives. Indeed, venomous lizards are extremely rare, while at least a quarter of snake species have venom. The severe consequences of the bites of many lizards have been associated with bacteria, including numerous pathogens that live in their oral cavity.
Recently, however, in cell culture experiments, it was found that the saliva of many lizards has a real toxicity and is able to suppress blood clotting, cause paralysis and other unpleasant effects. Individual protein components of snake venom have been found in 1,500 species of lizards, including the famous Komodo "dragons". Adding to this the data of chemical and DNA analysis, scientists put forward a hypothesis about a much more ancient evolutionary origin of poisons, attributing this significant moment to the common ancestor of snakes, iguanas and some other lizards, who lived about 170 million years ago and made special rearrangements of his genome.
cruel snake
LD50: 0.025 mg/kg (by subcutaneous injection) Oxyuranus microlepidotus- a resident of Central Australia - uses the most dangerous poison for humans, which includes toxins that act on the nervous system and muscles, liver, kidneys and blood vessels. For example, taikatoxin blocks the movement of calcium ions into the cells of the heart muscle, stopping their work.
Genes encoding proteins important for the functioning of various cells and tissues were duplicated and began to act in the salivary glands. Such duplications are not uncommon in nature - for example, the short-legged beagles, dachshunds and related breeds of dogs was the result of a doubling of the signal factor gene FGF4 involved in the regulation of limb growth. However, in the “poisonous ancestor”, random mutations and selection changed the functions of the original molecule - and the protein, which peacefully served as some kind of blood coagulation regulator, could turn into a lethal toxin that causes its uncontrolled coagulation. For example, phospholipase A2 , a small and generally harmless enzyme involved in lipid digestion, has become a real killer that indiscriminately destroys living cells by dissolving their membranes. And there can be dozens of such killers in snake venom: proteins account for up to 90% of its dry mass and almost 100% of the lethal effects.
Spectacled cobra
LD50: 0.57 mg/kg (by subcutaneous injection) The venom contains neurotoxic and cardiotoxic components, causing paralysis and death from asphyxia or heart attack. Cobra Naja naja is one of the famous "big four" venomous snakes of Asia, led by Russell's viper, the same "motley ribbon" from the story of Sherlock Holmes.
killer recipes
Snake venoms are the most complex of all natural poisons, and comparing them to chemical weapons would underestimate their excellence. Chlorine or mustard gas are simple molecules that work roughly and erratically; cobra or black mamba toxins act with deadly precision and efficiency. Each of them individually - and the general recipe for their mixture - has been honed by millions of years of evolution and attack very specific targets in the victim's body. The key ones are the cells of the blood, nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Dendrotoxin 1, which is part of the mamba venom, is able to block large group voltage-sensitive potassium channels, disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses through neurons. A variety of α-neurotoxins, found in cobras and many other snakes, bind to acetylcholine receptors, completely blocking the work of synapses - primarily those that transmit a command from nerve cells to muscle cells - which ends in paralysis and death from asphyxiation. The fasciculins in rattlesnake venom deactivate acetylcholinesterase, which removes the extra neurotransmitter from the synaptic space - and an excess of it causes uncontrollable spasms and convulsions.
These are just a few of the snake venom toxins and their targets: others can cause kidney damage and heart muscle paralysis, destruction of the endothelium lining the vessels, and massive tissue necrosis. Vipers and many cobras have turned common clotting factors into killers. From a whole cascade of coordinated acting proteins that triggers the formation of a blood clot in the event of an injury, one or another can “pass to the dark side” and cause universal thrombus formation right in the vessels. The sight is terrible: the body of the victim is no longer filled with thick blood, almost all of it turns into coagulated clots and watery plasma, which, due to the increase in pressure, causes the body to inflate like a balloon, and oozes from literally all openings - including tiny traces left by poisonous teeth.
Pain points
Many snake venom toxins have a jewelry effect on individual proteins of neuromuscular synapses and their neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. They can lead either to hypertrophied and uncontrolled excitation, or to a deep inhibition of the work of these compounds.
Delivery means
The venom of a common ancestor of snakes and some lizards, which are sometimes grouped together Toxicofera , apparently, did not differ in such complexity and combined a rather limited number of modified proteins. He also did not have special devices for effectively injecting toxic saliva into the body of the victim. Therefore, different groups of these squamates have gone different ways, developing their own means and delivery mechanisms. By and large, this process covered all systems of the snake body, although its epicenter fell, of course, on the salivary glands, which became real factories for the synthesis of toxins. And on the teeth, which turned into sharp, poison-filled syringes.
It is believed that representatives of the vast and ubiquitous viper family can boast of the most advanced poisonous apparatus. Surrounding their large venom glands are powerful chewing and temporal muscles that can instantly squeeze out poison. Through the channels, it enters the large poisonous teeth, which in many species have become hollow and sharp, like needles. Immersed in a thick mucous base, these teeth automatically “unfold”, as soon as the snake opens its mouth wide, and with the effort of the muscles that close it, the poison is squeezed out under the skin of the victim.
Some cobras act even more meanly - they spit poison at 1-2 m, while aiming at the eyes. But this skill is a rather late acquisition, and ordinary poisonous teeth with new lateral holes are adapted for spitting. In addition, the poison that has fallen on the cornea is not fatal and only causes severe irritation, allowing the snake to inflict a bite, the ability for which these species have not lost at all. The blinded victim is doomed unless he can oppose the poison with some antidote.
common viper
LD50: 6.45 mg/kg (by subcutaneous injection) Vipera berus in the world ranking of danger trails far behind the leaders. Its poison is not incredibly toxic, and several antidotes have been created against it. But every ordinary mushroom picker has a chance to get a bite, the consequences of which are extremely difficult in any case.
Antidote Race
Many snakes are forced to take the greatest care not to bite their own tail and die from their own poison. In fights between them, death from poisoning is a common thing, especially if reptiles have entered into a conflict. different types. But others have become insensitive to the action of their own toxins - like the Indian cobra, the spectacled snake, whose acetylcholine receptors are insensitive to the action of the main component of its poison, α-neurotoxin. Random mutations have endowed mongooses with such stability, as well as hedgehogs, pigs and honey badgers - relatives of martens who hunt poisonous snakes much more actively than the beloved Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.
But the most striking resistance to snake venom demonstrate opossums that are almost immune to even the effects of botulinum toxin and ricin. Their main secret lies in an amazing molecule LTNF - a blood protein factor that neutralizes lethal toxins. Isolated and injected intraperitoneally into mice, it helped them survive experiments with lethal doses of venom from all four major families of venomous snakes - and even some other toxins, including scorpion venom. Factor LTNF discovered recently, and its mechanism of action is still unclear, but it is being actively studied - in fact, theoretically, the blood of opossums can provide us with a unique antidote in terms of effectiveness.
In the meantime, the antidote for each case has to be obtained separately, by injecting non-lethal doses into animals - usually cows or horses - and isolating ready-made antibodies from their blood resulting from an immune response. With some patience and great courage, such antibodies can also be “brought up” in your own body: the legendary explorer, the founder of the Serpentarium in Miami, Bill Haast, injected himself with microdoses of poisons throughout his life. He not only successfully survived 172 bites, but also was a unique blood donor that saved dozens of lives of people bitten by snakes, for which there is no antidote.
Vipers have the most developed poisonous apparatus
Dear displeasure
Toxins are an incredibly effective tool, but not all-powerful. It is not for nothing that the vast majority of animals still adhere to other methods of defense and attack, which are not so expensive for the body. In fact, a study of rattlesnakes before and after venom was taken from them showed that the synthesis of proteins necessary to replenish the supply of lethal doses causes the entire body to strain and work in an enhanced mode for three days, increasing the metabolic rate by 11%. The same measurements were made for viper-like deadly snakes, extremely dangerous inhabitants Australia: They have to increase their metabolism by almost 70% to recover.
Synthesizing poison is not for the faint of heart, it requires an effort comparable to that of a marathon runner. But an even greater contribution requires the evolution and cultivation of complex systems for its delivery. In fact, this is a separate direction of development, to which poisonous species bring in a lot of resources. In some way, it can be called an alternative to a complex and large brain: along with this voracious organ chemical weapon- one of the most expensive and most effective finds of nature.
