US Scientists Synthetize Scorpion's Venom

A worker removes a scorpion from a plastic container for venom extraction to produce homeopathic medicine Vidatox at LABIOFAM, the Cuban state manufacturer of medicinal and personal hygienic products in Cienfuegos, Cuba, December 3, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
A worker removes a scorpion from a plastic container for venom extraction to produce homeopathic medicine Vidatox at LABIOFAM, the Cuban state manufacturer of medicinal and personal hygienic products in Cienfuegos, Cuba, December 3, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
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US Scientists Synthetize Scorpion's Venom

A worker removes a scorpion from a plastic container for venom extraction to produce homeopathic medicine Vidatox at LABIOFAM, the Cuban state manufacturer of medicinal and personal hygienic products in Cienfuegos, Cuba, December 3, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
A worker removes a scorpion from a plastic container for venom extraction to produce homeopathic medicine Vidatox at LABIOFAM, the Cuban state manufacturer of medicinal and personal hygienic products in Cienfuegos, Cuba, December 3, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

Researchers at Stanford University have managed to synthetize scorpions' venom, and said it contains two color-changing compounds that could help fight bacterial infection.

The team isolated the compounds in the scorpion's venom, synthesized them in the lab, and verified that the lab-made version of the venom killed staphylococcus and drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria in tissue samples and in mice.

In their study published in the June 10 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers highlighted the potential pharmacological treasures awaiting discovery in the toxins of scorpions, snakes, snails and other poisonous creatures.

Study senior author Richard Zare, professor of chemistry at the Stanford group, said: "By volume, scorpion venom is one of the most precious materials in the world. It would costs $39 million to produce a gallon of it. If you depended only on scorpions to produce it, nobody could afford it, so it's important to identify what the critical ingredients are and be able to synthesize them."

Zare worked with his colleague Lourival Possani from the National University of Mexico. The milked the venom by stimulating the tail with electrical pulses, then, they noticed that the venom changed color, one of the compounds turned red when exposed to air, while the other turned blue.

The researchers said they only had 0.5 microliters of the venom to work with, but the analysis of the compounds helped them making the new version.



SAUDIA Wins Best Airline Cabin Crew Award at Business Traveler Awards

Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
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SAUDIA Wins Best Airline Cabin Crew Award at Business Traveler Awards

Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)

Saudia Airlines (SAUDIA) has earned the Best Airline Cabin Crew award at the 2024 Business Traveler North America Awards ceremony in Miami, US.
SAUDIA Chief Guest Experience Officer Rossen Dimitrov received the award, which is given to airlines for the first time, SPA reported.
Dimitrov said that the award received by SAUDIA is testimony to its dedication to enhancing the travel experience, aiming to elevate it to new heights and surpass expectations. He added that air service constitutes a critical aspect of travel, and is a key indicator of service quality that reflects the level of guest satisfaction.
This international recognition, he said, underscores the effectiveness of SAUDIA employees, “particularly the team of navigators who are crucial to the operational system, managing over 500 flights daily”.
He noted that air service is experiencing significant improvements that showcase Saudi culture, from the warm welcome and assistance to the menu featuring meals inspired by the Saudi cuisine, and the tradition of serving Saudi coffee and dates sourced from the homeland, as a sign of hospitality.
As part of its strategic vision for a new era, SAUDIA is dedicated to continuous innovation and to coming up with impactful initiatives that improve services and products. Its commitment to improving its operational performance is evident in the modern, and expanding, fleet, which currently includes 144 aircraft that helps it carry out its plan of connecting the world with the Kingdom.