Scorpion Venom Kills MRSA

Peptides extracted from scorpion venom fights off drug-resistant bacterial infections in mice.

Written byJef Akst

| 1 min read

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Virologists from China’s Wuhan University may have the next new weapon in the battle against the dreaded methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, or any of a number of rising microbes that show resistance to common antibiotics—scorpion venom. Extracting a peptide called BmKn2 from the venom of the scorpion Mesobuthus martensii Karsch, then modifying it into another peptide called Kn2-7, the team was able to boost BmKn2’s natural antibacterial activity while decreasing the unwanted side effect of hemolysis. In vitro, Kn2-7 killed a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative strains of bacteria, including MRSA, a growing cause of hospital infections around the world. The peptide also successfully fought off skin infections in mice.

“They showed it’s possible to take this peptide and turn it into an antimicrobial ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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