Bullfrog protein shows promise as antidote for deadly shellfish toxin

A study released in Nature Communications reports that the protein saxiphilin, naturally produced by the American bullfrog, can save mice from lethal saxitoxin exposure. In experiments, mice given the protein within a minute of toxin injection showed a survival rate of nine out of ten, whereas untreated mice died from respiratory failure within minutes. Saxiphilin binds the toxin, stopping it from interfering with sodium ion channels essential for nerve signaling.

Evolutionary biologists note that the protein remains functional in warm mammalian bodies, a prerequisite for human use. While immediate injection after ingestion may be impractical, the lower toxin doses humans typically encounter could allow enough time for therapeutic administration. Further work is needed to confirm safety and efficacy against various saxitoxin variants.