Ellen Martinson, a postdoctoral research associate in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, was recently quoted in a National Geographic article about how wasp venom could help Parkinson’s research.
An emerald cockroach wasp can control the minds of roaches with its venom. The wasp will start by stinging the midsection of a roach, and the toxic venom will paralyze the animal’s front legs for five minutes. With the second strike, the wasp stings the brain, and the roach falls into a lethargic state in which it can’t move by its own will. For years, researchers have been working to use natural venom for good. A team led by Michael Adams, a professor of entomology and neuroscience at the University of California, is investigating the venom to see how it could be used to guide future research in Parkinson’s disease.
“Parasitic wasps have these crazy venomous effects,” said Martinson, who is in UGA’s department of entomology and was not involved in the study. “We’re mostly just now in the exploratory phase. Now, it’s just kind of a treasure hunt that we can build on over time.”
