Report of fatal cone shell sting by Conus geographus linnaeus

α-Conotoxin GI triazole-peptidomimetics: potent and stable blockers of a human acetylcholine receptor

“…3 a-Conotoxin GI (GI) was originally isolated from the venom of the shhunting cone snail Conus geographus. 4,5 This venom has been reported to have caused several human fatalities, [6][7][8] and can pose a risk to human health. 9 a-GI is a 13-residue peptide that acts as a competitive antagonist for the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) with excellent selectivity for a/d receptor subunit binding over a/g.…”

Analysis of a cone snail's killer cocktail – The milked venom of Conus geographus

“…This C. geographus MV ‘cabal’ targets the functionality of pre- and post-synaptic ion channel targets which include: (i) the acetylcholine receptor (α-conotoxins); (ii) the voltage gated sodium channel (muscle type; μ-conotoxins), and; (iii) voltage gated calcium channels (N-type; ω-conotoxins). Here their synergistic pharmacological actions would lead to a rapid and persistent flaccid paralysis – a common observation in both native prey capture (Olivera, 1997) and human envenomations (see Flecker, 1936; Rice and Halstead, 1968). …”

Conotoxins Targeting Neuronal Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Subtypes: Potential Analgesics?

“…Venom is primarily used to immobilize prey, giving the cone snail sufficient time to engulf it, but can also be used for defense. Although injecting venom typically rapidly paralyzes prey, there are documented cases of venom from some fish-hunting species (e.g., Conus geographus ) causing human fatalities [73,74]. …”