A sea snail usually appears to be an unassuming creature, but cone snail could be lethal for humans, said researchers. The researchers in a study found that the cone snail is not only predatory against fish but its venom can be deadly for humans as well.

Scientists have long been conducting research on cone snail venom for its potential use in medicine and pain relief. A feature that appeared in Nature more than a decade ago described how just a few microliters of a cone snail’s venom could kill 10 people.

Recently, Pain treatment researchers at the University of Queensland discovered new toxins in the venom of one type of cone snail, Conus episcopates.

Researcher Paul Alewood said, “This study gives the first-ever snapshot of the toxins that exist in the venom of a single cone snail. Cone snail venoms are a complex cocktail of many chemicals and most of these toxins have been overlooked in the past”.

Alewood and his team found a new method to look at the shape and composition of proteins within the venom, which allowed them to discover six new frameworks that will support further drug research.

Alewood published the findings of the study in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The team said they expect that these newly discovered frameworks will also lead to new medications, which can be used to treat pain, cancer and a range of other diseases.

Another study published earlier this year, based on research from Florida Atlantic University, elaborated on how the venom of these animals is of particular interest in the field of pain relief research. The study showed that snail venom has special properties that acts as an analgesic and immobilize prey.