well hello this is Sophie now it’s it’s it’s all right don’t worry everything’s
it’s all right don’t worry everything’s
it’s all right don’t worry everything’s gonna be fine there are some people on
gonna be fine there are some people on
gonna be fine there are some people on the balcony that are very happy to be
the balcony that are very happy to be
the balcony that are very happy to be out there now so this is Sophie not
out there now so this is Sophie not
out there now so this is Sophie not Sophia no Sophie now she has a French
Sophia no Sophie now she has a French
Sophia no Sophie now she has a French name now you wonder why so Sophie for
name now you wonder why so Sophie for
name now you wonder why so Sophie for most people is the incarnation of terror
most people is the incarnation of terror
most people is the incarnation of terror ready she’s far too leggy she’s far too
ready she’s far too leggy she’s far too
ready she’s far too leggy she’s far too hairy and she’s far too big to ever be
hairy and she’s far too big to ever be
hairy and she’s far too big to ever be trusted but to me Sophie is a fantastic
trusted but to me Sophie is a fantastic
trusted but to me Sophie is a fantastic feat of bioengineering you see Sophie is
feat of bioengineering you see Sophie is
feat of bioengineering you see Sophie is a testimony to all those creatures that
a testimony to all those creatures that
a testimony to all those creatures that have managed to survive since the
have managed to survive since the
have managed to survive since the beginning of times all those animals
beginning of times all those animals
beginning of times all those animals that have managed to have offspring
that have managed to have offspring
that have managed to have offspring generation after generation until this
generation after generation until this
generation after generation until this day if he over 1 billion years ago the
day if he over 1 billion years ago the
day if he over 1 billion years ago the first primitive cells have started to
first primitive cells have started to
first primitive cells have started to evolve on this planet he took spiders
evolve on this planet he took spiders
evolve on this planet he took spiders 430 million years to become what they
430 million years to become what they
430 million years to become what they are now one of the most versatile one of
are now one of the most versatile one of
are now one of the most versatile one of the most diverse and one of the most
the most diverse and one of the most
the most diverse and one of the most evolved group of predators to ever walk
evolved group of predators to ever walk
evolved group of predators to ever walk this earth it’s actually quite sporty to
this earth it’s actually quite sporty to
this earth it’s actually quite sporty to give a speech while wrangling a
give a speech while wrangling a
give a speech while wrangling a tarantula I have to say so we shouldn’t
tarantula I have to say so we shouldn’t
tarantula I have to say so we shouldn’t forget that Sophie and in fact all of us
forget that Sophie and in fact all of us
forget that Sophie and in fact all of us with all our testimony to all those
with all our testimony to all those
with all our testimony to all those ruthless battles that actually we’re won
ruthless battles that actually we’re won
ruthless battles that actually we’re won consistently by all ancestors all our
consistently by all ancestors all our
consistently by all ancestors all our predecessors in fact all of us every
predecessors in fact all of us every
predecessors in fact all of us every single one of one of you is in fact an
single one of one of you is in fact an
single one of one of you is in fact an interrupted one billion years old
interrupted one billion years old
interrupted one billion years old success story and in the case of Sophie
success story and in the case of Sophie
success story and in the case of Sophie that success is partly due to what she
that success is partly due to what she
that success is partly due to what she has in chess just on the rise in there
has in chess just on the rise in there
has in chess just on the rise in there she has a pair of venom glands that are
she has a pair of venom glands that are
she has a pair of venom glands that are attached to a pair of fangs and those
attached to a pair of fangs and those
attached to a pair of fangs and those fangs are folded into a mouth
fangs are folded into a mouth
fangs are folded into a mouth so without those fangs and without this
so without those fangs and without this
so without those fangs and without this venom Sophie would have never managed to
venom Sophie would have never managed to
venom Sophie would have never managed to survive
survive
survive now many animals have evolved to venom
now many animals have evolved to venom
now many animals have evolved to venom systems in order to survive nowadays any
systems in order to survive nowadays any
systems in order to survive nowadays any species of venomous snakes any species
species of venomous snakes any species
species of venomous snakes any species of spider any species of scorpion has
of spider any species of scorpion has
of spider any species of scorpion has its own venom signature if you want made
its own venom signature if you want made
its own venom signature if you want made out of dozen if not hundreds chemical
out of dozen if not hundreds chemical
out of dozen if not hundreds chemical compounds and all of those compounds
compounds and all of those compounds
compounds and all of those compounds have evolved purely for one purpose
have evolved purely for one purpose
have evolved purely for one purpose disable and eventually kill now venom
disable and eventually kill now venom
disable and eventually kill now venom can actually act in many different ways
can actually act in many different ways
can actually act in many different ways venom believe me can make you feel pains
venom believe me can make you feel pains
venom believe me can make you feel pains that you’ve never felt before venom can
that you’ve never felt before venom can
that you’ve never felt before venom can also make your heart stop within minutes
also make your heart stop within minutes
also make your heart stop within minutes or it can turn your blood into jelly
or it can turn your blood into jelly
or it can turn your blood into jelly venom can also paralyze you almost
venom can also paralyze you almost
venom can also paralyze you almost instantly or it can just eat your flesh
instantly or it can just eat your flesh
instantly or it can just eat your flesh away like acid now all these are pretty
away like acid now all these are pretty
away like acid now all these are pretty gruesome stories I know but to me it’s
gruesome stories I know but to me it’s
gruesome stories I know but to me it’s kind of music to my ears it’s what I
kind of music to my ears it’s what I
kind of music to my ears it’s what I love so why is that well it’s not
love so why is that well it’s not
love so why is that well it’s not because I’m a nutcase no just imagine
because I’m a nutcase no just imagine
because I’m a nutcase no just imagine just imagine what we could do if we
just imagine what we could do if we
just imagine what we could do if we could harvest all those super powerful
could harvest all those super powerful
could harvest all those super powerful compounds and use them to our benefit
compounds and use them to our benefit
compounds and use them to our benefit that would be amazing right what if we
that would be amazing right what if we
that would be amazing right what if we could I don’t know produce new
could I don’t know produce new
could I don’t know produce new antibiotics with those venom what if we
antibiotics with those venom what if we
antibiotics with those venom what if we could actually help people that are
could actually help people that are
could actually help people that are suffering from diabetes or hypertension
suffering from diabetes or hypertension
suffering from diabetes or hypertension well in fact all those applications are
well in fact all those applications are
well in fact all those applications are already being developed by scientists
already being developed by scientists
already being developed by scientists just like me
just like me
just like me everywhere around the world as I speak
everywhere around the world as I speak
everywhere around the world as I speak you see hypertension is actually treated
you see hypertension is actually treated
you see hypertension is actually treated regularly with a medication that has
regularly with a medication that has
regularly with a medication that has been developed from the toxin that is
been developed from the toxin that is
been developed from the toxin that is produced by a South American Viper
produced by a South American Viper
produced by a South American Viper people that have type 2 diabetes can be
people that have type 2 diabetes can be
people that have type 2 diabetes can be monitored using actually the toxin
monitored using actually the toxin
monitored using actually the toxin produced by a lizard from North America
produced by a lizard from North America
produced by a lizard from North America and in hospitals all around the world a
and in hospitals all around the world a
and in hospitals all around the world a new protocol is being developed to use a
new protocol is being developed to use a
new protocol is being developed to use a toxin from a marine snail for
toxin from a marine snail for
toxin from a marine snail for anesthetics
anesthetics
anesthetics you see venom is that kind of huge
you see venom is that kind of huge
you see venom is that kind of huge library of venom of chemical compounds
library of venom of chemical compounds
library of venom of chemical compounds that are available to us that are
that are available to us that are
that are available to us that are produced by hundreds of thousands of
produced by hundreds of thousands of
produced by hundreds of thousands of live creatures and sorry she just wants
live creatures and sorry she just wants
live creatures and sorry she just wants to go for a little walk
to go for a little walk
to go for a little walk spider saloon actually thought to
spider saloon actually thought to
spider saloon actually thought to produce over 10 million different kinds
produce over 10 million different kinds
produce over 10 million different kinds of compounds with potential therapeutic
of compounds with potential therapeutic
of compounds with potential therapeutic application ten millions and do you know
application ten millions and do you know
application ten millions and do you know how many scientists actually have
how many scientists actually have
how many scientists actually have managed to study so far about 0.01
managed to study so far about 0.01
managed to study so far about 0.01 percent so that mean that there is still
percent so that mean that there is still
percent so that mean that there is still 99.99% of all those compounds that are
99.99% of all those compounds that are
99.99% of all those compounds that are out there completely unknown and are
out there completely unknown and are
out there completely unknown and are just waiting to be harvested and tested
just waiting to be harvested and tested
just waiting to be harvested and tested which is fantastic you see so far
which is fantastic you see so far
which is fantastic you see so far scientists have concentrated effort on
scientists have concentrated effort on
scientists have concentrated effort on very charismatic very dangerous animals
very charismatic very dangerous animals
very charismatic very dangerous animals Vipers and cobras or scorpions and black
Vipers and cobras or scorpions and black
Vipers and cobras or scorpions and black widows but what about all those little
widows but what about all those little
widows but what about all those little bugs that we have actually are all
bugs that we have actually are all
bugs that we have actually are all around us you know like that spider that
around us you know like that spider that
around us you know like that spider that leaves behind your couch you know the
leaves behind your couch you know the
leaves behind your couch you know the one that decide to just shoot through
one that decide to just shoot through
one that decide to just shoot through the floor when you’re watching TV and
the floor when you’re watching TV and
the floor when you’re watching TV and freak you out you have that one at home
freak you out you have that one at home
freak you out you have that one at home as well well what about those guys do
as well well what about those guys do
as well well what about those guys do they actually produce some kind of
they actually produce some kind of
they actually produce some kind of amazing compound in the tiny body as
amazing compound in the tiny body as
amazing compound in the tiny body as well well our honest answer a few months
well well our honest answer a few months
well well our honest answer a few months ago would have been we have no clue but
ago would have been we have no clue but
ago would have been we have no clue but now that my students and myself has
now that my students and myself has
now that my students and myself has started to look into it I can tell you
started to look into it I can tell you
started to look into it I can tell you those guys actually are producing very
those guys actually are producing very
those guys actually are producing very very interesting compounds and I’m going
very interesting compounds and I’m going
very interesting compounds and I’m going to tell you more about that in a second
to tell you more about that in a second
to tell you more about that in a second but first I would like to tell you more
but first I would like to tell you more
but first I would like to tell you more about this we are looking into it how
about this we are looking into it how
about this we are looking into it how does one look into it well first of all
does one look into it well first of all
does one look into it well first of all my students and I have to capture a lot
my students and I have to capture a lot
my students and I have to capture a lot of spiders so how do we do that well
of spiders so how do we do that well
of spiders so how do we do that well you’d be surprised
you’d be surprised
you’d be surprised once one start to look one finds a lot
once one start to look one finds a lot
once one start to look one finds a lot of spiders they actually live everywhere
of spiders they actually live everywhere
of spiders they actually live everywhere around us within a couple of hours we
around us within a couple of hours we
around us within a couple of hours we are capable of kept catching maybe two
are capable of kept catching maybe two
are capable of kept catching maybe two three four hundred spiders
three four hundred spiders
three four hundred spiders and we bring them back to my laboratory
and we bring them back to my laboratory
and we bring them back to my laboratory and we house each of them in its own
and we house each of them in its own
and we house each of them in its own individual home and we give each of them
individual home and we give each of them
individual home and we give each of them a little meal so now I know what you’re
a little meal so now I know what you’re
a little meal so now I know what you’re thinking this guy’s nuts he has a spider
thinking this guy’s nuts he has a spider
thinking this guy’s nuts he has a spider B&B at work no no it’s not exactly that
B&B at work no no it’s not exactly that
B&B at work no no it’s not exactly that and it’s not the kind of venture I would
and it’s not the kind of venture I would
and it’s not the kind of venture I would I would advise you to start now once we
I would advise you to start now once we
I would advise you to start now once we are done with that we wait a few days
are done with that we wait a few days
are done with that we wait a few days and then we anesthetize those spiders
and then we anesthetize those spiders
and then we anesthetize those spiders once they’re asleep we run a tiny little
once they’re asleep we run a tiny little
once they’re asleep we run a tiny little electric current through the body and
electric current through the body and
electric current through the body and that contracts the venom glands then
that contracts the venom glands then
that contracts the venom glands then under a microscope we can see a tiny
under a microscope we can see a tiny
under a microscope we can see a tiny little droplet of venom appearing so we
little droplet of venom appearing so we
little droplet of venom appearing so we take a hair thin glass tube a capillary
take a hair thin glass tube a capillary
take a hair thin glass tube a capillary and we collect the tiny droplets then we
and we collect the tiny droplets then we
and we collect the tiny droplets then we take the spider and we put it back into
take the spider and we put it back into
take the spider and we put it back into its home and we start again with another
its home and we start again with another
its home and we start again with another one because spiders are completely
one because spiders are completely
one because spiders are completely unharmed during the process it means
unharmed during the process it means
unharmed during the process it means that a few days later once they’ve
that a few days later once they’ve
that a few days later once they’ve produced a little bit of venom again and
produced a little bit of venom again and
produced a little bit of venom again and that they’ve recovered we can release
that they’ve recovered we can release
that they’ve recovered we can release them back in the wild it takes literally
them back in the wild it takes literally
them back in the wild it takes literally thousands of spiders to just produce the
thousands of spiders to just produce the
thousands of spiders to just produce the equivalent of one raindrop of venom so
equivalent of one raindrop of venom so
equivalent of one raindrop of venom so that drop is incredibly precious to us
that drop is incredibly precious to us
that drop is incredibly precious to us and once we have it we freeze it and we
and once we have it we freeze it and we
and once we have it we freeze it and we then pass it in a machine that will
then pass it in a machine that will
then pass it in a machine that will separate and purify every chemical
separate and purify every chemical
separate and purify every chemical compound that is in that venom we’re
compound that is in that venom we’re
compound that is in that venom we’re speaking about tiny amounts we’re
speaking about tiny amounts we’re
speaking about tiny amounts we’re actually speaking about tenth of a
actually speaking about tenth of a
actually speaking about tenth of a millionth of a liter of compound but we
millionth of a liter of compound but we
millionth of a liter of compound but we can dilute that compound several
can dilute that compound several
can dilute that compound several thousand times in its own volume of
thousand times in its own volume of
thousand times in its own volume of water and then test it against a whole
water and then test it against a whole
water and then test it against a whole range of nasty stuff like cancer cells
range of nasty stuff like cancer cells
range of nasty stuff like cancer cells or bacteria and this this is when the
or bacteria and this this is when the
or bacteria and this this is when the very exciting part of my job starts
very exciting part of my job starts
very exciting part of my job starts because this is pure scientific gambling
because this is pure scientific gambling
because this is pure scientific gambling it’s kind of Las Vegas baby for me it’s
it’s kind of Las Vegas baby for me it’s
it’s kind of Las Vegas baby for me it’s we spend so many hours so much resources
we spend so many hours so much resources
we spend so many hours so much resources so much time trying to get those
so much time trying to get those
so much time trying to get those compounds ready and then we test them
compounds ready and then we test them
compounds ready and then we test them and most of the time nothing happens
and most of the time nothing happens
and most of the time nothing happens nothing at all
nothing at all
nothing at all but once in a while just once in a while
but once in a while just once in a while
but once in a while just once in a while we
we
we get that particular compound that has
get that particular compound that has
get that particular compound that has absolutely amazing effect that’s the
absolutely amazing effect that’s the
absolutely amazing effect that’s the jackpot and when I’m saying that
jackpot and when I’m saying that
jackpot and when I’m saying that actually I should take out something
actually I should take out something
actually I should take out something else from my pocket be afraid be very
else from my pocket be afraid be very
else from my pocket be afraid be very afraid now in that little tube I have
afraid now in that little tube I have
afraid now in that little tube I have actually a very common spider the kind
actually a very common spider the kind
actually a very common spider the kind of spiders that you could find in your
of spiders that you could find in your
of spiders that you could find in your shed that you could find in your
shed that you could find in your
shed that you could find in your basement or that you could find in your
basement or that you could find in your
basement or that you could find in your sewer pipe understand in your toilet now
sewer pipe understand in your toilet now
sewer pipe understand in your toilet now that little spider happens to produce
that little spider happens to produce
that little spider happens to produce amazingly powerful antimicrobial
amazingly powerful antimicrobial
amazingly powerful antimicrobial compounds it is even capable of killing
compounds it is even capable of killing
compounds it is even capable of killing those drug resistant bacteria that are
those drug resistant bacteria that are
those drug resistant bacteria that are giving us so much trouble that are often
giving us so much trouble that are often
giving us so much trouble that are often making media headlines now honestly if I
making media headlines now honestly if I
making media headlines now honestly if I was living in new sewer pipe
was living in new sewer pipe
was living in new sewer pipe I’d produce antibiotics too but that
I’d produce antibiotics too but that
I’d produce antibiotics too but that little spider actually may hold the
little spider actually may hold the
little spider actually may hold the answer to a very very serious concern we
answer to a very very serious concern we
answer to a very very serious concern we have you see around the world every
have you see around the world every
have you see around the world every single day about 1,700 people died
single day about 1,700 people died
single day about 1,700 people died because of antimicrobial resistant
because of antimicrobial resistant
because of antimicrobial resistant infections multiply that by 365 and
infections multiply that by 365 and
infections multiply that by 365 and you’re reaching the staggering number of
you’re reaching the staggering number of
you’re reaching the staggering number of 700,000 people dead every single year
700,000 people dead every single year
700,000 people dead every single year because antibiotics that were efficient
because antibiotics that were efficient
because antibiotics that were efficient 30 20 or 10 years ago are not capable of
30 20 or 10 years ago are not capable of
30 20 or 10 years ago are not capable of killing very common bugs the reality is
killing very common bugs the reality is
killing very common bugs the reality is that the world is running out of
that the world is running out of
that the world is running out of antibiotics and the pharmaceutical
antibiotics and the pharmaceutical
antibiotics and the pharmaceutical industry does not have any answer
industry does not have any answer
industry does not have any answer actually any weapon to address that
actually any weapon to address that
actually any weapon to address that concern you see 30 years ago you could
concern you see 30 years ago you could
concern you see 30 years ago you could consider that 10 to 15 new kinds of
consider that 10 to 15 new kinds of
consider that 10 to 15 new kinds of antibiotics would hit the market every
antibiotics would hit the market every
antibiotics would hit the market every couple of years do you know how many of
couple of years do you know how many of
couple of years do you know how many of them hit the market in the past five
them hit the market in the past five
them hit the market in the past five years – the reality is that if we
years – the reality is that if we
years – the reality is that if we continue this way we are few decades
continue this way we are few decades
continue this way we are few decades away to be completely helpless in front
away to be completely helpless in front
away to be completely helpless in front of infections just like we were before
of infections just like we were before
of infections just like we were before the discovery of penicillin 90 years ago
the discovery of penicillin 90 years ago
the discovery of penicillin 90 years ago the World Health Organization estimates
the World Health Organization estimates
the World Health Organization estimates that if nothing is done at this rate in
that if nothing is done at this rate in
that if nothing is done at this rate in 2050 40 million people will die
2050 40 million people will die
2050 40 million people will die from infection every single year so you
from infection every single year so you
from infection every single year so you see the reality is that we are at war
see the reality is that we are at war
see the reality is that we are at war against an invisible enemy that adapts
against an invisible enemy that adapts
against an invisible enemy that adapts and evolves a lot quicker than we do and
and evolves a lot quicker than we do and
and evolves a lot quicker than we do and in that war this little spider might be
in that war this little spider might be
in that war this little spider might be one of a greatest secret weapon just
one of a greatest secret weapon just
one of a greatest secret weapon just half a millionth of a liter of a venom
half a millionth of a liter of a venom
half a millionth of a liter of a venom diluted 10,000 times is still capable of
diluted 10,000 times is still capable of
diluted 10,000 times is still capable of killing most bacteria that are resistant
killing most bacteria that are resistant
killing most bacteria that are resistant to any other kind of antibiotics it’s
to any other kind of antibiotics it’s
to any other kind of antibiotics it’s absolutely amazing
absolutely amazing
absolutely amazing every time I repeat this experiment I
every time I repeat this experiment I
every time I repeat this experiment I just wonder how is that possible how
just wonder how is that possible how
just wonder how is that possible how many other possibilities and secrets all
many other possibilities and secrets all
many other possibilities and secrets all siblings do actually have what kind of
siblings do actually have what kind of
siblings do actually have what kind of wonderful product can we really find out
wonderful product can we really find out
wonderful product can we really find out if we care to look so when people ask me
if we care to look so when people ask me
if we care to look so when people ask me are birds really the future of
are birds really the future of
are birds really the future of therapeutic drugs my answer is well I
therapeutic drugs my answer is well I
therapeutic drugs my answer is well I really believe that they do all some key
really believe that they do all some key
really believe that they do all some key answers and we need to give ourselves
answers and we need to give ourselves
answers and we need to give ourselves really the means to investigate them so
really the means to investigate them so
really the means to investigate them so when you head back home later tonight
when you head back home later tonight
when you head back home later tonight and that you see that spider in the
and that you see that spider in the
and that you see that spider in the corner of your own don’t squash it
just look at it admire it and remember
just look at it admire it and remember that it is an absolutely fantastic
that it is an absolutely fantastic
that it is an absolutely fantastic creature a pure product of evolution and
creature a pure product of evolution and
creature a pure product of evolution and that maybe that very spider one day
that maybe that very spider one day
that maybe that very spider one day we’ll all the answer will hold the key
we’ll all the answer will hold the key
we’ll all the answer will hold the key to your very own survival you see she’s
to your very own survival you see she’s
to your very own survival you see she’s not so insignificant anymore now is she
not so insignificant anymore now is she
not so insignificant anymore now is she thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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