James Cook University researchers have uncovered a potential new treatment for parasitic worm infections using powerful toxins derived from stonefish—a venomous marine species native to Australian waters. Their groundbreaking study, published in the journal Toxins, explores the anthelmintic (anti-parasitic) activity of stonefish skin toxins against harmful gastrointestinal worms.
Led by JCU Ph.D. candidate Danica Lennox-Bulow, the research focuses on helminths—parasitic worms that infect over 2 billion people worldwide, causing severe health issues such as malnutrition, organ damage, and developmental delays.
“Helminth infections affect around 24% of the global population and are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to rising drug resistance,” said Lennox-Bulow.
Rising Drug Resistance Demands New Solutions
Current treatments for helminth infections are losing effectiveness as drug-resistant parasites continue to emerge in both humans and animals. This growing threat emphasizes the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches with different mechanisms of action.
“Resistance has been confirmed in all major drug classes used to treat helminths in livestock. Alarmingly, drug resistance is now also appearing in parasites affecting humans and pets,” she added.
Why Stonefish?
Stonefish, including the Estuarine Stonefish (Synanceia horrida) and Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), secrete unique skin toxins known as ichthyocrinotoxins. Despite living in parasite-rich environments and lacking protective scales, these fish rarely suffer from parasitic infections—hinting at a natural defense mechanism worth investigating.
Laboratory Findings
Researchers tested the skin-secreted toxins against the larval stage of the Rodent Hookworm (Nippostrongylus brasiliensis), a model often used for studying parasitic infections in humans.
“Toxins from both species showed effectiveness, but the Estuarine Stonefish toxins exhibited the most promising properties—particularly due to their small molecular size and low toxicity to mammalian cells,” said Lennox-Bulow.
A Promising Path for Drug Development
Although more research is needed, especially to isolate the active components and test across different parasite species, the study presents stonefish toxins as a potential source of next-generation anti-parasitic drugs.
“We’ve discovered something truly worth exploring. These natural compounds may pave the way for new treatments against drug-resistant parasitic infections,” she said.
Read the full study:
Danica Lennox-Bulow et al., The Anthelmintic Activity of Stonefish (Synanceia spp.) Ichthyocrinotoxins and Their Potential as Novel Therapeutics, Toxins (2025). DOI: 10.3390/toxins17020066
Source: James Cook University