Heat sensors help bats home in on blood sources
August 4th, 2011 - 1:33 pm ICT by IANSWashington, Aug 4 (IANS) A sensitive, heat-detecting molecule covering nerve endings on their noses is the reason how vampire bats know which part of the victim’s skin to home on in to feed on a rich source of blood.
By investigating wild vampire bats in South America, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas in Caracas, Venezuela, have discovered their secret.
It is a sensitive, heat-detecting molecule covering nerve endings on their noses called TRPV1. A number of pharmaceutical companies are working on new pain killers that target molecules like TRPV1, the journal Nature reports.
“Vampire bats feed on blood, and it’s useful for them to have an infrared detector to be able to find the circulation,” said David Julius, professor of molecular biology and medicine at University of California who led the research.
Similar TRPV1 molecules can be found on pain-sensing nerve fibres in human tongue, skin or eyes. They allow people to detect the chemical capsaicin in chilli peppers and experience the burning tinge of spicy food, according to a university statement.
The discovery highlights how small changes to genes of a species can contribute to major evolutionary adaptations over time - in this case, allowing the vampire bat to detect infrared heat from their prey, helping them efficiently find and feed on blood.
“Pain is necessary as a warning system to let us know when we are in danger of injury but, at the same time, pain can outlive its usefulness…when it fails to resolve and becomes chronic and debilitating,” Julius said.
- Some nerve cells that make us itch also make us feel pain, finds study - May 03, 2011
- Protein pores help us sense hot temperatures - Mar 05, 2012
- Chili peppers may benefit those with high BP - Aug 04, 2010
- Nerve cell memory holds key erasing pain - Feb 14, 2012
- Blocking brain chemical burns fat even if you gorge - Mar 07, 2012
- Fizzy drinks light up pain sensors set off by spicy food - Sep 29, 2010
- Bat's saliva to cure stroke victims - Sep 04, 2011
- Chemical in chili peppers linked to skin cancer - Sep 03, 2010
- Breath, sweat molecules to detect debris victims - Sep 12, 2011
- Chili peppers can ease tingling nerve pain - Oct 19, 2009
- New 'hot' way to block pain at its source discovered - Apr 27, 2010
- Heating up pelvic nerves could halt premature ejaculation - Mar 16, 2011
- How does body differentiate between scorch and scratch? - May 21, 2009
- Scientists identify gene that regulates heat-activated molecular sensor - May 14, 2008
- Invisible infrared light could soon activate heart, ear cells - Mar 28, 2011
Tags: california san francisco, capsaicin, caracas venezuela, evolutionary adaptations, heat sensors, human tongue, infrared detector, infrared heat, instituto venezolano de investigaciones cientificas, journal nature, molecular biology, nature reports, nerve endings, nerve fibres, pain killers, spicy food, target molecules, university of california san francisco, vampire bat, vampire bats