Scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science will soon embark on a genetic study of box jellyfish in a bid to build the understanding needed to develop an antivenin for Irukandji Syndrome.

AIMS geneticist Dr Madeleine van Oppen is leading the research into the species thought to be causing the debilitating illness.

"Irukandji Syndrome" is an extremely painful jellyfish sting and can be fatal.

At present there is only one known cause of Irukandji Syndrome, the thumbnail-sized Carukia barnesi, but there are at least six other box jellyfish species menacing north Queensland’s tropical waters responsible for causing the syndrome.

Dr van Oppen said it is not known whether these jellyfish are closely related to the Carukia barnesi and she hopes to unravel a genetic relationship between the species.

"If we find closely related species cause similar symptoms, treatment could be made easier," she said.

"Ideally, this information can be used to develop a fast-reacting dipstick test to identify a stinger from skin scrapings taken from stinger victims. It should help make treatment decisions quicker and more accurate."

Another facet to the research will be working out whether jellyfish that look the same are in fact different species, as has been the case in other jellyfish studies.

First, samples have to be collected from the regions hardest hit by the Irukandji Syndrome, around Cairns and the Whitsundays. "We’ll also be collecting samples from the mid-shelf, where they are expected to appear in large numbers eight to 12 days after a full moon," said Dr van Oppen.

Dr van Oppen has been working on genetics of marine organisms since 1989. This project has been funded by the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Theresa Millard, Science Communication
Phone: 07 47534250
Email: t.millard@aims.gov.au 

Madeleine van Oppen, Project Leader 
Phone: 07 47534370
Email: m.vanoppen@aims.gov.au