Resistance is futile… or is it? Decoding molecular mechanisms of neurotoxin resistance for antidote discovery

Toxins act as chemical weapons in Nature, driving an escalating evolutionary arms race between species to evolve more potent toxins and mechanisms to avoid or counteract these toxins. We show that toxin sponge proteins from frogs called ‘saxiphilins’ are high affinity binders of the paralytic shellfish toxin family produced by red tide dinoflagellates. Through a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments, we validate these proteins as a novel mechanism of resisting toxins with great potential as leads for biosensor and antidote development. We have further developed novel electrophysiology and chemoproteomic assays for identifying and characterizing toxin resistance, opening a window into understanding how Nature has evolved to survive an increasingly toxin-challenged world. 

Dr Samantha Nixon is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland, Australia. A self-described former arachnophobe she completed her PhD at UQ exploring spider venoms as a rich source for antiparasitic drug discovery. Dr Nixon subsequently undertook postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to marine neurotoxins. Her current research uncovers the chemical biology of toxins and their molecular targets. By examining both toxin activity and natural resistance mechanisms across diverse and often non‑model organisms, she aims to harness these systems for innovative biomedical applications. She is particularly focused on developing new tools and assays that expand the toolkit for studying toxin–target interactions beyond traditional model species. Dr Nixon is a passionate science communicator across TV, radio, print and digital media. She has been recognized for her scientific leadership and excellence with the Queensland Women in STEM Prize, Australian Women in Technology Young Science Achiever Award, German Green Talent Award, and competitive fellowships from the Westpac Scholars Foundation and Burroughs-Wellcome Trust.