CONCO is a European FP6 project with twenty partners, coordinated by the Geneva Biotech-SME Atheris Laboratories. The project explores the natural peptide of cone snails (Conus Consors). In analogy to certain insects, arachnids and frogs the cone snails produce numerous toxins. Cone snails, which hide in gorgeous shells, shoot their prey with arrows. The paralysing toxin also protects them from natural enemies. These different toxins may serve as a role model for producing new, promising drugs.

CONCO aims to characterise the bioactive compounds – from the genome to the point of a potential therapeutic properties. The genome, the transcriptome and the proteome of Conus Consors and other related species are researched. The venomous animals are analysed and put in proteomic studies. The biological activity of the obtained libraries are tested for its therapeutic potential and the active molecules are optimised and approved in in vitro and in vivo models.

Furthermore CONCO should contribute to inform the public and to preserve the biodiversity. You can catch up on the progress of the project under www.conco.eu. Gorgeous pictures of the underwater world, film footages and material dedicated for teaching purposes are accessible on the website.

If you dive in deep water, be careful: an arrow of a cone snail, hardly noticeable just like a mosquito bite, can be lethal.

EUrelations contributed substantially to the preparation of the successful proposal. EUrelations itself is partner in the project, supports the management and fulfills some dissemination activities.