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Jellyfish Stings: Hi-Tech Micro-injections

Jellyfish, sea lice, sea nettle, coral, sea anemone and other organisms belonging to the phylum Cnidaria are all equipped with stinging cells (nematocysts). These stinging cells comprise a capsule containing a tightly-packed tubule with an eversible needle, and potent toxins. The needle discharges when the hydro-static pressure inside the capsule has built up to 200 atmospheres. This is about 100 times the pressure in a car tire, and is similar to the pressure in scuba diving tanks.

When the jellyfish comes into contact with its target, the needle is fired from the capsule at an acceleration of up to 40000 x g, similar to the acceleration of a shell fired from a cannon. 
The jellyfish toxins are delivered into the prey through the needle, which resembles a multi-headed poisonous arrow.  

Jellyfish Stinging Mechanism

A: Jellyfish and tentacles
B: Tentacles and stinging clusters
C: Clusters with hundreds of stinging mechanisms
D: Cluster with stinging capsules and folded tubules
E: Resting, and discharged stinging mechanism

How Jellyfish Sting

A. Stimulants from the skin initiate discharge process
B. High internal pressure of 200 atmospheres builds up in the capsule
C. With an acceleration of 40 000 x g, the needle pierces the skin
D. The tubule follows the needle, and poison is injected into the body

Keep ocean lovers in the water and out of agony with Nidaria lotion to prevent jellyfish stings

How Nidaria Lotion Works

Nidaria products protect against jellyfish stings in several ways:

Nidaria lotion deactivates the stinging cells through several biochemical mechanisms. It reduces tentacle skin attachments, mimics jellyfish self-recognition, blocks stinging cell activation, and interferes with the cellular signal, reducing osmotic pressure inside the nematocyst capsule.

In simple terms:

  • Nidaria lotion’s slippery texture makes it difficult for the stinging tentacles to grip the skin
  • Chemical inhibitors in the lotion block the sites where the stinging process is activated
  • Other inhibitors (stoppers) block the chemical pathway

The chemical stoppers reduce pressure in the stinging cells, preventing the jellyfish from firing its stings.

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