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A heat stable 7.2kDa protein toxin (drCT-I) has been purified and crystallized from Indian Daboia russelli russelli venom (Roy Choudhury et al., 2006. Acta Cryst. F Struct Biol Cryst Commun, 62(Pt. 3), 292). The N-terminal (first 20) amino acid sequence of drCT-I was LKCNKLVPLFYKTCPAGKNL, which showed sequence homology to cytotoxins isolated from Naja venom. drCT-I has been evaluated for anticancer...
When substituting the mouse bioassay for lipophilic marine algal toxins in shellfish with analytical methods, science based factors of relative toxicity for all analogues that contribute to health risk to consumers are necessary.The aim of this paper is to establish the relative intraperitoneal toxicity of dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX-2) compared with okadaic acid (OA). The study was performed as an open,...
Crude venom from Thai giant scorpion, Heterometrus laoticus, most commonly found in the northeastern area of Thailand, was evaluated for PD 50 (paralytic dose 50) activities from abdominal injection to cricket (Gryllus sp.) and activities against various kinds of microorganisms. It exhibited good results in disc diffusion assay for Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa...
Snake venom induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) is a common complication of snake bite due to prothrombin activators or thrombin-like enzymes in the venom. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and dose of antivenom for treating VICC in patients envenomed by brown snakes (Pseudonaja spp.), including in vitro coagulation studies. In serial blood samples from patients with brown snake envenoming,...
Sticholysin II (St II) is a cytolysin produced by the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, characterized by forming oligomeric pores in natural and artificial membranes. In the present work the influence of the membrane lipidic components sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (Cho) on binding and functional activity of St II, was evaluated using ELISA, lipid monolayers and liposomes. The aim of this...
We originally developed a functional assay for the detection of yessotoxins (YTX) based on its capacity to induce dose-dependent changes in cellular levels of two marker proteins, consisting of E-cadherin and an E-cadherin fragment (ECRA 100 ) in epithelial cells. The procedure is time-consuming and we have shortened it by a slot blot format, using antibodies recognizing two different epitopes...
The two deadly snakes, Walterinnesia aegyptia (black desert cobra) and Atractaspis microlepidota (mole viper) share a common habitat in the central, eastern and western provinces of Saudi Arabia. Bites by either snake were characterized by rapid death, sometimes before reaching any medical facility. Confusing reports of “a black snake bite” are frequently found. The NAVPC had succeeded in preparing...
A disease of the central nervous system in goats was observed in the municipalities of Juazeiro, Casa Nova and Curaça, state of Bahia, and Petrolina, state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. The disease was produced experimentally in two goats by the administration of dry Turbina cordata mixed with grain. Clinical signs were observed after the ingestion of 62 and 106g/kg body weight in 28 and 54...
A workshop on antivenom production in Central and South American public laboratories was performed at Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, Brazil, from June 12 to June 16, 2006, under the auspices of the program CYTED. The activity was attended by representatives of public laboratories from Costa Rica, Colombia, Perú, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and...
Microvesicles with electron-dense content are consistently observed by transmission electron microscopy on the luminal face of secretory cells of venom glands of viperid snakes. In this work, we evaluated their presence in Crotalus durissus terrificus venom glands and also in freshly collected venom. Microvesicles were found in the venom glands mainly in regions of exocytosis. They ranged from 40...
Ciguatera diagnosis relies on clinical observations associated with a recent consumption of fish. Although needed, direct confirmation of exposure in subjects showing ciguatera disease symptoms is currently unavailable. We previously reported that ciguatoxins were measurable in the blood of mice exposed to extracts of Pacific ciguatoxins isolated from Gambierdiscus polynesiensis, and of Indian Ocean...
Changes in systemic and renal hemodynamics induced by Russell's viper venom are well established. The component of the venom responsible for hemodynamic alteration has not been identified. By Sephadex column chromatography five fractions of Russell's viper (Daboia russellii siamensis) venom were isolated. Each venom fraction consisted of phospholipase A 2 , proteolytic enzyme, phosphomonoesterase,...
A depolarizing activity following interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) in skeletal muscle cells, was observed for the first time in the non-toxic venom fraction (M1) of the yellow scorpion Buthus occitanus tunetanus (Bot). The effects of M1 fraction were tested on cultured rat myotubes by recording changes in [Ca 2+ ]i. When applied, M1 (10μg/mL) induced a transient...
Saxitoxin (STX) is one of several related toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). This toxin blocks neuronal transmission by binding to the voltage-gated Na + channel and for this reason, it has been widely used in the study of Na + channel. The aim of this study was to analyze STX distribution in different rat brain regions after its acute intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration...
Sea anemone toxins, whose biological function is the capture of marine prey, are invaluable tools for studying the structure and function of mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels. Their high degree of specificity and selectivity have allowed for detailed analysis of inactivation gating and assignment of molecular entities responsible for this process. Because of their ability to discriminate among...
Voltage-activated ion channels open and close in response to changes in membrane voltage, a process that is crucial for electrical signaling in the nervous system. The venom from many poisonous creatures contains a diverse array of small protein toxins that bind to voltage-activated channels and modify the gating mechanism. Hanatoxin and a growing number of related tarantula toxins have been shown...
Gating modifier peptides bind to ion channels and alter the gating process of these molecules. One of the most extensively studied peptides, Hanatoxin (HaTx), isolated from a Chilean tarantula, has been used to characterize the blocking properties of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv2.1. These studies have provided some insight into the gating mechanism in Kv channels. In this review we will...
Pancreatic β-cells depolarize in response to glucose and fire calcium-dependent actions potentials that trigger insulin secretion. The major current responsible for action potential repolarization in these cells is a delayed rectifier and Kv2.1 subunits are thought be a major contributor of the delayed rectifier channels. Hence, blockers of Kv2.1 channels might prolong action potentials and enhance...
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