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Microcystins, which are hepatotoxins produced by cyanobacteria, have been reported to be potent tumour promoters, and there is an indication that they can also act as tumour initiators. They thus constitute a potential threat to human and animal health, at concentrations that do not cause acute hepatotoxic effects. The main target organ of microcystin toxicity is the liver; however, several studies...
The peptide toxin ProTxII, recently isolated from the venom of the tarantula spider Thrixopelma pruriens, modifies gating in voltage-gated Na + and Ca 2+ channels. ProTxII is distinct from other known Na + channel gating modifier toxins in that it affects activation, but not inactivation. It shifts activation gating positively and decreases current magnitude such that the dose-dependence...
Bivalve molluscs accumulate toxins of the okadaic acid (OA) and pectenotoxin (PTX) groups, which are frequently found in Dinophysis spp. Transformation of the OA-group toxins into fatty acid ester derivatives (often designated “DTX3”) is common in many bivalve species but the degree to which these toxins are transformed vary between species, and is also depending on the parent toxin involved. In this...
Peptidomic analysis of norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from Hose's rock frog Odorrana hosii (Boulenger, 1891) led to the isolation of 8 peptides with differential antibacterial activities. Structural characterization demonstrated that the peptides belonged to the esculentin-1 (1 peptide), esculentin-2 (1 peptide), brevinin-1 (2 peptides), brevinin-2 (2 peptides), and nigrocin-2 (2 peptides)...
The effects of myotoxin III (MT-III), a phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2 ) from Bothrops asper snake venom, and crotoxin B (CB), a neurotoxic and myotoxic sPLA 2 from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus, on cyclooxygenases (COXs) expression and biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) were evaluated, together with the mechanisms involved in these effects. Upon intraperitoneal injection...
In 2002, two outbreaks of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) occurred in Norway, which was later confirmed to be caused by the consumption of brown crab (Cancer pagurus) contaminated predominantly by esters of okadaic acid (OA) after feeding on toxic blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). In addition to OA-group toxins, pectenotoxins (PTXs) are commonly detected in the toxin-producing algae (i.e. Dinophysis)...
The mortality due to snakebite envenomation in Costa Rica for the period 1993–2006 was investigated by a retrospective analysis. There were 48 fatalities due to snakebites during this period. Mortality rates ranged from 0.02 per 100,000 population in 2006 to 0.19 per 100,000 population in 1993. Case fatality rates in the period 1993–2000 ranged between 0.18% (2000) and 1.15% (1993). The highest numbers...
RGD-peptides can inhibit the binding of ligands to certain β3 integrins, αIIbβ3 and αvβ3, both of which are involved in neointimal hyperplasia that contributes to atherosclerosis and restenosis of arterial walls. Saxatilin, a disintegrin from a Korean snake (Gloydius saxatilis), interacts with integrins αIIbβ3 and αvβ3. It suppressed the adhesion of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs)...
Bothrops erythromelas venom (BeV) has been responsible for many snake accidents in Brazil. We investigated the plasmatic pharmacokinetic of BeV labeled with 131 I in the absence and the presence of anti-Bothrops serum (BAS). A higher percentage of BeV plasmatic radioactivity and longer elimination were found in the presence of BAS. Our results showed a redistribution of venom from the tissue...
To ensure safety and predictable clinical efficacy, the biological activity of type A botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) preparations must remain consistent. Several methods have been employed to assess consistency but lack clinical applicability and/or are associated with animal welfare concerns. Here, we describe a novel in vivo rat muscle force model for evaluating the biological activity of formulated BoNT-A...
Crotamine, one of the main toxic components of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, is a small non-enzymatic basic polypeptide, which causes hind limb paralysis and necrosis of muscle cells. It is well-known that several toxins penetrate into the cytosol through endocytosis, although in many cases the mechanism by which this occurs has not been fully investigated. Recently, using low concentrations...
Indican (Indoxyl-β-d-glucoside) is present in many Chinese herbs such as Isatis indigotica, Clerodendrum crytophyllum, Glehnia littoralis, Polygonum tinctorium and P. perfoliatum. This study aims to investigate whether indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin, would be biotransformed from indican in rats. Indican was administered intravenously and orally to Sprague–Dawley rats. The blood samples were withdrawn...
While many invertebrates sequester toxic compounds to endow eggs with chemical defences, here we show, for the first time to our knowledge, the identification of a neurotoxin of proteinaceous nature localized inside an egg.Egg extracts from the freshwater apple snail Pomacea canaliculata displayed a neurotoxic effect in mice upon intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) (LD50, 96h 2.3mg/kg). Egg protein and...
Acute renal failure is a serious condition of Crotalus bites, which could be treated with statins. The effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (vCdt) and simvastatin on renal function, oxidative stress and representative plasma, urinary and renal aminopeptidase (AP) activities were evaluated in mice. Eighty percent LD50 of vCdt caused hyperuricemia and urinary hypoosmolality (100%) and hypercreatinemia...
BPPs have been identified in the venom of the Bothrops jararaca snake, or deduced from precursor proteins expressed either in the venom gland or in the brain of the snake. Their potentiating activity on bradykinin (Bk) is assumed to occur through a somatic angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE) inhibitory mechanism. We have demonstrated that synthetic BPPs show remarkable functional differences, despite...
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