Antineurotoxic activity of Galactia glaucescens against Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

Ethanolic extract of leaves of Galactia glauscescens (GGE) at concentration of 100 and 500 mug/ml prevented the neuromuscular paralysis induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus venom on mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation.     

湖南永州尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒的蛋白组分及毒性分析

采用Nano–LC–ESI–MS/MS蛋白鉴定技术对湖南永州尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒蛋白组分进行质谱分析,应用常规体外试管法对尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒体外溶血值进行检测,采用改良寇式法对尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒LD_(50)进行测定。结果显示:尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒含有50种蛋白,蛋白相对分子质量集中在1.0×10~4～2.0×10~4(46.9%)、4.0×10~4～5.0×10~4(22.4%)、2.0×10~4～3.0×10~4(10.6%)和7.0×10~4～8.0×10~4(7.6%),其中代表性的高丰度蛋白有蛇毒金属蛋白酶A(11.7%)、蛇毒金属蛋白酶H1(9.8%)、蕲蛇类凝血酶–2(7.3%)、抗凝血酶A–A亚基(6.8%),低丰度蛋白(0.1%)有Ecto–5'–核苷酸酶、碱性磷脂酶A2 DAV–N6、生长分化因子11;蛇毒引起红细胞溶血的最低质量浓度为60.00μg/mL,尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒对KM小鼠的LD_(50)为7.1796mg/kg,攻毒小鼠出现呼吸急促、躁动不安、注射部位出现奇特瘙痒和大面积溃烂,至死亡。     

意大利蜜蜂蜂毒透明质酸酶基因的克隆与序列分析

从意蜂毒腺抽提总RNA,用RT-PCR获得蜂毒透明质酸酶(AmHya)基因,其核苷酸序列全长为1 149 bp.将AmHya氨基酸序列与中蜂蜂毒透明质酸酶(AcHya)和其它5种透明质酸酶(Hya)氨基酸序列比较,结果显示,AmHya与 AcHya的同源性最高(91%),同时对7种Hya作了分子结构与分子进化分析.     

Conotoxins: Therapeutic Potential and Application

The pharmacological variety of conotoxins, diverse peptides found in the venoms of marine cone snails, is well recognized. Venoms from each of the estimated 500 species of cone snails contain 50 to 200 distinct biologically active peptides. Most conotoxins characterized to date target receptors and ion channels of excitable tissues, such as ligand-gated nicotinic acetylcholine, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and type 3 serotonin receptors, as well as voltage-gated calcium, sodium, and potassium channels, and G-protein-coupled receptors including α-adrenergic, neurotensin, and vasopressin receptors, and the norepinephrine transporter. Several conotoxins have shown promise in preclinical models of pain, convulsive disorders, stroke, neuromuscular block, and cardioprotection. The pharmacological selectivity of the conotoxins, coupled with the safety and efficacy demonstrated in preclinical models, has led to their investigation as human therapeutic agents. In the following review, we will survey the pharmacology and therapeutic rationale of those conotoxins with potential clinical application, and discuss the unique challenges that each will face in the course of their transition from venom component to human therapeutic.     

Effects of the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita and of venom from the endoparasitic wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca on survival and food consumption of the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum; implications for novel biocontrol strategies

BACKGROUND: Controlling pests through disruption of biochemical pathways by physiologically active compounds/factors from animals and plants represents an expanding field of research. The authors investigated whether such factors in venom from the wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca (Retzius) can affect the viability and food consumption of the slug Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), and whether they can improve the efficacy of nematode-induced slug mortality. RESULTS: Exposure of slugs to 4 mL of water containing 500, 1000 and 5000 Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Schneider) resulted in significant increases in mortality (with hazard ratios of 3.5, 3.9 and 5.8 respectively) and significant reductions in total food consumption and mean food consumption each day for 21 days. Injection of slugs with 4, 8 or 12 microL of P. hypochondriaca venom resulted in significant increases in mortality (with hazard ratios of 3.3, 4.5 and 9.0 respectively) and significant reductions in total food consumption compared with the controls. However, there was no significant effect of venom on the mean food consumption on individual days of the 21 day assay period, although significant reductions occurred for the 8 and 12 microL doses up to day 10. Injecting slugs with 4 microL of venom prior to exposure to 500 nematodes had no synergistic effect on either mortality or food consumption compared with either of the individual treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Pimpla hypochondriaca venom contains factors capable of killing and reducing food consumption by D. reticulatum. The utilization of these factors as components of integrated pest management strategies is discussed.