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Mipartoxin-I
Mipartoxin-I is a neurotoxin produced by ''Micrurus mipartitus'', a venomous coral snake distributed in Central and South America. This toxin causes a neuromuscular blockade by blocking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is the most abundant component in the venom. Sources The toxin is produced by the ''Micrurus mipartitus'', also known as the ‘redtail coral snake’, ‘''rabo de ají''’, or ‘''gargantilla''’. The snake populates Nicaragua, Costa Rica, isthmus of Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. Chemistry Structure and family Mipartoxin-I is a short-chain, type-I, α-neurotoxin composed of 60 amino acids with a molecular mass of 7030 Da. It is a member of the three finger toxin (3FTx) superfamily, and it contains the characteristic eight cysteines of this superfamily. Homology CTX A5, a cardiotoxin from the cobra ''Naja'' ''atra'', shows similarities with mipartoxin-I in the predicted core region and in amino acid sequence identity (38%). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Micrurus Mipartitus
''Micrurus mipartitus'' (red-tailed coral snake or many-banded coral snake) is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Central America and northern South America. The red-tailed coral snake is common in agricultural areas in Colombia. Its highly neurotoxic venom is known to cause seizures in its prey by activating nerve proteins responsible for seizures within it. Subspecies Five subspecies are recognized as being valid. ''Nota bene'': A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Micrurus''. Phenotypic features ''M. mipartitus'' has a cylindrical body that can reach a total length (including tail) of . It has quite small eyes and a rounded head. The black body rings of this species can number from 34 to 84 and are separated by narrow yellow or white intermediary rings. The second ring on the head and 3 or 4 of the tail rings are red-colored in contrast to the white or yello ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Neurotoxin
Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nervous tissue, nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insult (medical), insultsSpencer 2000 that can adversely affect function in both developing and mature nervous tissue.Olney 2002 The term can also be used to classify endogenous compounds, which, when abnormally contacted, can prove neurologically toxic. Though neurotoxins are often neurologically destructive, their ability to specifically target neural components is important in the study of nervous systems. Common examples of neurotoxins include lead, ethanol (drinking alcohol), glutamate,Choi 1987 nitric oxide, botulinum toxin (e.g. Botox), tetanus toxin,Simpson 1986 and tetrodotoxin. Some substances such as nitric oxide and glutamate are in fact essential for proper function of the body and only exert neurotoxic effects at excessive concentrations. Neurotoxins inhibit neuron control over ion concentrations ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ion Channel Toxins
An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convention. The net charge of an ion is not zero because its total number of electrons is unequal to its total number of protons. A cation is a positively charged ion with fewer electrons than protons (e.g. K+ (potassium ion)) while an anion is a negatively charged ion with more electrons than protons (e.g. Cl− (chloride ion The term chloride refers to a compound or molecule that contains either a chlorine anion (), which is a negatively charged chlorine atom, or a non-charged chlorine atom covalently bonded to the rest of the molecule by a single bond (). The pro ...) and OH− (hydroxide ion)). Opposite electric charges are pulled towards one another by electrostatic force, so cations and anions attract each other and readily form ionic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Micrurus Altirostris
''Micrurus altirostris'' is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids , from , variant of "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus '' Emydocephalus .... References altirostris Reptiles of Argentina Snakes of Brazil Reptiles of Paraguay Reptiles of Uruguay Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope Reptiles described in 1835 {{Elapidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Micrurus Frontalis
''Micrurus frontalis'', also known as the southern coral snake or short-tailed coral snake, is a species of highly venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. It is found in South America. Description This species grows on average to 75 cm in length, with a maximum of 164 cm already reported. The color of the head varies, with a gray pigment on the top of the snout. The body pattern consists of very wide red bands that are separated by a series of 10–15 narrower black triads with 3 blacks separated by narrow white bands. The dorsal scales are red, with black tips of dark appearance. The tail has two complete triads. It is a nocturnal, terrestrial and fossorial snake, which digs loose soil or litter, has been one of the main accident-causing corals in Southeast South America, although it is not relatively aggressive towards humans, it has Oviparous reproduction, although eggs / clutch has not been reported. Distribution and habitat ''Micrurus frontalis'' is found in sout ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Antivenom
Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. Antivenoms are recommended only if there is significant toxicity or a high risk of toxicity. The specific antivenom needed depends on the species involved. It is given by injection. Side effects may be severe. They include serum sickness, shortness of breath, and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Antivenom is traditionally made by collecting venom from the relevant animal and injecting small amounts of it into a domestic animal. The antibodies that form are then collected from the domestic animal's blood and purified. Versions are available for spider bites, snake bites, fish stings, and scorpion stings. Due to the high cost of producing antibody-based antivenoms and their short shelf lives when not refrigerated, alternative methods of production of antiven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Median Lethal Dose
In toxicology, the median lethal dose, LD50 (abbreviation for " lethal dose, 50%"), LC50 (lethal concentration, 50%) or LCt50 is a toxic unit that measures the lethal dose of a given substance. The value of LD50 for a substance is the dose required to kill half the members of a tested population after a specified test duration. LD50 figures are frequently used as a general indicator of a substance's acute toxicity. A lower LD50 is indicative of higher toxicity. The term LD50 is generally attributed to John William Trevan. The test was created by J. W. Trevan in 1927. The term semilethal dose is occasionally used in the same sense, in particular with translations of foreign language text, but can also refer to a sublethal dose. LD50 is usually determined by tests on animals such as laboratory mice. In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved alternative methods to LD50 for testing the cosmetic drug botox without animal tests. Conventions The LD50 is usually expr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ptosis (eyelid)
Ptosis, also known as blepharoptosis, is a drooping or falling of the upper eyelid. This condition is sometimes called "lazy eye", but that term normally refers to the condition amblyopia. If severe enough and left untreated, the drooping eyelid can cause other conditions, such as amblyopia or astigmatism, so it is especially important to treat the disorder in children before it can interfere with vision development. Signs and symptoms Signs and symptoms typically seen in this condition include: * The eyelid(s) may appear to droop. * Droopy eyelids can give the face a false appearance of being fatigued, uninterested or even sinister. * The eyelid may not protect the eye as effectively, allowing it to dry. * Sagging upper eyelids can partially block the field of view. * Obstructed vision may necessitate tilting the head backward to speak. * The areas around the eyes may become tired and achy. * Eyebrows may be constantly lifted to see properly. Some of the risk factors for ptos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Chinese Cobra
The Chinese cobra (''Naja atra''), also called the Taiwan cobra, is a species of cobra in the family Elapidae, found mostly in southern China and a couple of neighboring nations and islands. It is one of the most prevalent venomous snakes in China, which has caused many snakebite incidents to humans. Etymology and names ''Naja atra'' was first described by Danish physician, zoologist, and botanist Theodore Edward Cantor in 1842. The generic name ''naja'' is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet ''atra'' comes from the Latin term ''ater'', which means "dark", "black", or "gloomy". In Mandarin Chinese, the snake is known as ''Zhōnghuá yǎnjìngshé'' ( simplified: 中华眼镜蛇, traditional: 中華眼鏡蛇, lit. "Chinese spectacled snake", i.e. Chinese cobra), ''Zhōushān yǎnjìngshé'' (舟山眼鏡蛇, lit. "Zhoushan spectacled snake", i.e. Zhoushan cobra) or, in Cantonese, ''faahnchaántàuh'' (飯鏟頭, lit. "rice paddle hea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Cardiotoxin III
Cardiotoxin III (CTX III, also known as cytotoxin 3) is a sixty amino-acid polypeptide toxin from the Taiwan cobra '' Naja atra''. CTX III is highly basic and hydrophobic protein. It is an example of a group of snake cardio/ cytotoxins ( InterPro: ''IPR003572''), which are made up of shorter snake venom three-finger toxins. Over 50 different cytotoxin polypeptides have been isolated and sequenced from venom samples. The difference in the CTX functionality may be due to the relatively small difference in the polypeptide's structure, allowing different CTXs to induce lysis in different cell types. The CTX III molecule contains multiple binding sites and is cytolytic for myocardial cells and human leukemic T cells. CTX III's molecular structure displays a folding of the polypeptide backbone that creates five stands from a globular structure. These strands form a double and a triple antiparallel β-sheet. Studies performed with an antibody complementary of CTX III seemed to conclud ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Cysteine
Cysteine (; symbol Cys or C) is a semiessential proteinogenic amino acid with the chemical formula, formula . The thiol side chain in cysteine enables the formation of Disulfide, disulfide bonds, and often participates in enzymatic reactions as a nucleophile. Cysteine is chiral, but both D and L-cysteine are found in nature. LCysteine is a protein monomer in all biota, and D-cysteine acts as a signaling molecule in mammalian nervous systems. Cysteine is named after its discovery in urine, which comes from the urinary bladder or cyst, from Ancient Greek, Greek κύστις ''kýstis'', "bladder". The thiol is susceptible to oxidation to give the disulfide bond, disulfide derivative cystine, which serves an important structural role in many proteins. In this case, the symbol Cyx is sometimes used. The deprotonated form can generally be described by the symbol Cym as well. When used as a food additive, cysteine has the E number E920. Cysteine is Genetic code, encoded by the codo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Three-finger Toxin
Three-finger toxins (abbreviated 3FTx) are a protein superfamily of small toxin proteins found in the venom of snakes. Three-finger toxins are in turn members of a larger superfamily of three-finger protein domains which includes non-toxic proteins that share a similar protein fold. The group is named for its common structure consisting of three beta strand loops connected to a central core containing four conserved disulfide bonds. The 3FP protein domain has no enzymatic activity and is typically between 60 and 74 amino acid residues long. Despite their conserved structure, three-finger toxin proteins have a wide range of pharmacological effects. Most members of the family are neurotoxins that act on cholinergic intercellular signaling; the alpha-neurotoxin family interacts with muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), the kappa-bungarotoxin family with neuronal nAChRs, and muscarinic toxins with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). Structure The three-f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
