Cathelicidin-BF, derived from the banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus), is a typically cationic, amphiphilic and α-helical antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with 30 amino acids that exerts powerful effects on multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, but whether it targets plasma membranes or intracellular targets t...

Bungarotoxin present in Bungarus caeruleus (BC) causes life threatening respiratory muscle paralysis. Deep coma and hypokalaemia have been observed in a significant proportion of patients, but the cause is unknown. We postulate the likely mechanism behind these two phenomena. We studied clinical details of two patients admitted with deep coma and performed electroencephalograms (EEG) and brain ...

An ultrasensitive electrochemical enzyme immunoassay (EEIA) for the detection of proteins on an 8x8 array is described. The assay is based on wired enzyme technology. Briefly, capture antibody was covalently immobilized on a self-assembled 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) monolayer coated gold electrode. After incubating with a target protein (antigen), the gold electrode was treated sequential...

The venom of the common Indian krait (Bungarus caeruleus) contains about a dozen isoforms of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which exist in different oligomeric forms as well as in complexes with low-molecular-weight ligands. The basic objective of multimerization and complexation is either to inactivate PLA2 in the venom for long-term storage, to generate a new PLA2 function or to make a more lethal ...

In order to explore the structure-function relationships of the curare mimetic alpha-neurotoxins we have constructed and cloned a synthetic gene for Bungarus multicinctus alpha-bungarotoxin which is expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant alpha-bungarotoxin is expressed as a fusion protein with alpha-bungarotoxin linked to the COOH-terminal end of the T7 Gene 9-encoded coat protein. Afte...

Bungarus multicinctus venom contains several alpha-toxins in addition to the widely used alpha-bungarotoxin (Bgt 2.2). We have found that two of the alpha-toxins (Bgt 3.1 and 3.3) inhibit neuronal acetylcholine (AcCho) sensitivity when tested on ciliary ganglion neurons in cell culture. Over 90% of the AcCho sensitivity recorded in response to iontophoretic application of AcCho was blocked when...

Snake venoms are rich in enzymes such as phospholipase A2, proteolytic enzymes, hyaluronidases and phosphodiesterases, which are well characterized. However, L-amino acid oxidase (LAO EC.1.4.3.2) from snake venoms has not been extensively studied. A novel L-amino acid oxidase from Bungarus caeruleus venom was purified to homogeneity using a combination of ion-exchange by DEAE-cellulose chromato...

The cDNA species encoding the B chains (B1 and B2) of beta-bungarotoxins (beta-Bgt) were constructed from the cellular RNA isolated from the venom glands of Bungarus multicinctus (Taiwan banded krait). The deduced amino acid sequences of the B chains were different from those determined previously by a protein sequencing technique. One additional Arg residue is inserted between Val-19 and Arg-2...

Antibody-based technology is the main method for diagnosis and treatment of snake bite envenoming currently. However, the development of an antibody, polyclonal or monoclonal, is a complicated and costly procedure. Aptamers are single stranded oligonucleotides that recognize specific targets such as proteins and have shown great potential over the years as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In ...

Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is the deadliest snake found commonly in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. In Anuradhapura, 210 farmers bitten by the common krait over a three year period were investigated prospectively from 1 January 1996. The sex ratio was equal, 110 (52%) patients were in the age group 10-30 years. One hundred and one (48%) patients were severely envenomed and needed mechanical v...