The Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra) chymotrypsin inhibitor (NACI) consists of 57 amino acids and is related to other Kunitz-type inhibitors such as bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and Bungarus fasciatus fraction IX (BF9), another chymotrypsin inhibitor. Here we present the solution structure of NACI. We determined the NMR structure of NACI with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.37 Å fo...

Phospholipases A2 represent the most abundant family of snake venom proteins. They manifest an array of biological activities, which is constantly expanding. We have recently shown that a protein bitanarin, isolated from the venom of the puff adder Bitis arietans and possessing high phospholipolytic activity, interacts with different types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and with the acety...

Background: Snakebite envenoming is a global health problem, mostly in tropical and subtropical countries. Bangladesh country facing thousands of snakebite death every year. Knowledge the distribution venomous snakes necessary to identify snakebite-prone areas, develop strategies for prevention management, reduce venom-induced mortalities morbidities. Methods: An integrated effort direct observ...

paratively simple matter.* Unfortunately, it is only rarely that the body of the snake is produced for inspection. Accordingly, the medical man has to diagnose the case on signs and symptoms alone. A history of snake bite is available. Krait and cobra bites are fairly easy to diagnose?though difficult to distinguish between. There is at first pain at the site of the wound which later gives plac...

Aqueous extracts of Mucuna pruriens seeds were tested for their activity on various pharmacological effects like lethality, phospholipase activity, edema forming activity, fibrinolytic activity and haemorrhagic activity of of cobra and krait venoms. The aqueous extract displayed a significant inhibitory effect on the lethality, phospholipase activity, edema forming activity, fibrinolytic activi...

Introduction Asthma is one of the classic diseases recognized by Hippocrates over 2000 years ago, yet it remains a serious global health problem because it is still not yet well understood. Asthma prevalence is reported to be on the increase worldwide especially among children (Kemp, 2003). Fortunately, recent advances in science have improved our understanding of asthma and the ability to mana...

Recent investigations of water balance in sea snakes demonstrated that amphibious sea kraits (Laticauda spp.) dehydrate in seawater and require fresh water to restore deficits in body water. Here, we report similar findings for Pelamis platurus, a viviparous, pelagic, entirely marine species of hydrophiine ("true") sea snake. We sampled snakes at Golfo de Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica and de...

BACKGROUND Currently, there is inadequate evidence on which to base clinical management of neurotoxic snakebite envenoming, especially in the choice of initial antivenom dosage. This randomised controlled trial compared the effectiveness and safety of high versus low initial antivenom dosage in victims of neurotoxic envenoming. METHODOLOGY/ PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This was a balanced, randomised, ...