A protein neurotoxin (Bgt 3.1) present as a minor component in the venom of Bungarus multicinctus has been shown previously to block acetylcholine (ACh) sensitivity on chick ciliary ganglion (CG) neurons in cell culture. Alpha-bungarotoxin (Bgt. 2.2) binds to the neurons but does not block ACh sensitivity; the function of the Bgt. 2.2 binding site is unknown. The present studies demonstrate tha...

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes found throughout the animal kingdom. They hydrolyze phospholipids in the sn-2 position producing lysophospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids, agents that can damage membranes. PLA2s from snake venoms have numerous toxic effects, not all of which can be explained by phospholipid hydrolysis, and each enzyme has a specific effect. We have earlier demonstrate...

In Southeast Asia, envenoming resulting from cobra snakebites is an important public health issue in many regions, and antivenom therapy is the standard treatment for the snakebite. Because these cobras share a close evolutionary history, the amino acid sequences of major venom components in different snakes are very similar. Therefore, either monovalent or polyvalent antivenoms may offer paras...

kappa-Bungarotoxin, a kappa-neurotoxin derived from the venom of the banded Krait, Bungarus multicinctus, is a homodimeric protein composed of subunits of 66 amino acid residues containing five disulfide bonds. kappa-Bungarotoxin is a potent, selective, and slowly reversible antagonist of alpha3 beta2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. kappa-Bungarotoxin is structurally related to the ...

Biological molecules conjugating with nanoparticles are valuable for applications including bio-imaging, bio-detection, and bio-sensing. Nanometer-sized diamond particles have excellent electronic and chemical properties for bio-conjugation. In this study, we manipulated the carboxyl group produced on the surface of nanodiamond (carboxylated nanodiamond, cND) for conjugating with alpha-bungarot...

Antivenom therapy is currently the standard practice for treating neuromuscular dysfunction in snake envenoming. We reviewed the clinical and experimental evidence-base for the efficacy and effectiveness of antivenom in snakebite neurotoxicity. The main site of snake neurotoxins is the neuromuscular junction, and the majority are either: (1) pre-synaptic neurotoxins irreversibly damaging the pr...

The effects of alpha-toxins from Bungarus multicinctus (alpha BuTX) and Naja naja siamensis (alpha NTX) were studied on synaptic responses and on extrasynaptic responses to focally applied acetylcholine (ACh), histamine (Hm), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate (glu) in neurons of the marine mollusc, Aplysia californica. Binding of 125I-alpha BuTX to Aplysia ganglia homogenates was ph...