SNAKE

SNAKE VENOM FOR MEDICAL CURE

Snake venom — which can be lethal to humans when bitten – is frequently studied by scientists for the potential medicinal powers within it. Venom contains anti-clotting proteins. It was a factor in the development of a blood pressure medication. And it might even help slow cancer growth.

A novel protein within King Cobra venom is science’s latest venom-related discovery — and it could lead to better treatment options for certain neurological conditions.

Discovered in the Singapore laboratory of Dr. R. Manjunatha Kini, “haditoxin” is expected to have unique pharmacological properties, according to the “paper of the week” in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. “We know that the family of three-finger toxins display diverse biological actions on the human nervous system, cardiovascular system and blood clotting,” said Dr S. Niru Nirthanan, a co-author of the paper. “Some have directly led to the development of compounds with potent analgesic and blood pressure reducing properties — so it is likely that haditoxin in its ‘conjoined twin’ state or as individual components will offer us more novel insights.”

Haditoxin could serve as a lead compound or template from which to design other drugs, the researchers said. Or it could serve as a “molecular probe” helping scientists study neurotransmitter receptors and their role in conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, schizophrenia, anxiety and nicotine addiction.

The venom of the King Cobra, a carnivorous snake that can grow up to 18 feet in length, has provided a wealth of opportunities for scientists. ”Researchers have been studying King Cobra venom for over 50 years and yet we are still identifying new compounds,” Nirthanan said. ”It is a complex cocktail of biological molecules that can change composition depending on the environment, the season or even the snake’s diet.”

The paper’s lead author, Amrita Roy, is a doctoral student in the biological sciences department at the National University of Singapore, where Kini is a professor. Nirthanan is a lecturer and researcher at Griffith University in Australia.

RESOURCE:

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/pure-genius/studying-snake-venom-for-medical-cures/2518

IDENTIFICATION

            Directions: Choose the correct word in the box  that best describes the sentence.

	Cocktail                       Compound                  Diverse Lethal                          Schizophrenia              Venom

_____1. It is a substance that can kill animals and human.

_____2. A serious mental illness.

_____3. The poison that puts into your body when it bites or sting you.

_____4. It is made up of a number of different things.

_____5. Mixture of a number of different things, especially ones that do not go together well.