Outcomes of patients in trials; Better blood pressure treatment; Snake bites...( cused on one group of genes that make p...),Health

cused on one group of genes that make proteins called snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), which destroy other proteins, and which cause many of the severe symptoms, such as bleeding, seen after snakebite. They identified seven parts of these SVMPs that were likely to be clinically important, and engineered them into a single string of DNA. This product is known as an immunogen--that is, it can produce an immune response in an animal.

When this immunogen was tested, the researchers found that the serum (the part of the blood that contains antibodies) recognised many of the SVMP toxins in snake venom. It also had an inhibitory effect against bleeding caused by small doses of snake venom.

These results suggest that it is possible to use some of the newest genetic techniques to design immunogens that would be an improvement over conventional antivenoms, which act against whole venom. This approach could mean that lower doses of antivenoms would be needed than for conventional antivenoms. In addition, it may also be possible to design antivenoms that work against different species of snake venom. Results such as this may persuade a company that it is worth investing further in such antivenoms.

Citation: Wagstaff SC, Laing GD, Theakston RDG, Papaspyridis C, Harrison RA (2006) Bioinformatics and multiepitope DNA immunization to design rational snake antivenom. PLoS Med 3(6): e184.

PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030184

PRESS-ONLY PREVIEW OF THE ARTICLE: http://www.plos.org/press/plme-03-06-wagstaff.pdf

CONTACT:
Simon Wagstaff
Liverpool University School of Medicine
Venom Research Unit
Pembroke Place
Liverpool, L3 5QA
United Kingdom
+441517053164
+4415170533
'"/>

Contact: Andrew Hyde
ahyde@plos.org
44-122-346-3330
Public Library of Science
5-Jun-2006

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Related medicine news :

1. Outcomes for patients with hepatitis B who need liver transplants
2. Fluctuating eye pressure associated with visual field deterioration in glaucoma patients
3. Comparison of obstetric outcomes between on-call and patients own obstetricians
4. Researchers find vitamin B1 deficiency key to vascular problems for diabetic patients
5. Stem cell transplantation procedure results in long-term survival for amyloidosis patients
6. Happier hospitals means healthier patients
7. Many heart attack patients still not getting emergency clot-busting treatment
8. HealthGrades study: Bariatric surgery patients have fewer complications at high-volume hospitals
9. 6 out of 10 doctors arent frustrated that patients cant lower cholesterol
10. Program announced to improve care in developing areas for patients with blood disorders
11. When minority patients have insurance and a medical home, their health care improves