Abstract: Two synthetic peptides, Atroporin (AT) and Kaotree (KT), each consisting of ten amino acids and their use for the treatment and/or prevention of various types of cancers is disclosed. The amino acid sequence from the N-terminal for AT is Phe-Cys-Arg-Phe-Leu-Leu-Cys-Pro-Ser-Arg, and for KT is Pro-Pro-Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Asp-Ala-Asp-Ser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of the active domain of Herpoxin, a DNA virus-inhibiting-protein which was isolated from cobra venom in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,339 and has a molecular weight of 13.5 kDa We have isolated a fragment of Herpoxin which contains the active domain and which we have named Herp. Herp mimics the activity of Herpoxin in inhibiting the replication of DNA viruses. A synthetic version of the active fragment was produced having the amino acid sequence Asn-Leu-Tyr-Gln-Phe-Lys-Asn-Met-Ile-Gln. The synthetic version of Herp consisting of ten amino acids inhibits the replication of DNA viruses such as herpes viruses types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus as well as Tubercle bacilli.

Abstract: The purified nerve growth factor consisting of 116 amino acids from the venom of Naja kaouthia snake was fragmented by trypsin digestion. The fragments were isolated individually by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Thus separated fragments were tested for the biological activity of neurite growth on rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The fragment which showed the most activity was named ADESH. Subsequently, ADESH was sequenced. Synthetic ADESH was constructed using ten amino acids N L G E H P V C D S (SEQ. ID. NO: 3) of the fragment from its N-terminal is designated as AD-10. Different versions of synthetic ADESH such as AD-15 and AD-5 consisting of 15 and 5 amino acids respectively were constructed; having the sequence: N L G E H P V C D S T D T W V (SEQ. ID. NO: 2) for AD-15 and N L G E H (SEQ. ID. NO: 4) for AD-5. The synthetic AD-15 and AD-5 mimic the biological activity of the natural NGF.

Abstract: Two synthetic peptides, Atroporin (AT) and Kaotree (KT), each consisting of ten amino acids and their use for the treatment and/or prevention of various types of cancers is disclosed. The amino acid sequence from the N-terminal for AT is Phe-Cys-Arg-Phe-Leu-Leu-Cys-Pro-Ser-Arg, and for KT is Pro-Pro-Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Asp-Ala-Asp-Ser.

Abstract: Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor has been isolated in purity from opossum serum by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionation. The amino acid sequence from the N-terminal for the first fifteen amino acids of LTNF-n is: Leu Lys Ala Met Asp Pro Thr Pro Pro Leu Trp Ile Lys Thr Glu. Antibodies to LTNF-n and synthetic peptides consisting of fifteen, ten and five amino acids from the N-terminal of the above sequence, designated as LTNF-15, LTNF-10 and LTNF-5 were produced by immunizing Balb/C mice to produce Anti-LTNF-n, Anti-LTNF-15, Anti-LTNF-10 and Anti-LTNF-5. The anti LTNF-n, anti-LTNF-15, anti-LTNF-10 and anti-LTNF-5 react immunologically with all types of toxins derived from animal, plant and bacteria and can be assayed by immunological in vitro test such as ELISA tests. Anti-LTNFs react roughly proportional to lethal dose of biological toxins under in vitro immunological ELISA test similar to the mouse bioassay test.

Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus inhibiting protein (HIVIP) has been isolated from a poisonous snake, the Australian Taipan, Oxyuranus Scutellatus. HIVIP is characterized as a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses in cell culture. HIVIP is characterized as a stable, non toxic component of venom, having molecular weight 13,500 Daltons revealed by gel electrophoresis. The partial sequence of HIVIP for its first fifteen N-terminal amino acids is given by SEQ. ID. No: 1: Asn Leu Ala Gln Phe Gly Phe Met Ile Arg Cys Ala Asn Gly Gly. The active domain of HIVIP was isolated and determined to be SEQ. ID. NO.: 2: Ala Lys Ala Gly Ser Asp Asn Thr Lys Gly Gly Val Try Pro Met Phe Gly Met. Various peptides containing at least a portion of this sequence from the N-terminal have been shown to inhibit other RNA viruses in cell culture and are collectively termed RIPs, RNA virus Inhibitor Peptides. Such peptides can be made in abundance and cheaply to provide a synthetic therapeutic for the infections caused by RNA viruses.

Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus inhibiting protein (HIVIP) has been isolated from a poisonous snake, the Australian Taipan, Oxyuranus Scutellatus. HIVIP is characterized as a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses in cell culture. HIVIP is characterized as a stable, non toxic component of venom, having molecular weight 13,500 Daltons revealed by gel electrophoresis. The partial sequence of HIVIP for its first fifteen N-terminal amino acids is given by SEQ. ID.

Abstract: The purified nerve growth factor consisting of 116 amino acids from the venom of Naja kaouthia snake was fragmented by trypsin digestion. The fragments were isolated individually by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Thus separated fragments were tested for the biological activity of neurite growth on rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The fragment which showed the most activity was named ADESH. Subsequently, ADESH was sequenced. Synthetic ADESH was constructed using ten amino acids N L G E H P V C D S (SEQ. ID. NO: 3) of the fragment from its N-terminal is designated as AD-10. Different versions of synthetic ADESH such as AD-15 and AD-5 consisting of 15 and 5 amino acids respectively were constructed; having the sequence: N L G E H P V C D S T D T W V (SEQ. ID. NO: 2) for AD-15 and N L G E H (SEQ. ID. NO: 4) for AD-5. The synthetic AD-15 and AD-5 mimic the biological activity of the natural NGF.

Abstract: Adesh is a synthetic peptide consisting of at least the first four amino acids from the N-terminal of the sequence N L G E H P V C D S T D T W V (SEQ. ID. NO.: 1) and no more than 25 amino acids total. The synthetic peptide mimics the biological properties of nerve growth factor (NGF) consisting of 116 amino acids and is advocated to treat Down Syndrome (DS) and schizophrenia. It is believed that these neuro-degenerative diseases are linked with inadequate neurotrophic factors.

Abstract: Two synthetic peptides, Atroporin (AT) and Kaotree (KT), each consisting of ten amino acids and their use for the treatment and/or prevention of various types of cancers is disclosed. The amino acid sequence from the N-terminal for AT is Phe-Cys-Arg-Phe-Leu-Leu-Cys-Pro-Ser-Arg, and for KT is Pro-Pro-Gly-Asn-Gln-Pro-Asp-Ala-Asp-Ser.

Abstract: Human saliva is used as a non-invasive source instead of invasive blood serum plasma for detection and assay of endogenously present proteins; nerve growth factor (NGF), myoglobin, Insulin, adenosine deaminase (ADA), including immunoglobulin E (IgE). It was discovered that people having high levels of IgE, show high levels in comparison to the normal controls of NGF, myoglobin, insulin and ADA, disrupting the homeostasis for these proteins. Oral administration of a synthetic peptide LT-10 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,297 having sequence L K A M D P T P P L reduces IgE level in humans and bring other proteins into homeostasis, for example, NGF, myoglobin, insulin and ADA and possibly other proteins and cytokines.

Abstract: Opossum whole serum exhibits a life saving property by neutralizing the lethality of venoms from all major families of poisonous snakes, and therefore an injection of Opossum serum can used as a novel treatment for many types of envenomation. Preferably, the injectable treatment for envenomation should be a composition obtained from the fraction of Opossum whole serum which contains the LTNF, i. e. the so called "LTNF-n", in purity. A method is given for the manufacture of a LTNF from the serum of an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum, by fractionating the opossum serum and isolating this select fraction from the plurality of fractions having an N terminal amino acid sequence given by SEQ ID No: 1. A short peptide was synthesized having SEQ ID No: 1. The synthetic peptide having the sequence SEQ ID No: 1 shows lethal toxin neutralizing activity similar to the natural LTNF from opossum or mongoose sera. The synthetic LTNF also has life saving utility.

Abstract: Herpoxin, herpes virus inhibitor consists of two proteins isolated from snake venom of Naja n. kaouthia, which separately and together inhibit the replication of herpes simplex viruses type 1 and type 2 in cell cultures. Herpoxin is characterized as a purified component of snake venom, of the phospholipase A.sub.2 (PhA2) enzyme family, which inhibits production of the typical cytopathogenic effects (CPE) produced by herpes viruses type 1 and type 2. Herpoxin consists of two peptides Herp-A and Herp-B having molecular weights 14,000 and 15,000 daltons, respectively, as revealed by gel electrophoresis. The partial sequence for the first fifteen N-terminal amino acids of both Herp-A and Herp-B is: Asn-Leu-Tyr-Gln-Phe-Lys-Asn-Met-Ile-Gln-Cys-Thr-Val-Pro-Asn, which will be referred to as SEQ ID No: 1. The known partial sequences for Herp-A and Herp-B proteins are identical and are typical of phospholipases. However, Herp-A and Herp-B are antigenicaily distinct.

Abstract: Opossum whole serum exhibits a life saving property by neutralizing the lethality of venoms from all major families of poisonous snakes, and therefore an injection of Opossum serum can used as a novel treatment for many types of envenomation. Preferably, the injectable treatment for envenomation should be a composition obtained from the fraction of Opossum whole serum which contains the lethal toxin neutralizing factor, i.e. the so called "natural LTNF", in purity. A method is given for the manufacture of a lethal toxin neutralizing factor from the serum of an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum, by fractionating the opossum serum and isolating this select fraction from the plurality of fractions having an N terminal amino acid sequence given by SEQ ID No: 1. A short peptide was synthesized having SEQ ID No: 1. The synthetic peptide having sequence SEQ ID No: 1 shows lethal toxin neutralizing activity similar to the natural LTNF from opossum or mongoose sera. The synthetic LTNF also has life saving utility.

Abstract: Novel cancer cell inhibitors have been isolated from the venoms of poisonous snakes Crotalus atrox and Naja n. kaouthia; they are called Atroporin and Kaotree, respectively. The cancer cell inhibitors Atroporin and Kaotree are characterized as potent anti cancer agents. Atroporin and Kaotree, individually, or combined together selectively kill various types of cancer cells in concentrations as low as 0.5 .mu.g/ml. Atroporin and Kaotree are characterized as stable protein components of venoms consisting of peptides whose molecular weights are approximately 35,000 and 6,000 daltons, revealed by gel electrophoresis. The partial sequence of Atroporin for its first fifteen N-terminal amino acids is:SEQ ID: 1 =[Val, Ile]-[Val, Ile]-Gly-Gly-Asp-Glu-(Cys)-Asn-Ile-Asn- Glu-His-Arg-Ser-Leuand, similarly for Kaotree:SEQ ID: 2=Met-Glu-Cys-Tyr-Arg-Met-Ser-Asn-Ile-Val- Thr-Cys-Gln-Pro-Trp.Neither of these sequences appear in standard data bases including all known proteins, therefore they are novel proteins.