Abstract: This disclosure relates to materials and methods useful for vaccinating mammals against the effects of envenomation by venomous organisms (including the Western Rattlesnake) by making use of venom from multiple distinct populations, subspecies or species of the organism, to make a vaccine more broadly protective against other populations, subspecies or species.

Abstract: The present invention refers to uses of crotamine and compositions containing it, based on its characteristic of interaction with genetic material. Under submicromolar quantities, the polypeptide is no longer toxic, presenting the characteristics properties of cell penetration, transport of molecules to the surface, cytoplasm or cell nucleus and particularly, selective cell penetration. The invention also refers to compositions comprising a pharmaceutically effective concentration of crotamine and its use for the treatment of diseases and dysfunctions, based on its characteristics of interaction with genetic material, such as DNA and RNA, and cell selectivity.

Abstract: This invention features an antithrombosis enzyme extracted and purified from the snake venom of Southern-Anhui Agkistrodon acutus and pharmaceutical uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides isoformes from a peptide family belonging to South American scorpion Tityus serrulatus that acts as hypotensive agents by potentiating Bradykinin and, therefore, can be used as anti-hypertensive drugs. A peptide was firstly isolated from Tityus serrulatus venom and showed a strong and long-lasted hypotensive activity when tested in rats. This peptide was first named TsHpt-I (Tityus serrulatus Hypotensin-I). Also, three more highly similar isoformes were identified and revealed a peptide family with very close primary structure. They were named TsHpt-II, TsHpt-III and TsHpt-IV.

Abstract: An antivenom comprising a mixture of monospecific antisera each raised against venoms of one species or sub-species is disclosed. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antivenom of the invention, and a method of treating envenomation in a mammal comprising administering the claimed antivenom.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification, purification, and characterization of a novel heterodimeric disintegrin, EC-3, from Echis carinatus viper venom. EC-3 inhibits &agr;4 integrins in an RGD-independent manner. The invention further relates to methods of using EC-3, or a biologically active fragment or derivative thereof, to inhibit the interaction between cells expressing &agr;4 integrins and cellular ligands.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collagen product containing collagen of marine origin with a low odor. The collagen product includes one or more collagens or derivatives thereof, including hydrolyzates, with a low odor, at least part of the collagen or the derivatives being of marine origin and having been subjected to a deodorization treatment, particularly with an oxidizing substance such as a sulfite, hydrogen peroxide or ozone, at any stage of the manufacture of the collagen product. The invention also makes it possible to improve the mechanical properties and to use this low-odor collagen product in cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of producing highly purified proteases. The invention further provides the use of such purified proteases in treating cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension, stroke and thrombosis.

Abstract: A substantially non-toxic fraction isolated from the venom of Vipera xanthina is disclosed which fraction has an analgesic effect. The fraction is preferably purified on an ion exchange column from Vipera xanthina palestinae. Also described are a pharmaceutical composition for use as an analgesic comprising the non-toxic fraction, and a method for the relief of pain comprising administrating the non-toxic fraction.

Abstract: This invention features an antithrombosis enzyme extracted and purified from the snake venom of Southern-Anhui Agkistrodon acutus and pharmaceutical uses thereof.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for prophylaxis and/or treatment of apoptosis-related diseases which comprises as an effective ingredient batroxobin.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to protein molecules and to derivatives, homologues, analogues and mimetics thereof capable of inducing or facilitating inhibition of blood clot formation and more particularly platelet aggregation. The present invention also contemplates genetic sequences encoding said protein molecules and derivatives, homologues, analogues and mimetics thereof. The molecules of the present invention are useful inter alia in a range of therapeutic and prophylactic applications.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel prothrombin activator. The application of the activator to thrombin-related diseases is expected.Described is a prothrombin activator derived from snake venom, which is a calcium requiring type and comprises three polypeptide chains composed of one heavy chain having a molecular weight of about 62,000 or about 60,000 and two light chains having molecular weights of about 17,000 and about 14,000, respectively.

Abstract: Antivenoms to snake, spider, scorpion and jelly fish venoms are produced for treatment of humans and animals, and for analytical use. Polyvalent antivenoms are produced containing immunoglobulin which is greater than fifty percent venom reactive. Purified polyvalent antivenom is derived from a first polyvalent antivenom having two or more monovalent subpopulations, and purified such that greater than fifty percent of the monovalent subpopulations are recovered by weight. The antivenoms can be horse or avian such as chicken antivenom. Chicken antivenom is obtained using a whole venom that is not glutaraldehyde pretreated, and the antivenom contains yolk immunoglobulin. Antivenoms are purified with an antigen matrix containing a single whole venom or a plurality of whole venoms covalently attached to an insoluble support such as aldehyde-activated agarose. Preferably, the whole venoms forming the plurality of whole venoms are selected from the four whole venoms of C. atrox, B. atrox, C. adamanteus and C.

Abstract: A multimer peptide from a snake venom has an activity to inhibit binding between von Willebrand factor and platelets. The multimer peptide is used to obtain a single strand peptide which does not substantially cause decrease in platelets at a minimum dose for exhibiting the activity in vivo. The single strand peptide is obtained by allowing the multimer peptide to exist together with a protein-denaturing agent, and glutathione and/or cysteine, and thereby disconnecting disulfide bonds between peptide chains for constituting the multimer peptide while substantially preserving disulfide bonds within the peptide chains. Alternatively, the single strand peptide, a mutant thereof, or a part thereof is produced by genetic engineering techniques by using genes coding for them.

Abstract: A human Activated Protein C preparation with a high specific activity of 3500 U/mg or more and substantially free from thrombin or other proteases which can convert Protein C into Activated Protein C is provided. A process for preparing this human Activated Protein C, which involves, contacting a solution of human Activated Protein C, after activation of Protein C with thrombin or other activating protease, with a cation exchanger to allow for adsorption of both thrombin or another activating protease and Activated Protein C to the cation exchanger followed by elution of the human Activated Protein C alone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising among others a fibrinopeptide A releasing compound. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of the composition as calibrator in plasma containing fibrinogen. A test kit comprising the said composition and a method to determine soluble fibrin also belong to the invention.

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.

Abstract: A novel thrombin-inhibitory protein from assassin bugs with a molecular weight of about 12,000 dalton and the N terminus Glu-Gly-Gly-Glu-Pro-Cys-Ala-Cys-Pro-His-Ala-Leu-His-Arg-Val-Cys-Gly-Ser-As p is described. The protein is suitable for controlling diseases.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of alleviating restenosis, post-PTCA or other coronary arterial intervention, and more particularly, to the use of ancrod to prevent restenosis in the coronary arteries.

Abstract: A method for the inhibition of tumor metastases is described herein. The method makes use of the administration of an antimetastatic factor isolated from the leech Haementeria ghilianii.

Abstract: Platelet antiadhesives (PAA) which are useful as antithrombotics are obtainable from snake venoms which have been identified using an assay which measures the ability of the venom to inhibit ristocetin- or botrocetin-induced agglutination of platelets in the presence of von Willebrand Factor. The antiadhesives of the invention are 20-24 kd dimers of smaller peptides, or effective portions thereof. Antibodies to these antiadhesives are also prepared and are useful in assays for PAA and for screening expression libraries for PAA encoding DNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel, bifunctional inhibitors of both platelet activation and thrombin. These bifunctional inhibitors are characterized by two domains -- a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitory domain and a thrombin inhibitory domain. The invention also relates to DNA sequences which encode the bifunctional inhibitors of this invention, recombinant DNA molecules which contain these DNA sequences and host transformed with these DNA molecules. The invention further relates to he recombinant expression of the bifunctional inhibitors of this invention by transformed hosts as well as to methods for purifying such recombinant bifunctional inhibitors. This invention also provides compositions and methods employing the novel bifunctional inhibitors alone or together with a fibrinolytic agent.

Abstract: Novel cytotoxic agent useful against malignant tumors. It provides a stable composition of matter based on the cytotoxic activity of two synergistically acting toxins which sequence are herein described. The basic amphipathic peptide binds to the cell membrane causing perturbation of the lipid bilayer. The non-covalent heterodimer complex dissociates and the phospholiphase A.sub.2 subunit (B) binds to the cell membrane. Subunit A acts as a chaperon preventing non-specific binding of the phospholipase A.sub.2, it has no enzymatic activity. The basic amphipathic peptide increases the effect of the phospholipase A.sub.2 subunit. Cell death is caused by the enzymatic hydrolysis of cell membrance phospholipids. Both the non-covalent heterodimer complex and the basic amphipathic peptide used were purified from the venoms of Crotalus durissus terrificus and Naja naja atra, respectively.

Abstract: The production of antivenoms in non-mammals and improvements in the effectiveness of both non-mammalian antivenoms and mammalian antivenoms so that they are more suitable for treatment of humans and animals as well as for analytical use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptide inhibitors of platelet activation and derivatives thereof, purified from the venom of the North American Water Moccasin and to methods for their purification. This invention also relates to DNA sequences and recombinant DNA molecules which code for these polypeptide inhibitors of platelet activation. And this invention relates to recombinant DNA molecules which code for fusion proteins comprising both a polypeptide inhibitor of platelet activation and an anti-thrombin polypeptide. This invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions and methods characterized by at least one of these natural or recombinant inhibitors of platelet activation, alone or in combination with anti-thrombin compounds. The compositions, combinations and methods of this invention are particularly useful in the treatment of thrombotic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable composition of matter based on the cytotoxic activity of a basic phospholipase A.sub.2 of molecular weight 14,500 and isoelectric point 9.6-9.7 (crotoxin B) isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus which in complex with a specific, non-enzymatic, peptide of molecular weight 9,500 and isoelectric point 3.5-3.7 (crotoxin A) displays a preferential cytotoxic activity against various types of tumor cells. When administered parenterally in an acceptable vehicle and in pharmacologically efficient amounts to animals and humans the complex is useful in the treatment of malignant tumors in advanced stages. The method for purification of the active components, the preparation in a pharmacologically acceptable form, and the method of therapeutic use of the present composition of matter are also disclosed.

Abstract: Trigramin, a 72-amino acid polypeptide, has the following amino acid sequence: EAGEDCDCGSPANPCCDAATCKLIPGAQCGEGLCCDQCSFIEEGTVCRIARGDDLDDYCNGRSAGCPRNPFH. The molecule is a potent inhibitor of fibrinogen binding to receptors expressed on the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex in the membrane of platelets. Trigramin is thus a potent inhibitor of fibrinogen-induced human platelet aggregation. It is useful in inhibiting the formation of hemostatic platelet plugs.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies to Mojave toxin and use for isolation of cross-reacting proteins in Crotalus venoms are disclosed. Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against Mojave toxin were established. The antibodies were used for identifying cross-reacting proteins in individual C. s. scutulatus and other Crotalus venoms and to isolate Mojave toxin. The antibodies recognized five bands with a pI range from 5.1 to 6.1 in immunoblots of electrofocused crude venom and Mojave toxin purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. The specificity of the antibodies was for the basic subunit of the toxin which resolved into four bands of pI between 9.3 and 9.6. Individual C. s. scutulatus venoms of snakes from Texas and southern Arizona had multiple bands with pI's ranging from 4.9 to 6.3. Cross-reacting proteins were also recognized by antibodies in the electrophoresed venoms of C. basiliscus, C. d. durissus, C. d. terrificus, C. h. horridus, and C. v.

Abstract: Novel cytotoxic agents are provided as small polypeptides related to a low molecular weight peptide derived from Crotalus atrox. The compounds may be used by themselves or in combination with other reagents, such as antibodies, for inhibiting cell growth.

Abstract: Novel cytotoxic agents are provided as small polypeptides related to a low molecular weight peptide derived from Crotalus atrox. The compounds may be used by themselves or in combination with other reagents, such as antibodies, for inhibiting cell growth.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions comprising a peptide or protein material together with an oxide selected from the group consisting of osmium tetroxide, potassium permanganate and ruthenium oxide, and antibodies raised by the use of such a composition, are of value in therapy and diagnosis, for example in the context of snake venom vaccines.