Expression and purification of recombinant alpha-toxin AnCra1 from the scorpion Androctonus crassicauda and its functional characterization on mammalian sodium channels.

Background: Alpha-scorpion toxins with long-chain peptide and four disulfide bonds represent diverse pharmacological profiles for various subtypes of voltage-gated sodium channels. Obtaining the natural toxins are difficult and time-consuming process, which represents the major difficulty to interpreting analysis of their structural and functional properties.

Methods And Results: This study describes the toxin peptide and plasmid construct containing the gene coding for mammalian toxin AnCra1 from the scorpion Androctonus crassicauda venom.

Recombinant antibodies against Iranian cobra venom as a new emerging therapy by phage display technology.

Background: The production of antivenom from immunized animals is an established treatment for snakebites; however, antibody phage display technology may have the capacity to delivery results more quickly and with a better match to local need. , the Iranian cobra, is a medically important species, responsible for a significant number of deaths annually. This study was designed as proof of principle to determine whether recombinant antibodies with the capacity to neutralize cobra venom could be isolated by phage display.

Cytotoxic and Anticancer Effects of ICD-85 (Venom Derived Peptides) in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

ICD-85 (venom derived peptides) has anti-proliferative effect and anti- angiogenesis activity on cancer cells. This study was performed to test the effect of ICD-85, on Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF) cell lines. In this experimental study, Mitochondrial activity, Neutral red uptake, Lactate dehydrogenase (cell necrosis), and cell morphology were assessed under unexposed and ICD-85 exposed conditions.

Antivenom Efficacy in Neutralizing Histopathological Complications Following Envenomation.

Background: Nowadays use of specific antivenin for latrodectism is considered as the most effective treatment in the world. This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of specific antivenom against histopathological complications caused by venom on liver, heart and kidneys tissues within 72h.

Methods: Two groups were selected, each one contained 6 male New Zealand rabbits weighing 2±0.

Effect of Crude Venom of Scorpion in Cell Culture using Ion Channel Modulators.

Scorpion venom toxicity is one of the major medical concerns from old years, due to its influence on human activities and health. From many years ago a lot of researches established to examine different aspects of venom toxicity and its effects on different organs. During these years researchers are doing more specific studies on the cytotoxicity of scorpion venom.

Specific Antivenom Ability in Neutralizing Hepatic and Renal Changes 24 Hours after Latrodectus dahli Envenomation.

Background: Latrodectism, a syndrome caused by Latrodectus genus, is one of the clinical problems that occur predominantly in north east of Iran. Nowadays antivenom therapy has become the most useful treatment for animal bites; however there is still a controversy about route and time of antivenom administration in spider bite. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of specific antivenom in neutralizing hepatic and renal symptoms 24 h after Latrodectus dahli envenomation.

Cardiotoxic and Arrhythmogenic Effects of Hemiscorpius lepturus Scorpion Venom in Rats.

Background: Envenomation by Hemiscorpius lepturus is not painful and the clinical manifestations include bloody urine due to hemoglobinuria or hematuria, dermonecrotic reactions, cardiac arrhythmia and in minority of cases acute renal failure which may lead to death following disseminated intravascular coagulation in infants. Cardiac effects of envenomation by H. lepturus venom including inotropic, chronotropic and arrhythmogenic properties are not studied as now in rat hearts with Langendorff apparatus.

Cobra venom cytotoxins; apoptotic or necrotic agents?

Organs homeostasis is controlled by a dynamic balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. Failure to induction of apoptosis has been implicated in tumor development. Cytotoxin-I (CTX-I) and cytotoxin-II (CTX-II) are two physiologically active polypeptides found in Caspian cobra venom.

Level of Serum Enzymes and Electrocardiogram in Healthy Rabbits after Injection of ICD-85 as an Anticancer Agent.

Background: Our previous in vivo studies confirmed that ICD-85, as an anticancer agent, was able to prevent further growth of breast tumors and expand the life expectancy of mice with breast cancer.

Methods: Blood collection was carried out before, 1, 3, and 6 hours after ICD-85 injection. Sera were used to determinate the cardio and hepatic enzymes levels, including ALT, AST, LDH, CPK, and Ck-MB.

Cytotoxic Effect of Iranian Vipera lebetina Snake Venom on HUVEC Cells.

Objective: Envenomation by heamotoxic snakes constituted a critical health occurrence in the world. Bleeding is the most sever consequence following snake bite with viperid and crothalid snakes. It is believed that the degradation of vascular membrane caused hemorrhage; in contrast, some suggested that direct cytotoxicity has role in endothelial cell disturbances.

A description of parasites from Iranian snakes.

Little is known of the parasitic fauna of terrestrial snakes in Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the parasitic infection rates of snakes in Iran. A total of 87 snakes belonging to eight different species, that were collected between May 2012 and September 2012 and died after the hold in captivity, under which they were kept for taking poisons, were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal and blood parasites.

Partial purification and characterization of anticoagulant factor from the snake (echis carinatus) venom.

Objective(s): Snake venoms contain complex mixture of proteins with biological activities. Some of these proteins affect blood coagulation and platelet function in different ways. Snake venom toxin may serve as a starting material for drug design to combat several pathophysiological problems such as cardiovascular disorders.

Cytotoxicity of ICD-85 NPs on Human Cervical Carcinoma HeLa Cells through Caspase-8 Mediated Pathway.

The biological application of nanoparticles (NPs) is a rapidly developing area of nanotechnology that raises new possibilities in the treatment of human cancers. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT and LDH assays. The apoptotic effect of free ICD-85 and ICD-85 NPs on HeLa cells was assessed using caspase-8 colorimetric assay.

Comparative Cytotoxic Evaluation of Free and Sodium Alginate Nanoparticle-Encapsulated ICD-85 on Primary Lamb Kidney Cells.

Background: Current anti-cancer drug therapy results in systemic side effects due to non-specific uptake by normal healthy noncancerous tissues. To alleviate this difficulty, many attempts have been devoted to the development of new delivery systems such as polymeric Nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, we prepared ICD-85 NPs based on sodium alginate and analyzed the cytotoxic activity of ICD-85 NPs relative to free ICD-85 on primary lamb kidney cells.

In vivo and in vitro anti-angiogenesis effect of venom-derived peptides (ICD-85).

Background: Agiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculatures. Although essential in the physiological process, it becomes pathological in various diseases including cancer. Preventing the formation of new blood vessels causes reductions in tumor size and metastasis.

Isolation and partial purification of anticoagulant fractions from the venom of the Iranian snake Echis carinatus.

Many snake venoms comprise different factors, which can either promote or inhibit the blood coagulation pathway. Coagulation disorders and hemorrhage belong to the most prominent features of bites of the many vipers. A number of these factors interact with components of the human blood coagulation.

Cytotoxic effect of ICD-85 (venom-derived peptides) on HeLa cancer cell line and normal LK cells using MTT Assay.

Background: Cancer is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. There are considerable efforts to identify naturally occurring substances for use as new drugs in cancer therapy. Some components of animal venoms have been identified that possess substantial anticancer properties.

Extracellular Caspase-8 Dependent Apoptosis on HeLa Cancer Cells and MRC-5 Normal Cells by ICD-85 (Venom Derived Peptides).

Background: Our previous studies revealed an inhibitory effect of ICD-85 (venom derived peptides) on MDA-MB231 and HL-60 cell lines, through induction of apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate apoptosis-induced mechanism on HeLa and MRC-5 cells by ICD-85 through activation of caspase-8.

Methods: Cell viability, cytosolic enzyme Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and cell morphology were assessed under unexposed and ICD-85 exposed conditions.

Necrotic Effect versus Apoptotic Nature of Camptothecin in Human Cervical Cancer Cells.

Background: Functional defects in mitochondria are involved in the induction of cell death in cancer cells. The process of programmed cell death may occur through the mechanisms of apoptosis. Several potential lead molecules such as Camptothecin (CPT) and its analogues have been isolated from plants with anticancer effect.

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cell Line (HL60) by Animal's Venom Derived Peptides (ICD-85).

Our previous studies revealed an inhibitory effect of ICD-85 (Venom derived peptides) on breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231. ICD-85 was also confirmed by in-vivo studies to suppress the breast tumor in mice. However, the exact mechanism of ICD-85 was unknown.

Two Biological Active Fractions Isolated from Buthotus schach (BS)Scorpion Venom Examined on Striated Muscle Preparation, In-vitro.

Buthotus schach is one of the most dangerous scorpions in tropical part of Iran. The effects of its crude venom at 1, 3, 10 μg/mL and its obtained fractions by gel filtrations were investigated on neuromuscular transmission. CBC and MHD indirectly and directly stimulated preparations techniques were used to study their possible pre or post junctional activities.

Cytotoxic Effects of two Iranian Scorpions Odontobuthusdoriae and Bothutus saulcyi on Five Human Cultured Cell lines and Fractions of Toxic Venom.

Scorpion venom toxicity is of major concern due to its influence on human activities and public health. We investigated the in-vitro process of cell death caused by two Iranian scorpions Odontobuthus doriae and Bothutus salceyi venom on human cell lines. The aim of this study was to provide further information about triggering cell death and suggestion of methods for the elimination of unwanted cells such as tumor cells.