Isolation and characterization of the tsetse thrombin inhibitor: a potent antithrombotic peptide from the saliva of Glossina morsitans morsitans.

A potent and specific inhibitor of the human coagulation protease thrombin was identified in salivary gland extracts of the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans morsitans, an important vector of African trypanosomiasis. This low molecular weight peptide (MW = 3,530 Da as determined by laser desorption mass spectrometry) was purified using a combination of size-exclusion chromatography and reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Amino terminal sequencing of the purified protein reveals no homology to any previously identified serine protease inhibitor or naturally occurring anticoagulant.

The anti-haemostatic strategies of the human hookworm Necator americanus.

The human hookworm Necator americanus appears to have evolved a number of complementary strategies to overcome the host's haemostatic processes. These include the inhibition of blood coagulation, platelet aggregation and mediator release, and the secretion of fibrinogenolytic enzymes. These strategies presumably allow the parasite to establish the chronic infections so often documented in human populations.

Haemolytic properties of pluronic surfactants and effects of purification.

The effects of incubating blood from mice, rats, rabbits or hamsters with either a commercial grade or a silica-purified fraction of Pluronic F-68 or Pluronic F-38 have been studied. Incubation of blood with up to 4.0% (w/v) of commercial or purified Pluronic F-68 produced no detectable haemolysis (< 0.