BACKGROUND The normalized dilute Russell viper venom time (DRVVT) ratio provides a robust assay methodology for lupus anticoagulant (LA) detection. OBJECTIVES We evaluated six normalized DRVVT LA screen and confirm systems for inter-method consistency. Reagents were purchased from Diagnostica Stago, Inc. (Parsippany, NJ); Precision BioLogic Inc. (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada); Siemens Healthc...

The diagnosis of insect venom allergy and the indication for specific immunotherapy is based on history, skin tests and demonstration of hymenoptera venom-specific IgE-antibodies. Cellular tests can add useful information but the role of basophil activation tests for the different venoms has to be elucidated further. We evaluated positive reactions in a basophil activation test using CD63 expre...

In recent years, use of biodegradable polymers based nanoparticles has received highinterest in the development of vaccines delivery vehicles. The aim of study was to preparechitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) for loading Echis carinatus (EC) venom and evaluate theirpotential as an adjuvant and antigen delivery system on a pilot scale. CS NPs were preparedusing ionic gelation method, and their char...

Resumen: La fosfolipasa A2 miotóxica del veneno de Bothrops asper (terciopelo) prolonga el tiempo de recalcificación de plasmas de cinco especies de mamíferos. La fosfolipasa A2 hidroliza los fosfolípidos del plasma, en tanto que. su acción inhibitoria es revertida cuando se adicionan fosfolípidos plaquetarios. Estas dos observaciones sugieren que la acción anticoagulante se debe a una alteraci...

Group or population level self-organised systems comprise many individuals displaying group-level emergent properties. Current theory indicates that individual-level behaviours have an effect on the final group-level behaviour; that is, self-organised systems are sensitive to small changes in individual behaviour. Here we examine a self-organised behaviour in relation to environmentally-driven ...

Venom detection is crucial for confirmation of envenomation and snake type in snake-bite patients. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is used to detect venom, but antivenom in samples prevents venom detection. We aimed to detect snake venom in post-antivenom samples after dissociating venom-antivenom complexes with glycine-HCl (pH 2.2) and heating for 30 min at 950 °C. Serum samples underwent dissociatio...

The effect of spine venom from the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver was studied. The spine venom was prepared by saturation of spine homogenate with ammonium sulfate and the protein fraction precipitating 50% saturation was used as venom B. Venom A was the protein precipitated between 50 and 100% saturation. When venom B (100-200 mg/kg) was...

In the present study we describe the purification and characterization of Malabarase, a serine protease from Trimeresurus malabaricus venom. Purification was achieved by gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-75 followed by ion-exchange chromatography on CM Sephadex C-25. Homogeneity of Malabarase was confirmed by RP-HPLC. Malabarase is a monomer that migrated as a single protein band on S...