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nospam@example.com (Cheryl Cooper) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:09:24 -0500

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Herp Report: Venom research round-up

nospam@example.com (Cindy Steinle) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:58:00 -0500

Once again, an article about snakes saving lives. This time the Malaysian Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodastoma) is having its venom studied for its effect on platelets.

"Snake venom contains a vast number of toxins that target proteins in platelets," says Yonchol Shin, an associate professor at Kogakuin University who specializes in snake toxins. "Some of those toxins prevent platelets from clotting, which can lead to profuse bleeding in snake bite victims. Others, like the one we've focused this research on, potently activate platelets, which results in blood clots. Identification of the molecular targets of many of these toxins has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of platelet activation and related diseases."

Intrigued by the then-recent discovery that elements in snake venom can promote irregular aggregation of platelets the kind that leads to clots and stroke Inoue's and Ozaki's team set out in 1997 to understand better the molecular underpinnings of those chemical reactions. They hoped that whatever they learned could be applied to the search for new therapies for irregular blood clotting caused by disease.

Further work is being done on the effect it may have on tumors as well:

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Featured Photo: Buzzzzz

Herp Report: Venom research round-up