IV BSCT Philippine Normal University Animal Toxins Some Things To Remember Toxicology Branch of science that deals with the properties and characteristics of foreign substances and its interaction with an organism ID: 437801
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Sai, John Benedict M.IV – BSCTPhilippine Normal University
Animal ToxinsSlide2
Some Things To RememberToxicology
Branch of science that deals with the properties and characteristics of foreign substances and its interaction with an organismB
ranch in medicine the studies and deals with the properties, characteristic and treatment forms of poison and venom.PoisonToxic chemical compounds that enter an organism through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation
Venoma poisonous fluid secreted by such animals as certain snakes and scorpions and usually transmitted by a bite or stingSlide3
Common Types of ToxinsCalcium channel peptidesSodium-channel toxins.
Potassium-channel toxinsToxins inhibiting nicotinic acetylcholine receptorsVenom peptides for cardiovascular disease
Noradrenaline transporter inhibitorsSlide4
Toxins are used by animals for the following reasons:Defence
Catching PreySlide5
Animals with ToxinsInsects
BeesSpidersReptiles
FrogsSnakesMarine AnimalsPuffer fishCone SnailLionfishSlide6
Insect ToxinsTaxonomically speaking, there are over 900 thousand insect species known
They have a variety of defence mechanisms that helps them survive the harsh conditions of their environmentOne of them is the use of toxins to defend or to huntSlide7
Bee ToxinsBees are the most popular insects known to man
Are primarily used in the production of honey, one of man’s most luxurious foodWhile commended for them being industrious, they are hated for their painful bee stings
Only the worker bees have a bee sting.Slide8
Bee ToxinsComposition of an
Apitoxin (Bee toxin)90% water50% histamine and
melitin0.1-0.5% choline and dopamine (known neurotransmitters)4-8% alarm pheromones 10-12% phospholipase
A2- This composition is from 0.0010mg of dried apitoxin
, from 0.25mg liquid
apitoxin
of
Apis
mellifera
Slide9
Bee ToxinOf all the major components of
apitoxin, melitin is responsible for the majority of its toxicity
Causes hemolysis (rupturing of red blood cells)Stimulates the production of histamine
Also, at high concentrations, melitin can cause hypertension; the opposite is true when concentrations are lowSlide10
Medicinal UseDespite its infamy as a very powerful agent of inducing allergies,
apitoxins have profound effects as an anti-inflammatory, anti-athritis
, and analgesic propertiesApitherapy, as it is called, employs the use of the venom either oral or injected with the help of acupunctureSlide11
Spider ToxinsSpiders are one of the most infamous insects
Their venoms contain a small molecule called polyamines, which are effective blockers of ion channels or receptors
Since these venoms typically attack the nervous system, they are also classified as neurotoxinsSlide12
Spider ToxinSpider toxins follow a nomenclature system which depends on their target receptors:
Alpha-toxins – acetylcholine receptorMu-toxin – sodium channel inhibition in muscles
Omega-toxin – prevents entry of calcium in the voltage-gated channels in nerves, which also prevents release of acetylcholineLatrotoxin – found in the black widow spider (Latrodectus
mactan) stimulates the uptake of calcium ion; does opposite of omega-toxinsEither way, all spider toxins causes the same action
: paralysisSlide13
Medicinal UseInterestingly, spider venoms are used in both agriculture and medicine due to its selectivity
In agriculture, the neurotoxin of Australian funnel-web spider (Atrax
robustus) is used as a pesticide against cockroaches, crickets, and cotton-destroying mothsNote that its selectivity prevents the killing of other organisms accidentally!Slide14
Medicinal UseDuring cardiac arrests (heart attack), the ion channels in the heart may suddenly open and release chemicals that will interrupt a heartbeat
Atrial Fibrillation happens when the atria (upper chamber) couldn’t prevent blood from entering the venticles
(lower chamber)Spider venoms could actually be used to prevent these ion channels from opening and cause the death from heart attackSlide15
Frog ToxinsWhen it comes to defence mechanisms of animals, a brightly-
colored one indicates the lethal potential of the organism
In frogs, the most common toxin that they use are called batrochotoxins, which are found in poison dart frog (Phyllobates) and
histrionicotoxins, found in Dendrobates, another genus of dart frogsSlide16
BatrochotoxinsThese are alkaloids with strong
cardiotoxic and neurotoxic capabilities
They directly attack the sodium channels in the peripheral nervous systemBy irreversibly forcing them to remain open, the toxin can easily cause death to the organismSlide17
HistrionicotoxinsFunctions as non-competitive inhibitors of the nicotine receptor of an organism.
Nicotine receptors are like acetylcholine receptorsThe solubility and permeability of these toxins are notorious, that even wearing protective equipment would not prevent exposureSlide18
Medicinal UseBatrochotoxins
’ direct and specificity toward sodium channels make them important in understanding the role of sodium channels, nervous system, and the neuromuscular systemIn
histrionicotoxins, it is being studied as an alternative to morphine as a treatment for Alzheimer’s or nerve pain injurySlide19
Snake ToxinsSnake toxins are said to be most diverse of poisons to humans
They either target the nervous system, act as cardiotoxins,
mytoxins, or increase or decrease coagulative functions, or simply cause inflammationsDepending on the species, snake venoms can either act as a procoagulant or anticoagulantSlide20
Snake ToxinsProcoagulants
work by forcing Factors X and V (coagulation factors in blood clotting) to activate, causing the start of clotting reactions in the circulatory systemsAnticoagulants, on the other hand, work by forcing the activation of
plasminogens, thus preventing blood clot to formBoth types will contain neurotoxins, which will either disrupt ion channels, or destroy nerve cells altogetherSlide21
Medicinal UseThe procoagulant and anticoagulants are, in small quantities, used in correcting clotting problems
They can also help in treating thrombosis (obstruction of blood vessel due to blood clotting)The neurotoxins in snakes, such as the
Hannalgesin of King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) can be used as an analgesic and an anesthetic
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Some References"Animal Toxin: Hidden Cures", Retrieved from: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/animalphysiology/websites/2010/Baldeon/Toxicology%20and%20Pharmacology.html, Retrieved September 06, 2012
"Venom", Collins English Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged , http://www.thefreedictionary.com/venom, Retrieved September 06, 2012
"Bee Stings for Pain Relief and Healing - Apitherapy - Kristine Jacobson", uploaded by heidisbca, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shL6XtplI3Y, Retrieved September 06, 2012
"From flowers to hospitals... Honey Bee - Apis mellifera", Retrieved from http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/animalphysiology/websites/2010/Baldeon/Bee%20Toxin.html, Retrieved September 06, 2012
"The most important questions in
Apitherapy
", Apitherapy.com, Retrieved from http://www.apitherapy.com/index.php/eng/F.A.Q, Retrieved September 06, 2012
G.
Grosso
, C.R. Perez
Figueredo
, “Characteristics and Properties of the
Apis
Mellifera
Apitoxin
as Therapeutic Potential; Use and Limits”, “http://www.scribd.com/doc/18673026/Characteristics-and-properties-of-
apitoxin
-“
R.
Khushiramani
, J.
Shukla
, et al, “Yersinia outer-membrane protein B (
YopB
): a tool for identification of Yersinia
pestis
isolates”, ”http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/content/55/4/467.full”
“Spiders” “http://www2.lhric.org/
pocantico
/spiders/spiders2.htm”
“
Araneae
: Spiders” “http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/allies/araneae.html”
“Spider’s Venom”
”http://clivo.altervista.org/Spiders/spiders_venom.html”
“Spiders of North America”
http://www.cirrusimage.com/spider.htm
“What is the Deadliest Spider in the World?”
”http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-deadliest-spider-in-the-world.htm”
“Black Widow Spider”
”http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/black-widow-spider/”