Yes, and we can bear in mind that immunization may involve exposure to
live disease-causing organisms,

Kathleen

On 01/01/2010, john thomas <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Let's not be too hasty in criticizing the research going on.
>  Firstly whilst it's great to see the interest and time taken to assist with
>  information just remember the research must be taken in context with the
>  goals of the project not the also finds.
>  The research sound more like snake oil sales research proposition than
>  undisputable fact, having said that context is important. One can't dismiss
>  the basis of the project which is obviously to develop medication in which a
>  range of medical problems has a therapeutic response.  The whys and
>  wherefores are never that clean cut.
>  It's timely to say here that Russell viper venom, curare and a myriad of
>  neurotoxin and hematologic venoms available to nature have been the basis of
>  developing anti-coagulant and neuro response drugs.
>  This doesn't mean I am going tarantula hunting in the near future though.
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
>  [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nic Marais
>  Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 1:50 AM
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Subject: Re: Tarantula venom for PD
>
>  I was wondering why a poison, evolved to kill, would contain something that
>  increase muscle strength, calms the heart, blocks pain, and promotes neuron
>  growth, when a horrible thought crossed my mind...
>  Perhaps the intention of the poison is to paralyze the victim. A calm
>  "Growing" victim can be stored for later consumption.
>  Maybe snake oil can cure a lot of diseases. (Or should we add spider oil to
>  the list of maverick medicines?)
>
>  Nic 57/16 (And it's starting to show ;-)
>
>
>  On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 3:59 AM, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>  > Submitted by Kathleen Blanchard RN on Dec 30th, 2009
>  >
>  > Biophysicists from University of Buffalo plan to study tarantula venom for
>  > treatment of muscular dystrophy (MD). The company - Rose Pharmaceuticals -
>  > named after the laboratory's resident tarantula has been investigating the
>  > peptide GsMTx4 in tarantula venom that could help other diseases,
>  including
>  > atrial fibrillation, neuropathy, sickle cell anemia, and Parkinson's
>  > disease.
>  >
>  > Researchers first plan to study muscular dystrophy, a condition for which
>  > there is no known cure. Muscular dystrophy causes muscle weakness, delays
>  in
>  > motor skill development, and can become worse over time. The scientists
>  will
>  > then move forward, studying tarantula venom for treatment of neuropathic
>  > pain and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm).
>  >
>  > The discovery of peptide in tarantula venom that could cure disease comes
>  > from Fredrick Sachs, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics at UB.
>  The
>  > peptide is known as GsMTx4. Dr. Sacks hopes the FDA will approve use of
>  the
>  > peptide in humans within two years.
>  > The peptide from tarantula venom, GxMTx4, has been found to increase
>  muscle
>  > strength in mice, and has been studied extensively. The drug caused no
>  > toxicity, and has not been found to cause mortality or morbidity.
>  >
>  > Rose Pharmaceuticals has a patent on the drug derived from tarantula
>  venom,
>  > and are now focused on delivery methods. There are no similar drugs that
>  act
>  > the same way. Sachs says "Unlike most drugs, GsMTx4 seems to generate only
>  > positive side effects. In addition to its effectiveness in MD, it inhibits
>  > atrial fibrillation, a cardiac arrhythmia that affects 2 million
>  Americans,
>  > and for which there currently is no reliable drug therapy.
>  >
>  > A second use of GsMTx4, studied by research groups in Korea and UC San
>  > Francisco shows that the tarantula venom peptide can stop pain originating
>  > in nerve fibers, known as neuropathy, or neuropathic pain. "This therapy
>  is
>  > at least half as effective as morphine, but does not act on the brain,
>  only
>  > at the site of increased sensitivity," said Sachs.
>  >
>  > Another application for tarantula venom includes treatment of Parkinson's
>  > disease. Robert Punkett MD, a researcher at UB has shown that the peptide
>  in
>  > tarantula venom stimulates the growth of neurons, making it a potentially
>  > useful treatment. The GxMTx4 peptide targets ion channels.
>  >
>  >
>  > Rayilyn Brown
>  > Director AZNPF
>  > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
>  > [log in to unmask]
>  > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:
>  > [log in to unmask]
>  > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>  >
>
>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
>  In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>
>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
>  In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn