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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