 |
 |
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