A5078407381- Ion channel regulation and function
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Healthcare and Venom Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Beetle Biology and Toxicology Studies
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Trace Elements in Health
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
The University of Queensland
2015-2024
Australian Research Council
2023-2024
ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science
2021-2024
Fundação de Estudo e Pesquisa em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
2017
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
2011-2015
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
2003-2011
Millennium Institute
2007
Animal venoms have evolved over millions of years for prey capture and defense from predators rivals. Snake venoms, in particular, a wide diversity peptides proteins that induce harmful inflammatory neurotoxic effects including severe pain paralysis, hemotoxic effects, such as hemorrhage coagulopathy, cytotoxic/myotoxic inflammation necrosis. If untreated, many envenomings result death or morbidity humans and, despite advances management, snakebite remains major public health problem,...
Schistosomiasis continues to be a significant public health problem. This disease affects 200 million people worldwide and almost 800 are at risk of acquiring the infection. Although vaccine development against this has experienced more failures than successes, encouraging results have recently been obtained using membrane-spanning protein antigens from tegument Schistosoma mansoni. Our group identified Sm29, another antigen that is present adult worm surface. In study, we investigated...
Spider venoms are a rich source of ion channel modulators with therapeutic potential. Given the analgesic potential subtype-selective inhibitors voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels, we screened spider for human NaV1.7 (hNaV1.7) using high-throughput fluorescent assay. Here, describe discovery novel inhibitor, μ-TRTX-Tp1a (Tp1a), isolated from venom Peruvian green-velvet tarantula Thrixopelma pruriens. Recombinant and synthetic forms this 33-residue peptide preferentially inhibited hNaV1.7 >...
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that responsible for almost 300,000 deaths annually. Mass drug administration (MDA) used worldwide the control of schistosomiasis, but chemotherapy fails to prevent reinfection with schistosomes, so MDA alone not sufficient eliminate disease, and prophylactic vaccine required. Herein, we take advantage recent advances in systems biology longitudinal studies schistosomiasis endemic areas Brazil pilot an immunomics approach discovery antigens. We...
Summary Surface proteins of schistosomes are exposed to host tissues and thus present as potential candidate molecules for the development new intervention strategies. Herein, we have identified a tegumental protein Schistosoma mansoni, termed Sm29. In silico analysis revealed signal peptide, three glycosylation sites transmembrane region on Sm29 amino acid sequence. transcription in mammalian developmental stages cDNA libraries S. mansoni was verified by PCR using specific primers...
Summary Schistosoma mansoni infection has been associated with protection against allergies. The mechanisms underlying this association may involve regulatory cells and cytokines. We evaluated the immune response induced by S. antigens Sm22·6, PIII Sm29 in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation. BALB/c mice were sensitized subcutaneously injected OVA-alum challenged aerolized OVA. Mice given three doses different antigens. Lung histopathology, cellularity...
Abstract Venoms comprise of complex mixtures peptides evolved for predation and defensive purposes. Remarkably, some carnivorous cone snails can inject two distinct venoms in response to predatory or stimuli, providing a unique opportunity study separately how different ecological pressures contribute toxin diversification. Here, we report the extraordinary strategy Rhizoconus subgenus snails. The venom from this worm‐hunting is unusually simple, almost exclusively composed αD‐conotoxins...
Naturally occurring dysfunction of voltage-gated sodium (NaV ) channels results in complex disorders such as chronic pain, making these an attractive target for new therapies. In the pursuit novel NaV modulators, we investigated spider venoms inhibitors channels.We used high-throughput screens to identify a modulator venom Davus fasciatus. Further characterization this peptide was undertaken using fluorescent and electrophysiological assays, molecular modelling rodent pain model.We...
Summary S chistosoma mansoni is a blood fluke parasite responsible for schistosomiasis. The best long‐term strategy to control schistosomiasis through immunization combined with drug treatment. In this study, we cloned, expressed and purified Sm TSP ‐2 fused the N‐ C‐terminal halves of Sm29 tested these chimeras as vaccine candidates using an adjuvant approved be used in humans. results demonstrated that vaccination or C‐terminus Sm29‐induced reduction worm burden liver pathology when...
Abstract Chronic pain is a serious debilitating condition that affects ∼20% of the world's population. Currently available drugs fail to produce effective relief in many patients and have dose-limiting side effects. Several voltage-gated sodium (Na V ) calcium (Ca channels are implicated etiology chronic pain, particularly Na 1.1, 1.3, 1.7–Na 1.9, Ca 2.2, 3.2. Numerous modulators been described, but with few exceptions, they display poor potency and/or selectivity for pain-related channel...
Introduction: Spider venoms are a unique source of bioactive peptides, many which display remarkable biological stability and neuroactivity. Phoneutria nigriventer, often referred to as the Brazilian wandering spider, banana spider or "armed" is endemic South America amongst most dangerous venomous spiders in world. There 4,000 envenomation accidents with P. nigriventer each year Brazil, can lead symptoms including priapism, hypertension, blurred vision, sweating, vomiting. In addition its...
Venom-derived peptides have attracted much attention as potential lead molecules for pharmaceutical development. A well-known example is Huwentoxin-IV (HwTx-IV), a peptide toxin isolated from the venom of Chinese bird-eating spider Haplopelma schmitdi. HwTx-IV was identified potent blocker human voltage-gated sodium channel (hNaV1.7), which genetically validated analgesic target. The promising it showed high potency at NaV1.7 (IC50 ~26 nM) and selectivity over cardiac NaV subtype (NaV1.5)....
Background Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million individuals worldwide, with a further 650 living at risk of infection, constituting severe health problem in developing countries. Even though an effective treatment exists, it does not prevent re-infection, and the development vaccine still remains most desirable means control for this disease. Methodology/Principal Findings Herein, we report cloning characterization S. mansoni Stomatin-like protein 2 (SmStoLP-2). In silico analysis...
Larvae of the genus Megalopyge (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea: Megalopygidae), known as asp or puss caterpillars, produce defensive venoms that cause severe pain. Here, we present anatomy, chemistry, and mode action venom systems caterpillars two megalopygid species, Southern flannel moth opercularis black-waved crispata . We show is produced in secretory cells lie beneath cuticle are connected to spines by canals. Megalopygid consist large aerolysin-like pore-forming toxins, which have named...
Infection with Schistosoma japonicum causes high levels of pathology that is predominantly determined by the cellular and humoral response host. However, specific antibody arises during development disease largely undescribed in Asian schistosomiasis–endemic populations. A schistosome protein microarray was used to compare profiles subjects acute infection, early or advanced associated severe pathology, chronic exposed but stool negative for S. eggs nonexposed controls. Twenty-five...
The human nociceptor-specific voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (hNaV1.7) is critical for sensing various types of somatic pain, but it appears not to play a primary role in acute visceral pain. However, its chronic pain remains be determined. We used assay-guided fractionation isolate novel hNaV1.7 inhibitor, Tsp1a, from tarantula venom. Tsp1a 28-residue peptide that potently inhibits (IC50 = 10 nM), with greater than 100-fold selectivity over hNaV1.3-hNaV1.6, 45-fold hNaV1.1, and 24-fold...
Venoms comprise highly sophisticated bioactive molecules modulating ion channels, receptors, coagulation factors, and the cellular membranes. This array of targets bioactivities requires advanced high-content bioassays to facilitate development novel envenomation treatments biotechnological pharmacological agents. In response existing gap in venom research, we developed a cutting-edge fluorescence-based high-throughput assay. assay enables simultaneous identification prevalent activities...
Schistosomiasis continues to be a significant public health problem that affects 200 million people worldwide. This is one of the most important parasitic diseases, and whose effective control unlikely in absence vaccine. In this study, we have isolated cDNA clone encoding Schistosoma mansoni Sm21.6 protein has 45% 44% identity with Sm22.6 Sj21.7 EF-hand containing antigens, respectively. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed membrane-associated localized on S. adult worm. Mouse immunization...