Molecular Recognition and Immunopharmacological Implications of Serratiopeptidase Targeting Snake Venom Bradykinin-Potentiating Peptides

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  Molecular Recognition and Immunopharmacological Implications of Serratiopeptidase Targeting Snake Venom Bradykinin-Potentiating Peptides Abstract Purpose Bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), found in snake venom, are known to modulate cardiovascular functions, but their susceptibility to enzymatic degradation remains poorly understood. Methods Models were generated using AlphaFold-Colab for five small BPPs (< 9 amino acids) that did not have experimentally solved structures, and those BPPs which had reliable predictions of structure (pLDDT > 80) were used for docking studies. Protein-peptide docking experiments were done using HADDOCK for studying the interaction between wild-type (WT) and mutant serratiopeptidase with BPPs. After selecting the best complex, simulation of the complex was done using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 100 ns and binding energy determination using MM/PBSA analysis. For checking the mechanical stability of the protein-peptide complexes...

The development of the Taipan Antivenom – An Australian story from Far North Queensland

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The development of the Taipan Antivenom – An Australian story from Far North Queensland

Abstract

The development of the taipan antivenom in Australia is a unique story, centred in Far North Queensland. It is infused with idealism and heroism. The taipan is one of the world’s deadliest snakes. A live specimen of the coastal taipan was not captured until 1950, and the antivenom only became available in 1955. Until then a bite from the coastal taipan was universally fatal. Kevin Budden a snake enthusiast was bitten in the process of capturing the specimen. Budden extracted a promise from those around him that the snake would not be killed but be sent to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories in Melbourne for milking. From this courageous act, the antivenom was developed and many lives subsequently saved. The first use of the taipan antivenom was on a boy in Cairns. He survived and grew up to become an anaesthetist.

Grace RF. The development of the Taipan Antivenom – An Australian story from Far North Queensland. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/0310057X261486046