Snake cobra

Where the snake has been identified and specific antivenom is available, then this should be used. However, since treatment is urgent, and identification of snakes is difficult, in many Asian countries polyvalent antivenom is used. The Indian anti-snake venom (ASV), manufactured by Serum Institute India, Pune, and Haffkine Bio Pharmaceutical Corporation, Mumbai, consists of hyperimmune horse serum against four common snakes - cobra, common krait, Russell s viper and saw-scale viper. 

This family includes coral snakes, cobras, mambas, and kraits. In the United States, Elapidae are responsible for 1-2% of poisonous snakebites. The incidence of envenomations is greater in some other parts of the world. Examples of coral snakes commonly found in the United States are the eastern coral snake, the Sonoran coral snake, and the Texas coral snake. Coral snakes are smaller than pit vipers. They do not have facial pits, and the head is rounded, as are the pupils. Eangs are 2mm and fixed to the jaw. Coral snakes are also more brightly colored, with bands of black and red, separated by yellow and white bands. Coral snakes are timid, nocturnal creatures. 

Elapidae Micrurus Naja Bungarus Dendroaspis Coral snake Cobra Krait Mamba Human envenomation difficult because of small mouth and small fixed fangs in rear of mouth. Neurotoxicity usually predominates. 

Strike-induced chemosensory searching in elapid snakes (cobras, taipans, tiger snakes and death adders) at San Diego Zoo, Psychol. 

The venoms of poisonous snakes contain (among other things) a class of enzymes known as phospholipases, enzymes that cause the breakdown of phospholipids. For example, the venoms of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) and the Indian cobra Naja naja) both contain phospholipase Ag, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of fatty acids at the C-2 position of glyc-erophospholipids. 

The similarity of the primary structure of different sea snake venoms has already been discussed. Postsynaptic neurotoxins from Elapidae venom have been extensively studied. Elapidae include well-known snakes such as cobra, krait, mambas, coral snakes, and all Australian snakes. Like sea snake toxins, Elapidae toxins can also be grouped into short-chain (Type I) and long-chain (Type II) toxins. Moreover, two types of neurotoxins are also similar to cardiotoxins, especially in the positions of disulfide bonds. However, amino acid sequences between cardiotoxins and sea snake and Elapidae neurotoxins are quite different. In comparing the sequence of sea snake and Elapidae neurotoxins, there is a considerable conservation in amino acid sequence, but the difference is greater than among the various sea snake toxins. 

Similarity of venoms among different sea snakes and Elapidae can also be detected immunologically. For instance, the antibody for Enhydrina schistosa showed cross reactivity with the venoms of Hydrophis cyanocinctus, Lapemis hardwickii, and Pelamis platurus 12). The sea snake antivenin not only neutralizes the toxicity of various sea snake venoms, but also Naja naja atra (Taiwan cobra) venom 13-16). The reverse is also true namely, some Elapidae antivenins are also effective for neutralizing sea snake venom lethality 17-19). 

Beta-bungarotoxin, a protein in cobra snake venom, also binds to cholinergic nerves to stop ACh release while a-bungarotoxin (from the same source) binds firmly to peripheral postsynaptic nicotinic receptors. The combined effect ensures the paralysis of the snake s victim. 

Cobra (Walkinshaw et ah, 1980), see Erabutoxin Sea snake (Tsernoglou and Petsko, 1977), see Erabutoxin Nuclease, staphylococcal (or micrococcal) (Arnone et ah, 1971) Greek key /3 barrel (Fig. 80)... 

The second most common venomous snakes are the Elapidae, of which cobras and coral snakes are well known. These snakes deliver their venom from fixed fangs and must hold onto the victim while the venom is released. These snakes tend to... 

Elapidae Cobras Kraits Coral snakes Neurotoxin (some very potent) Fixed fangs, usually low dose Nervous system effects, paralysis, numbness, respiratory failure... 

An anti-snake venom principle has recently been reported as a glycosidal quaternary chromone alkaloid named schumanniofoside 36 (14). Extracts of the stem bark were tested against the venom of the black cobra, Naja melanoleuca, in mice. The methanolic extract showed the greatest activity. This was fractionated and monitored to yield 36 as the active component. 

Neurotoxic venoms of cobras, mambas, and coral snakes Inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. - This hydrolase normally breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine within nerve synapses. 

The clinical features depend upon the type of snake bite. There are three main patterns neurotoxic, as with elapidae such as cobras and kraits vasculotoxic with alteration in blood coagulation as with vipers and myotoxic as with sea snakes although they are all often complicated by local tissue damage. The severity of poisoning will depend on the amount and potency of venom injected and the patient s general health. 

The discovery that the toxins of Elapid snakes bind almost irreversibly to the AChR also facilitated the isolation and study of this receptor. The structure of these venoms has been elucidated those most widely used experimentally are the a-bungarotoxin (BTX) of the Indian cobra and the toxin of the Siamese cobra. These compounds are peptides containing from 61 to 74 amino acids, five disulfide bridges, and a high proportion of basic arginine and lysine residues, often in close proximity. Venoms are toxic because they block cholinergic neurotransmission by binding to the receptor. 

Vipers, Cobras and Kraits are the common poisonous snakes and in India 40,000 to 50,000 deaths recorded per year due to snake bite. 

I various subcellular locations within eukaryotic cells. Some of these enzymes are specific for particular polar head-groups others are nonspecific. Phospholipase A2 is a major component of snake venom (cobra and rattlesnake) and is partially involved in the deadly effects of these venoms. Because of the high concentration of phospholipase A2 in these venoms, this enzyme has been studied intensively. The pancreas is also rich in phospholipase A2, which is secreted into the intestine for digestion of dietary phospholipids. 

Various types of proteins have been purified using hydrophobic interaction chromatography including alkaline phophatase, estrogen receptors, isolectins, strepavidin, calmodulin, epoxide hydrolase, proteoglycans, hemoglobins, and snake venom toxins (46). In the case of cobra venom toxins, the order of elution of the six cardiotoxins supports the hypothesis that the mechanism of action is related to hydrophobic interactions with the phospholipids in the membrane. 

Whimsically, she thought of Cleopatra, an asp clasped to her bosom. Except in Trix s case, the snake was in miniature, a delicate silver body coiled between her breasts, its smooth cobra s head still cool against her skin. Almost, but not quite, as cool as her. 

MTLP-1 (= Muscarinic toxin-like protein)] (polypeptide) J raja kaouthia (cobra snake) mACh-R ligand - M3 (Methylscopolamine displacement) (3) [amino acid sequence homology to MTLP-2 from cobra mamba toxins MT1 MT4]... 

Ten per cent of the snakes in the world, about 300 different species, are poisonous, and snakes are an important source of natural toxins. Poisonous snakes belong primarily to certain groups, such as that including the mamba and cobra, the vipers, and the sea snakes and another group that includes the boomslang and the mangrove. 

This is called "milking the snake", and is by far the easiest way to do it.I would not suggest using this method on cobras, though, because the slightest little scratch can wipe you out, I would suggest a nice little rattlesnake or coral snake. Just figured I d let you know. 

Studies on the Status of Arginine Residues in Phospholipase A2 from Naja naja atra (Taiwan cobra) snake... 

Suppose the victim was ty a ahrmless snake and not bitten ty a cobra and anti-venom was injected, how much anti-venom would need to be injected to cause death ... 

Sea snakes (family Hydrophiidae) are close relatives of the cobra, coral, and other snakes belonging to the... 

Acetylcholine receptors provide another target for chemicals with neurotoxic potential most of these act as antagonists. o-Tubocurarine is the classical nicotinic receptor antagonist, and curare-like substances are found in elapid and hydrophid snakes (a-neuro-toxins) such as cobra (a-cobratoxin) and krait... 

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