Several genera of cyanobacteria are able to produce toxins that may be accessible for use as chemical warfare agents. Important toxins include those that primarily affect the liver, such as microcystins, nodularins, and cylindrospermopsin. Important toxins that primarily affect the nervous system ...
Ergot alkaloids are known to affect the nervous system and to be vasoconstrictors. Historically, ingestion of contaminated grain, particularly rye, has been implicated in epidemics of both gangrenous and convulsive ergotism (St. Anthony's fire), although such epidemics no longer occur in humans du...
Bacterial products can act on neurons to alter signaling and function. In the present study, we found that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons are enriched for ANTXR2, the high-affinity receptor for anthrax toxins. Anthrax toxins are composed of p
BPA or bisphenol-A is a building block of plastic, the most convenient food storage material. It is also often used in the lining of food and beverage containers. BPAs can adversely affect our health, causing reproduction problems and increased risks of breast and prostate cancers in a fetus...
The peptide is derived from the intracellular processing of the antigenic protein. Peptide sequences from protein antigens that can stimulate the activity of T-cells via presentation on MHC class II molecules are generally referred to as “T-cell epitopes”. Such T-cell epitopes are any amino ...
The venom of the spider Phoneutria nigriventer contains a mixture of toxins that affect ion channel function, decreasing neuronal cell death and ameliorating neurotransmission alterations. The PhTx3-1 toxin is capable of blocking transient outward K+ currents (KvIA), improving ...
A person's state of sleep also seems to affect how CSF navigates the maze of billions of neurons to remove waste. Sleep synchronizes neurons, sending high-energy waves of charged particles through the fluid between cells. This helps move CSF into these spaces. That said, recently, there have...
Fungal toxins include the aflatoxins that can contaminate cereals; they are associated with chronic liver disease and liver cancer. All venoms are diverse mixtures of different toxins, so the effects in humans can be complex and variable [1]. Scorpion venoms contain many toxins that affect ion ...
1), inducing an active conformation that facilitates the influx of Na+ ions into cells, resulting in repetitive action potential firing and disruption of ion balance. In addition to activating the sodium channel, CTXs have also been demonstrated to partially inhibit the voltage-gated potassium ...
TE-671 cells, and assessed peptide activity in CHO cells expressing NaV1.7 and the NaVβ1-β4 subunits. However, although successful transfection with β subunits was confirmed by the presence of the transfection marker GFP, ExTxA did not affect inactivation of NaV1.7-mediated currents in the ...