Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Design of aptamers against venom protein of Trimeresurus erythrurus and its validation: An alternative approach for anti-snake venom |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Robin Doley, Tezpur University, Assam |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | doley@tezu.ernet.in |
Equipments : | Multi reader spectrophotometer |
Details
Executive Summary : | Researchers have developed aptamers that can neutralize the enzymatic, anti-coagulant, and other biochemical activities of Daboxin P, a PLA2 enzyme in Daboia russelli venom. This suggests that designing and synthesizing aptamers against snake venom proteins could be an alternative to antivenoms. The study aims to design aptamer-based venom protein inhibitors that have high specificity and do not elicit an immune response. The study found significant variation in venom composition among green pit vipers from north and northeastern India. The crude venom of these species correlates with pseudo-procoagulant effects on the haemostatic system, causing consumptive coagulopathy in patients bitten by green pit vipers. Polyvalent antivenom, used for treating snakebite patients, showed poor efficacy in neutralizing crude venom toxins. Western blot analysis showed that proteins of 27-36 kDa were not recognized by polyvalent antivenom.
The objective of the proposal is to identify non-immunodepleted proteins and design aptamers against them for use as inhibitors. Aptamers are a new class of nucleic acids molecules that are being used in biomedicine due to their ability to replace antibodies in various therapeutic and diagnostic fields. They are generated through an in vitro evolution process called Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), which may not be effective therapeutic aptamers. The proposed rational design aptamers target the pharmacologically important sites of the protein to be used as anti-snake venom molecules. |
Total Budget (INR): | 44,84,829 |
Organizations involved