Saturday, May 15, 2010

Brazilians Patent Bee Anti-Venom

By Marcio Derbli, Com Ciência, 3/5/2010

Researchers from the Institute for Research in Immunology - National Institute of Science and Technology (iii-INCT) recorded the final of the first national patent bee antivenom in the world. Serum should start to be produced this year by Fundação Butantan after the final tests of homogeneity and certification by the National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA). The product will be distributed primarily to public hospitals.

Serum is the result of our doctoral researcher Keity Souza Santos, held at the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), under the guidance of biochemical Mario Palma, the Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Rio Claro (SP) and co-orientation of medical Fabio Castro, FMUSP. The product will be used in people who suffer attack by swarms of Apis mellifera bee species common in the country…

An estimated 15,000 attacks occurring bees per year in Brazil, causing about 140 deaths. "Despite the low-lethality explains Palma - the toxic shock caused by bee venom causes severe discomfort in the patient for about two weeks and can cause organ damage such as liver, kidney and heart." Poisoning Syndrome is a neglected disease, so it is very important to develop specific treatments, according Keity…

To develop the antidote, the researchers did a survey of the structure and function of the 134 proteins in bee venom. Knowing the mechanisms of action they have arrived in serum that neutralizes the toxic action of the venom…

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