Animal-free testing of lethal neurotoxins
October 2019
School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, St. Lucia, Australia
The approach enables screening of venoms including snake venoms for the development of anti-venoms and drugs. The binding to these probes is measured by analysing changes in the light reflected back. The technology relies on the design of synthetic peptides that correspond to neuronal receptors mediating muscle contraction. Venoms bind to the synthetic peptides more vigorously than they do to human nerve receptors. This method for testing of paralytic neurotoxins uses optical probes dipped into a solution containing the venoms.
A taxon-specific and high-throughput method for measuring ligand binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Bryan Fry
Added on: 04-30-2020
[1] https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/10/600[2] https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2019/10/scientists-invent-animal-free-testing-of-lethal-neurotoxins
