The results of our project, venomics of Vipera a. ammodytes snake, were presented to the international scientific audience. The major goals of the project were to describe all components of the Vipera a. ammodytes venom that effect haemostatic system in men. We have evaluated the potential of individual components of the venom that interfere with platelet aggregation, coagulation cascade or fibrinolysis to become new drug lead candidates for diagnosis and treatment of thromboembolic diseases. In this context, the most promising polypeptides have been cloned to enable preparation of larger quantities of recombinant proteins for further research.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 26438695This doctoral thesis aimed in systematic, proteomic and pharmacological, analysis of the hemmostatically active components of V. a. ammodytes venom in order to discover components with potential to become new drug candidates to be used for regulation of hemostasis and/or diagnosis of hemostatic disturbances in men.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 271845120Snake venoms are a rich source of proteins that act on a variety of physiological systems in mammals. Frequently, hemostatic and nervous systems are targeted by snake venom components, also in the case of the nosehorned viper (Vipera a. ammodytes Vaa) venom. This venom causes severe clotting disorders and hemorrhage in human. In an attempt to discover innovative procedures and drugs to treat or diagnose hemostatic disorders in man, the venom has been analysed systematically for its haemostaticallyactive components. In a proteomic approach, proteins that affect integrity of blood vessels, activate or inhibit distinct steps in platelet aggregation and blood coagulation process have been detected and characterized. In our survey we separated the venom in 208 discrete fractions and, using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, demonstrated that they contain proteins belonging to 13 different families. Among these we identified haemorrhagic proteases, as well as inhibitors of platelet aggregation and agglutination, acting on different platelet receptors and/or their ligands. We identified also components that affect blood coagulation, either activating different steps of this process or inhibiting it. Several more abundant haemostaticallyactive proteins have already been thoroughly described on the molecular level. To comprehensively characterize also those only scarcely present in the venom we constructed Vaa venom gland cDNA library, from which we have been isolating specific nucleotide sequences, cloning them and preparing recombinant venom proteins for further studies.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 27093031Due to the conspicuous results in the study of haemostasis and haemostasisrelated diseases we were invited to give an interview for a prominent American journal from this field "Circulation". In the interview IK described achievements of the group in the research of the haemostasisaffecting components in snake venom. He explained the purpose and goals of these studies and gave a projection of the future activities of the group.
F.21 Development of new health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 25997607In higher molecular mass fractions of the nosehorned viper venom, after gel filtration, we have determined several haemostatically active components. We have isolated enzymatic components (metalloproteinases, serine proteinases and phospholipases A2) and nonenzymatic components (disintegrins and C-type lectin-like proteins). Metalloproteinases and serine proteinases are mostly fibrinogenolytic. We have found a factor X activating serine proteinase and an anticoagulant serine proteinase. We have also identified C-type lectin-like proteins and disintegrins, which have inhibited platelet aggregation. From high molecular mass fraction after gel filtration of the nosehorned viper venom, we have isolated nonhemorrhagic metalloproteinase VaF2 in homogeneous form with αfibrinogenolytic activity.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 36689157