Neutralisation of the clotting activity of Australian snake venoms by snake plasma
A Smith1, L R Marshall, P J Mirtschin
1Haematology Department, Women's and Children's Pathology, King Edward Memorial/Princess Margaret Hospitals, Bagot Rd., WA 6008, Subiaco, Australia.
Abstract:
Plasmas from Pseudonaja textilis and Notechis scutatus were tested in vitro for their ability to neutralise the procoagulant activity, in human plasma, of nine elapid venoms. Pseudonaja textilis plasma inhibited the procoagulant activity of all Pseudonaja species and in one taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus). However there was no inhibitory activity against any from the Notechis species. Plasma from Notechis scutatus exhibited no inhibitory activity against any Notechis species, including self, only weak inhibition against the Pseudonaja species and, again, total inhibition of Oxyuranus scutellatus. Thus, protection of a species from the effects of its own venom does not appear to be universal.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Introduction to Hemostasis
The three phases of hemostasis involve many clotting factors present in plasma and several substances released by platelets and injured tissue cells. It is a fast, localized, and...
Coagulation
During the coagulation phase, clotting factors, or procoagulants, play a vital role in initiating and progressing the coagulation cascade. This cascade is a series of reactions...


