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US 2006/0217302 A1Published application
Paralytic peptide for use in neuromuscular therapy
AssigneeBioProspecting NB Inc.
InventorsJohn Stewart, Bradley Steeves, Karl Vernes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a low molecular weight peptide (or suite of related peptides) isolated from the submaxiliary saliva glands of shrews of the species Blarina as a paralytic agent. This novel paralytic agent is useful as a neuromuscular blocker and analgesic.
Claims28
An isolated shrew paralytic peptide having a molecular weight of about 6000 Da as measured by SDS-PAGE.
An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence:
- (a) DCSQDCAACS ILARPAELNT ETCILECAGK LSSNDTEGGL CKEFLHPSKV DLPR (SEQ ID NO:1);
- or
- (b) DCSQDCAACS ILARPAELNT ETCILECEGK LSSNDTEGGL CKEFLHPSKV DLPR (SEQ ID NO:2).
A method of determining the potency of a paralytic agent, comprising:
- administering the paralytic agent to a mealworm or other insect;
- determining the time until onset of paralysis and/or the duration of paralysis;
- wherein the time for onset of paralysis is inversely proportional to the strength of the paralytic agent and the duration of paralysis is proportional to the strength of the paralytic agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.