The Procurement of BioAnalyzers to Expedite and Enhance Services Provided by the National Natural Toxins Research Center

Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville TX

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Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Natural products have been a foundation of drug design, and snakes and other animal venoms have vast potential. Snake venoms have provided molecular probes that have been used to decipher numerous complex physiological and pathophysiological processes and have served as the starting point for developing several important classes of drugs. The venom and anti-venom research fields depend on access to reliable and reproducible venom-related resources developed by the National Natural Toxin Research Center (NNTRC). The NNTRC requires equipment and instrumentation for storing crude snake venoms, venom fractions, purified toxins, cloned products, snake and mice tissues, critical reagents (i.e., biochemical assays and reagents, antibodies, conjugated antibodies, and biological samples) used for diverse translational research. The equipment and instrumentation being requested, two ultra-low temperature freezers, a Bio-Plex 200 Multiplex Array System, a DxH 500 Hematology Analyzer, a Stago STA Compact Coagulation Analyzer, and a DM1000 LED upright microscope, in the proposal are ideally suited to support critical research for maintaining the biological samples for long-term storage, analyzing biochemical protein markers in a multiplex format that provide more information from less sample volume in less time than traditional immunoassay methods, determining the hematological variables and coagulation parameters for the characteristic hematological abnormalities observed in snake envenomation. The specific aims of the parent grant are to: 1. Operate the National Natural Toxins Research Center as a resource center that provides high- quality venom and products that support biological and biomedical research to national and international programs. 2. Develop and expand the collection of snakes, specialized services, and outreach programs to support the growth of venom-related research in the U.S. 3. Conduct a state-of-the-art applied research program to support the development of new venom- related research services. Access to this equipment and instruments will enable the NNTRC to fulfill its specific aims and allow researchers to make significant advances in the search for venom-derived therapeutics. RELEVANCE: Venom research is a diverse and multidisciplinary field that encompasses a range of scientific areas, including biochemistry, pharmacology, ecology, and conservation biology. It could lead to the discovery of new drugs, better antivenoms, and an improved understanding of venomous animals and their role in ecosystems. The resources of the NNTRC have been applied to research in a wide range of these disciplines, research that has been supported by multiple NIH I/C’s, the NSF, the Dept of Defense, and national and international research agencies.