Toxins and Drug Discovery

Crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus and Crotoxin-Related Proteins: Structure and Function Relationship.- Dexamethasone Antagonizes Myotoxic and Inflammatory Effects Induced by Bothrops Snake Venoms.- Inflammatory Action of Secretory PLA2 from Snake Venoms.- Natural Inhibitors of Snake Venom Metallopeptidases.- Production and Utilization of Snake Antivenoms in South America.- Snake Venom Components as Basis for Biologically Active Synthetic Peptides.- Antiproliferative Effects of Snake Venom Phospholipases A2 and Their Perspectives for Cancer Treatment.- Conotoxins and Drug Discovery with Special Reference to Hainan Species.- Conotoxins as Tools in Research on Nicotinic Receptors.- Random Peptide Library for Ligand and Drug Discovery.- Synthetic Peptides and Drug Discovery.- Bee Venom and Pain.- L-Amino Acid Oxidase from Venoms.- Myotoxin Inhibitors.- Computational Approaches for Animal Toxins to Aid Drug Discovery.- Toad Poison and Drug Discovery.- Venoms as Sources of Novel Anti-parasitic Agents.- Intriguing Cystine-Knot Miniproteins in Drug Design and Therapeutics.- Intriguing Cystine-Knot Miniproteins in Drug Design and Therapeutics

Prof P. Gopalakrishnakone is a world leader in the characterization of the structure and function of animal and plant toxins and chemical poisons, which contain highly specific and biologically active components. He has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge regarding the anatomy of snake venom glands and the development of drug candidates from animal toxins.  Prof Gopal pioneered the development of the NUS Venom and Toxin Research Programme, which has put NUS at the forefront of toxin research internationally.  The technology platform that has been built over the years under the Venom and Toxin Research Programme, coupled with its extensive library of protein and peptides, has enabled Prof Gopal and his team to complete the discovery process of lead candidates in time and to transfer valuable supplementary information to the next discovery steps involving profiling and optimization of lead candidates.  The objective is to characterize the venom components and natural toxins at a molecular level and identify promising compounds amenable to the development of novel human therapeutics.  Prof Gopal's lab has identified over twenty peptides with unique medical indications from venom-based proteins with some already under development as therapeutics.

Prof Gopal's research studies includes structure function studies (toxin detection, biosensors, antitoxins and neutralization factors), toxicogenomics and expression studies,  antimicrobial peptides from venoms and toxins and PLA2 inhibitors as potential drug candidate for inflammatory diseases.  The techniques he employs include quantum dots to toxinology, computational biology, microarrays and protein chips. He has patented analgesic peptide, anti inflammatory peptide as well as anti rheumatoid arthritis peptides. He is exploring various possibilities of delivery systems for these peptides to target sites and administration of these peptides orally, transdermally, ocular and injections.

Prof Gopal has