This bug could help prevent a heart attack

"Driven by hundreds of millions of years of evolution, ticks have developed very potent and specific molecules that stop the blood from clotting and enable their blood-feeding lifestyle and survival"

The Straits Times, September 12, 2009

The little blood-sucker that can save lives

Scientists have replicated an anti-clotting chemical produced by ticks which could slash the risk of heart attacks. Read more here

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1211798/Little-blood-sucker-save-lives.html

Double Duty For Eggshell Proteins

Eggshells are chemical fortresses for developing animals—they protect against mechanical stress and bacterial invaders. Now, an international team led by Suresh Valiyaveetil of the National University of Singapore demonstrates how a key protein in turtle eggshells helps perform these tasks

Chemical and Engineering News 86: 40-41, 2008.

Clogged artery? Ticks might do the trick

Two NUS researchers Prof R. Manjunatha Kini and Mr Koh Cho Yeow, Department of Biological Sciences, together with a team of international scientists, found a substance, called variegin, in the saliva of European ticks which stops blood from clotting. The novel protein has potential to prevent heart attack or stroke arising from a clogged artery.

The Straits Times, 31 December 2007, Home Section, pH3

Journal Cover Page

Koh, C. Y., Kazimirova, M., Trimnell, A., Takac, P., Labuda, M., Nuttall, P. and Kini, R. M. : Variegin, a novel fast and tight binding thrombin inhibitor from the tropical bont tick. J. Biol. Chem., 282 , 29101-29113, 2007.

Common toxin in krait, viper, cobra venom: Expert

Challenging the existing theories on serpentine evolution, two Karnataka scientists and their US collaborator have discovered that krait and cobra toxins share common ingredients with viper poison.The research suggests all three may have evolved at the same period.

Deccan Herald, 25 December 2007

Snake venom production varies with prey

An NUS research team led by Prof R. Manjunatha Kini, Dept of Biological Sciences, had shown that the type of venom produced by poisonous snakes depends directly on their prey. Researchers hope that the findings could lead to the discovery of potent therapeutic drugs in the future.

The Straits Times, 29 September 2007, pS12 

Deadly venom's saving grace

ProTherapeutics, a newly established local drug development company is working on a series of drugs including a breakthrough painkiller based on snake venom.

The Straits Times, 15 April 2005

RM Kini- One of the most cited authors in toxin research

Citation of a published work is one of the parameters considered in the analysis of relevance and importance of scientific contributions.

Source: Toxicon 44 (2004) 345–359