News tagged with neurotoxins

Toxic mercury, accumulating in the Arctic, springs from a hidden source

(Phys.org) -- Environmental scientists at Harvard have discovered that the Arctic accumulation of mercury, a toxic element, is caused by both atmospheric forces and the flow of circumpolar rivers that carry ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created May 21, 2012 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New paper examines poison resistance in snakes around the world

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study by University of Notre Dame biologist Michael Pfrender and a team of researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno; Utah State University; and the University of Virginia suggests ...

Biology / Evolution

created Mar 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Snakes around world evolve along similar path of poison resistance say biologists

(PhysOrg.com) -- Utah State University biologists have long studied varied species of North American garter snakes that have evolved an amazing resistance to a deadly neurotoxin found in innocuous-looking ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Mar 05, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Neurons from stem cells could replace mice in botulinum test

(PhysOrg.com) -- Using lab-grown human neurons, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have devised an effective assay for detecting botulinum neurotoxin, the agent widely used to cosmetically smooth the wrinkles ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Feb 06, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Bacterial genome may hold answers to mercury mystery

A newly sequenced bacterial genome from a team led by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory could contain clues as to how microorganisms produce a highly toxic form of mercury.

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Apr 08, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Iron stimulates blooms of toxin-producing algae in open ocean, study finds

(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of marine scientists has found that toxin-producing algae once thought to be limited to coastal waters are also common in the open ocean, where the addition of iron from natural or ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Nov 08, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (8) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Why mercury is more dangerous in oceans

Even though freshwater concentrations of mercury are far greater than those found in seawater, it's the saltwater fish like tuna, mackerel and shark that end up posing a more serious health threat to humans ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Jun 27, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (8) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Discovery may revolutionize cooking oil production

A Queen's University chemistry professor has invented a special solvent that may make cooking oil production more environmentally friendly.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Mar 29, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (10) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Ocean geo-engineering produces toxic blooms of plankton

(PhysOrg.com) -- New research led by The University of Western Ontario warns of the potential for ecological harm caused by the fertilization of oceanic waters with the trace element iron. This fertilization ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 15, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (10) | comments 9 | with audio podcast

Study says lead may be the culprit in ADHD

ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is among the costliest of behavioral disorders. Its combination of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity leads to accidental injuries, school failure, substance abuse, ...

Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

created Jan 28, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Genetic analysis reveals secrets of scorpion venom

Transcriptomic tests have uncovered the protein composition of venom from the Scorpiops jendeki scorpion. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Genomics have carried out the first ever venom analysis in this arach ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Jul 01, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (5) | comments 0

Cone snail venom controls pain

Components of the venom from marine cone snails can block the transmission of signals between nerve cells in minute quantities. This makes them potentially suitable for use as a novel analgesic. Researchers ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Apr 04, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Manganese concentrations higher in residential neighborhoods than industrial sites, varies by region

In residential neighborhoods near manufacturing industries, a breath of air may be more hazardous than refreshing depending on the location, finds a recent study involving a Kansas State University geologist.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Mar 07, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

Aquatic ecologist studies silent killer of bald eagles

(PhysOrg.com) -- Something is killing American bald eagles, and Susan Wilde is determined to find out what. An assistant professor in the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, ...

Biology / Ecology

created Feb 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Molding the business end of neurotoxins

For snakes, spiders, and other venomous creatures, the "business end," or active part, of a toxin is the area on the surface of a protein that is most likely to undergo rapid evolution in response to environmental constraints, ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Neurotoxin

A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells (neurons), usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue. Bungarotoxin, which is considered a neurotoxin, has its effect at the motor end plate.

For more information about Neurotoxin, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.