Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor (LTNF), isolated from opossum with having molecular weight 63 kDa, is a potent antidote for animal, plant, and bacterial toxins. This communication deals with the identification of a small fragment of LTNF eliciting the anti-lethal activity of animal, plant, and bacterial toxins when tested in mice. Purified LTNF was treated with trypsin to cause fragmentation at the arginine and lysine sites. The fragments were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and were tested against anti-LTNF for binding affinity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent test (ELISA). The fragment showing the most binding to anti-LTNF was sequenced. Synthetic peptides consisting of 15 and 10 amino acids from the N-terminal were constructed and designated as LT-15, with amino acid sequence Leu-Lys-Ala-Met-Asp-Pro-Thr-Pro-Pro-Leu-Trp-Ile-Lys-Thr-Glu, and LT-10, with sequence Leu-Lys-Ala-Met-Asp-Pro-Thr-Pro-Pro-Leu. Death due to intramuscular (IM) injection of predetermined lethal doses of toxins derived from animal, plant, and bacteria was prevented treating the mice with synthetic peptides LT-15 and LT-10. The lethality was inhibited when the treatment was given before or after the toxin injection. Synthetic LTNF can be made in abundance and should become a universal therapy against intoxication caused by animal, plant, and bacteria

Cancer cell inhibitors, named Atroporin and Kaotree, having molecular weights of 35 kDa and 6 kDa have been isolated from the venoms of Crotalus atrox and Naja naja kaouthia, respectively, by fractionation on high pressure liquid chromatography. The purified Atroporin and Kaotree showed killing effects on various types of human (breast, colon, liver, ovary, etc.) and animal cancer cells in concentrations as low as 0.5µg/ml, and having no effect on normal mouse kidney, liver, spleen, and erythrocytes up to 5.0µg/ml. Both Atroporin and Kaotree prevent the formation of ascitic tumors caused by myeloma cells in Balb/C mice. In addition, both Atroporin and Kaotree showed regression of ascitic tumors formed by myeloma cells. Atroporin and Kaotree complement each other, as in combination they showed elevated anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo systems. However, Atroporin and Kaotree are immunologically distinct proteins showing no cross reactivity. Atroporin and Kaotree, individually or in combination, have the potential for cancer biotherapy

Currently, the use of antivenoms is the only available treatment for envenomation caused by venomous animals namely, snake, scorpion, spider, tick and jelly fish. Antivenoms are generally produced in large animals, mostly in horses. A large percentage of the population is allergic to horse proteins. Several animals are known to be resistant to snakebites and the antihemorrhagic and anti-lethal components have been isolated from sera of opossum, mongoose, meerkat and hedgehog, as well as from venomous and non-venomous snakes. Anti-lethal factor named Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor (LTNF) has been isolated in purity from opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The molecular weight of LTNF is 63 kDa, and it does not form precipitation with venoms or toxins by immunodiffusion. Death due to intraperitoneal (IP) injection of a predetermined lethal dose of venom from major families of snakes, for instance Crotalidae, Elapidae, Viperidae and Hydrophiidae, is prevented in mice by subsequent IP inoculation of LTNF. Furthermore, LTNF neutralizes the lethality of scorpion and bee venoms and toxins from various animals, plants and bacteria. Thus, natural LTNF from opossum serum has potential as a universal therapy for envenomation caused by animals, plants and bacteria

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Adeno-associated type 1 parvovirus (AAV) was detected in the kidneys and lungs of fetuses and newborns, when pregnant mice were injected subcutaneously with AAV type 1 and murine adenovirus as a helper virus. These findings clearly indicate that transplacental infection with AAV in rodents has been achieved.