Pneumococcus Hemotoxin

[Cleopatra the Royal]

Hi,

I've been researching about Pneumococcus Hemotoxins recently but have only managed to turn over a few facts:

• Only kills Rabbits, Guinea pigs, Sheep and Humans
• Cholesterin is the only antidote
• Subdevision of Hemolytic Endotoxin (not secreted in a soluble form)

Firstly, why does it only affect the mentioned animals, as normally it is to do with prey items, but I can't see any venomous snake hunting sheep or humans.

Also, does anybody else know any other information about this?



Thanks a lot in advance,

Harry

[Cleopatra the Royal]

Sorry, is this not the right area for the question, or is it just a bit specialised?

Thanks for your time anyway.


Harry

[lizard queen]

sorry, i don't really get what your asking!

[Cleopatra the Royal]

Sorry!

First question was:

Why does Pneumococcus Hemotoxin only kill the red blood cells of humans, guinea pigs, rabbits and sheep?

Second was:

Does anybody else know anything else about Pneumococcus Hemotoxin?


If anybody's interested, now found:

• Must react with Oxygen to work
• Possesses antigenic properties

Thanks, and sorry about the confusion



Harry

[lizard queen]

i know the early work was only using the corpuscles of those animals. For more specific information you should research the species of bacteria. Their actions varied from what I remember.
A question that comes to mind, is why do yo want to know? lol!

[Cleopatra the Royal]

I'm interested in herpatology and toxicology and have been trying to probe deeper into Toxicology recently.

It also kind of gives me a jumpstart for Herpatology in later life, but its mainly because thats what I'm interested in.


Thanks

Harry

[DavidR]

Pneumococcus hemotoxin is produced by Pneumococcus bacteria, not by any kind of predatory reptile, so there is no predator/prey specificity. Toxins have highly specific targets, if these are not present then the toxin will have no effect on an organism, hence when Pneumococcus hemotoxin only effects the animals mentioned.

David.

[leecb0]

if you are really interested in toxicology may i recomend proberbly the best book you could have which has just been updated you can get it from amazon .the website not the place' its not cheap but worth every penny
its
HANDBOOK OF VENOMS AND TOXINS OF REPTILES
edited by Stephan. P. Mackessy