Vampire Bats: Unlocking Stroke Treatment Secrets

how can vampire bats help us with stroke treatment

Vampire bats have a well-known trick for getting the most blood out of their victims: their saliva contains an enzyme called desmoteplase, or DSPA, which thins the blood and helps it flow more freely. This same enzyme could be used to break up the blood clots in the brain that cause strokes. During an ischemic stroke, blood clots block the supply of blood to the brain, causing paralysis, cognitive deficits, and speech problems. Researchers have found that DSPA is more active than the currently FDA-approved clot-busting drug rt-PA when exposed to fibrin, an insoluble protein that makes up the framework of blood clots. This means that DSPA could be administered up to nine hours after a stroke, giving patients a better chance of survival.

Characteristics Values
Saliva contains Enzyme called desmoteplase or DSPA
DSPA function Thins blood so it flows more freely
DSPA compared to tPA Does not act on brain receptors that promote brain damage
DSPA compared to tPA Can be administered up to 9 hours after stroke
DSPA compared to tPA Causes less bleeding in the brain
DSPA compared to tPA Does not increase the risk of intracranial bleeding

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The enzyme in vampire bat saliva, DSPA, is similar to t-PA, a drug used to treat strokes

The enzyme in vampire bat saliva, DSPA (or "desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator"), is similar to t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator), a drug used to treat strokes. DSPA is a potent clot-busting substance that could help a greater number of stroke patients than current medications. It works by targeting fibrin, a protein that forms the scaffold or structure of blood clots.

The similarity between DSPA and t-PA is crucial for stroke treatment. Currently, t-PA is the only approved agent for treating acute ischemic strokes, which account for about 87% of strokes in Americans. However, t-PA must be administered within three hours of stroke onset due to the risk of brain damage, and only a small percentage of patients receive it in time.

DSPA, on the other hand, has been found to be more active than t-PA when exposed to fibrin. Additionally, it does not act upon two brain receptors known to promote brain damage. This means that DSPA could be administered up to nine hours after a stroke, providing a much larger treatment window and potentially helping a greater number of patients.

The potential benefits of DSPA in stroke treatment have led to ongoing human trials in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Researchers are optimistic that this vampire bat-derived compound may offer improved outcomes for stroke sufferers, giving them hope for a better chance of recovery.

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DSPA has been found to cause less bleeding in the brain than t-PA

Vampire bats' saliva contains an enzyme called DSPA (desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator) that prevents blood from clotting, allowing them to feed on blood. DSPA is similar to t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator), a drug used to treat strokes. However, DSPA has been found to cause less bleeding in the brain than t-PA.

DSPA has a unique mechanism of action that makes it more targeted and effective than t-PA. It only activates in the presence of a blood clot, specifically targeting fibrin, a protein that forms the structure of the clot. This means that DSPA does not affect the rest of the body's clotting system, reducing the risk of intracranial bleeding. In contrast, t-PA must be administered within three hours of a stroke, as it can cause brain damage if given later.

Studies in mice have shown that DSPA-treated mice had fewer damaged neurons than those treated with t-PA. This suggests that DSPA may offer advantages over t-PA in stroke treatment, as it causes less bleeding in the brain and can be administered up to nine hours after a stroke. Human trials of DSPA are currently underway to further assess its safety and efficacy.

The extended treatment window and reduced bleeding risk of DSPA offer hope for improving stroke treatment and patient outcomes. Further research is needed to confirm the benefits of DSPA over t-PA and to optimize its dosage and administration.

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DSPA can be administered up to nine hours after a stroke, whereas t-PA must be given within three hours

Vampire bats have long been known for their ability to feed on blood without causing it to clot. This is due to an enzyme in their saliva called desmoteplase, or DSPA, which acts as a potent clot-busting substance. The discovery of DSPA has led to exciting developments in the field of stroke treatment, as it offers a potential alternative to the currently approved clot-busting drug, rt-PA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) , which carries a higher risk of brain damage and must be administered within three hours of a stroke.

The benefits of DSPA over rt-PA are significant. Firstly, DSPA has been found to be more active than rt-PA when exposed to fibrin, the protein that forms the structure of blood clots. This means it can effectively dissolve clots without increasing the risk of intracranial bleeding. Additionally, DSPA does not act upon two brain receptors known to promote brain damage, making it a safer option for stroke treatment.

The extended treatment window offered by DSPA is a crucial advantage. While rt-PA must be administered within three hours of stroke onset, DSPA has been shown in studies to be effective even when given up to nine hours after the onset of stroke symptoms. This extended time frame provides a much-needed margin for patients who may not seek medical care immediately or arrive at the hospital outside the critical three-hour window for rt-PA administration.

The DIAS trial (Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke) demonstrated the effectiveness of desmoteplase in preventing brain damage when administered between three and nine hours after the onset of symptoms. This was further supported by the DEDAS study (Dose Escalation study of Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke), which aimed to identify the appropriate dosage and effectiveness of the drug. These studies have provided compelling evidence that DSPA can be safely and effectively used to treat acute ischemic strokes, even beyond the narrow three-hour window currently available with rt-PA.

The impact of these findings cannot be overstated. By extending the treatment window and offering a safer alternative to rt-PA, DSPA has the potential to benefit a larger number of stroke patients, especially those in rural areas who may have limited access to immediate medical care. Furthermore, the ability to safely restore blood flow to the brain and reduce the risk of long-term disabilities associated with stroke is a significant advancement in stroke treatment.

medshun

DSPA does not act on two brain receptors known to promote brain damage

Vampire bat saliva contains an enzyme called desmoteplase, or DSPA, which thins the blood of its victims, allowing it to flow more freely. This is particularly useful in treating strokes, as it can break up the blood clots in the brain that cause them.

DSPA was first discovered in 2003, but doctors are only now in the process of developing a drug from it. The first human study of the compound, conducted in 2006, showed that the medication was safe and well-tolerated by recipients. Now, a new national study will determine whether the drug has any clinical benefit for stroke patients.

DSPA is similar to an enzyme called t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator) that is currently used to treat strokes. However, DSPA has been found to cause less bleeding in the brain as it dissolves the clot. This is because it is only active in the presence of a clot and targets fibrin, a protein that forms the structure of the clot.

Additionally, DSPA does not act on two brain receptors known to promote brain damage, as t-PA does. This means that DSPA could be administered up to nine hours after a stroke, as opposed to the three-hour window for t-PA, without causing adverse effects. This extended time window could give acute stroke victims hope for a better outcome and allow doctors more time to treat stroke symptoms.

In conclusion, the substance found in vampire bat saliva, DSPA, has the potential to be a promising treatment for strokes due to its ability to dissolve blood clots without causing brain damage or increasing the risk of intracranial bleeding. Further research and human trials are currently underway to assess the safety and efficacy of DSPA in stroke treatment.

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DSPA is a genetically engineered version of a blood clot-dissolving protein

Vampire bats have a well-known enzyme called desmoteplase, or DSPA, in their saliva that thins their victims' blood and helps it flow more freely. This is particularly useful for the bats as they feed on blood without the blood clotting. This is great news for stroke sufferers as DSPA may also be used to break up the blood clots in the brain that cause strokes.

Desmoteplase is a drug that has been developed by Paion, a Germany-based company, by isolating the protein from the saliva of the South American vampire bat. The drug is being tested in more than 20 hospitals in the U.S. and Europe.

The DIAS trial (Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke) showed that the drug was effective in preventing brain damage from a stroke if administered between three and nine hours after symptoms began. This is a significant improvement on the current treatment window of three hours for the drug t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator).

The DEDAS (Dose Escalation study of Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke) study is also underway to identify the appropriate dosage and effectiveness of the drug.

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Frequently asked questions

Vampire bats' saliva contains an enzyme called desmoteplase or DSPA, which thins the blood of their victims and helps it flow more freely. This enzyme can be used to dissolve blood clots in the brain that cause strokes.

The current treatment for strokes, rt-PA, must be administered within three hours of a stroke occurring, as it can cause brain damage if given later. DSPA, on the other hand, can be administered up to nine hours after a stroke and does not act upon two brain receptors known to promote brain damage.

Researchers compared the effect of DSPA to that of rt-PA by injecting the brains of mice with both substances. They found that DSPA attacked fibrin, an insoluble protein that makes up the framework of blood clots, but did not act upon two brain receptors known to promote brain damage.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Europe and the United States, and the current treatment must be administered within three hours of stroke onset, limiting the number of patients who can benefit from it. DSPA could extend the time window for treatment, giving hope for a better outcome to acute stroke victims and reducing the burden of long-term disabilities.

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