LSM 4229: Therapeutic & Diagnostic Agents from Animal Toxins 💉🔬🐍Lecturers: Prof Kini RM
Workload: One of the better few LSM 4K already (content was lighter but more assignments!)
Assessments: Term Paper 1 - 500 words essay (10%) | CA1 - 2 Short answer questions (20%) | Term Paper 2 - 1500 words essay (20%) | Group Presentations (20%) | Final CA three short answer (0.5-0.75 page) and one essay (2 pages) questions (30%)
Term Paper 1: 9 / 10 (Percentile not given but we assume average was 8 marks)
CA1: I scored 15 / 20 (25th-75th: 11-16)
Term Paper 2: 12 / 20 (25th-75th: 16.25-18)
Expected Grade: B
Overall Grade: B+ (I was hoping it's at least a B+, though if not for the Term Paper 2, I was considering that I might have a chance of an A- at least T.T)
Initially, I just needed to clear a 4K and the reviews from seniors were very mixed. There was one senior's review who said they enjoy it whereas there were others who hated it. So, I just took a leap of faith and went into the module alone. Unlike the other modules, the prof believed in the benefits of 8am physical lectures so there were no webcasts or zoom ever. I almost gave up if not for seniors notes I got from Carousell. I ended up self-studying the module. Though, I actually started liking the content and also the flexibility of the course which was awesome and unique for a university module. The interesting thing is the freedom to choose what interests us and to study only what matters to us. The prof believed in learning and improving ourselves rather than following and just study for exams. He believed a lot in us being able to be better communicators. The cool thing is the Prof is actually very friendly and I enjoyed a chat with him when I went to consult him. This module wasn't super stressful compared to the rest. I will elaborate on what is it that will get you to doing well? Or at least, you won't be lost during this module.
These are the topics we covered (Total: 10 lectures):
Introduction (not examinable) ⇾ Sources of Toxins (not examinable) ⇾ Ach transmission ⇾ Ion Channels ⇾ Thrombosis & Hemostasis ⇾ Blood Pressure ⇾ Toxins to therapeutics ⇾ Toxins & Chemistry ⇾ Diagnostic Agents ⇾ Future Prospects 2021
For the CA1 (tested until Toxins & Chemistry = 8 Lectures out of 10). Initially, my friends and I were like how do we memorize so much content but actually, the key is to legit study smart. The prof doesn't expect us to cover a broad range but rather be able to articulate one in-depth. So he tries to make his questions very broad to ensure everyone has an equal share in being able to give their ideas on the paper. So, he would prefer a specific and in-depth essay on a particular thing to a student who covers a lot at the surface. One thing about this module is that CAs were all closed book (8am Face to face Handwritten Examinations) + Presentations is in the Lecture Theatre in front of your batch mates, Prof, and TAs).
The stuff they tested for CA1:
- Describe briefly the interaction of a toxin and its target protein (receptor OR ion channel OR enzyme OR intracellular target OR cancer). [10.0 marks]
My Answer (8 marks): Ion channels are transmembrane glycoproteins with water-filled pores. They are involved in establishing an electrochemical gradient between the extracellular layer and the intracellular compartments. Ligand-gated ion channels consist of cysteine loops while voltage-gated channels have 4 transmembrane domains, transmembrane segment 4 containing a voltage senor, pore between segments 5 & 6. Ion channel can physically be blocked by chlorotoxin produced by scorpions by restriction of ion flow by binding or as a gating modifier since the ion channel can be open, closed in a resting state, or inactive to allow for gradient recovery, though the specific mechanism is yet unknown.
*High selectivity and affinity to CL-ion channels which are particularly active in glioblastoma cells, ability to cross the Blood-brain barrier --> indicate the exact distribution of tumor cells. Radionuclide I-131 is then used to target the tumor cells.
Comment: Specific example that's why I had marks awarded. However, couldn't get full marks (Prof rarely gives but there are students who scored full marks, though he pointed out that perhaps I shortchanged myself in that Chlorotoxin does not have a known mechanism of action so, you realized I was only stating the possibilities. If I used an example that had a well-defined and well-researched interaction of the toxin with protein (main point of the question), perhaps, I would have scored better. You will realize that to have notes that are efficient - focus on a target and then a toxin. Go onto google to really research in-depth and come up with your own answers to memorize. The lecture notes only serve as a guide or catalogue for you to choose your targets or toxins if you are lost on what to search on. Find something that has already been well-researched on!
- Briefly comment on "Toxin to Therapeutics" with the focus on bradykinin-potentiating peptides OR disintegrins. Alternatively, you can choose to write a short note on any ONE anticoagulant OR procoagulant protein from snake venom. [10.0 marks]
My Answer (7 marks): Toxins have high selectivity, specificity, and high affinity for their target. Bradykinin-potentiating peptide produced by a Brazilian snake Bothrops Jararaca (BjBPP) which inhibits somatic Angiotensin-converting peptides (sACE) in short. bjBPP by evolution allows for target selection without bias so long as the snake kills its prey. BjBPP 9 isoforms, hydrolysis of C and N domains from Kalikrein-kinin system. BkBPP-9a forms the basis for captopril (medication for hypertension). BPP-5a and BPP-9a and BPP-10c have also introduced and their specific uses.
Comment: The moment I brought in the use of other isoforms and elaborated on each of them briefly, I have already diluted what I wanted to present on, so in that case, there was a loss in depth. Also, this called for more research to be done since the lecture notes did not provide super-specific information on an individual isoform. Hence, it is our job to do the search and bring it down to one isoform to talk about.
Student Presentations: We had to pick and lucky draw our group mates so, we can't choose. We were allowed to pick on another topic to do - We have to choose the target and the toxin to present on. Usually in this order of Introduction of the toxin (some gave a historical background of the research) ↠ Structure and function of the toxin ↠ Context of what it does (main topic) ↠ Mechanism of action ↠ Future prospects & limitations ↠ Conclusion. My group presented on Nemopilema Nomurai jellyfish venom for the treatment of Hepatic cellular carcinoma (Cancer). Also, if you are new to creating slides or wanna improve on a certain template, use this: PPT Templates to provide you with the base for your google slides/PPT, it really helped in giving a more aesthetic framework and it also matches the theme. Furthermore, the Prof will not say that it is compulsory to memorize and really present so there are many who looks at the screen and read off-script. However, towards the end, he did mention how he felt that we should push ourselves and when given the chance to present, really just memorize and present and engage the audience (so, you know what to do! Eye contact and memorize your script!!!). There is also a Question & Answer whereby class participation is also recorded so be prepared for a whole tonne of questions. To really gain the most from Q&A, it is when more than one person from the team is able to answer the same question. Meaning a question given will have answers from 2 or more teammates to substantiate and bring out their opinions. This shows team synergy and that no one is really overpowering or being left out in the Q&A session. So, help yourself, help your team. You can say you "don't know" cause the Prof understands also. We also tried to google on the spot for some of the answers.
Term Paper Topics: We had to do a lucky draw and will get two different pieces of paper with different targets printed (i.e. Cancer, Enzymes, Intracellular Targets, Receptors). SO, we then had to research on which toxin fits into the target we were assigned then we submit our choices on the FORUM (first come first serve) then can start writing. They gave a lot of leeways to choose the topics and also we were well informed of the datelines for the term paper. So, you can better plan when you wanna do it. There is turnitin also.
NUS mods stated no exam because this "Final" is on Week 13 (I think?) like the week before reading week.
Finals (Disclaimer: I didn't manage to record since I was tired after the exam. So, this is based on what I recall after 3 weeks! Take it with a pinch of salt, it the rough idea)
1. Role of phospholipase A2 or the diversity of nicotinic receptors derived from snake venoms
2. Role of venom chemistry & research
3. Focus on one target and how it can potentially be used as an alagesic.
4. Essay: Describe one of your classmates' presentation (that is not your group's presentation)
**Note: For all questions, there were a few variations and we can choose what we want to write. I only remembered the questions for those I chose to write about, so they are not an exact representation of the final questions.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN NOTES:
1. Find a toxin and its target
2. Chemistry and function: No. of amino acids, structures required
3. Mechanism of action
4. Case study
5. The use of the toxin (potential + limitation)
6. Conclusion (Future prospects / Evaluation)
I will go by lecture topic: Ach transmission (I choose alpha-bungarotoxin for nACHR receptors as a research & diagnostic tool / Melittin in honey bees for colorectal cancer / w-conotoxin (MVIIA) for toxins to therapeutics chapter / Calciseptine for Toxins & Chemistry lecture on proline technology. I tried to have toxins that could overlap so that I can optimize the questions I cover while memorizing only a few toxins. I was rather last minute in creating notes and memorizing hence, I forgo the chapters: Homeostasis, blood pressure
OVERALL: This module was legit okay despite the many assignments. The workload was actually the least intense since the tutorials were okay, I didn't take much from them. 10 lectures which are not webcasted so, there were no webcasts to watch. A rather relax module in terms of content but not the assessments. I would recommend if you are looking for a rather decent 4K that does not heavily rely on what you learn in the prerequisite module since this module is more like a stand-alone interest module on toxins. I like that you can personalize the learning to suit your interest and we had a lot of leeway in choosing what we want to study. Also, the Prof values learning, and no matter how late, he will always try to give each of us feedback on the work we do as a collective whole or for our individual reports. I felt that I really learn a lot and started to find this module rather interesting though, I am really bad at writing essays :-(
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