DSPA-ALPHA - PROPERTIES OF THE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATORS OF THE VAMPIRE BAT DESMODUS-ROTUNDUS

The saliva of the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus contains a family of potent plasminogen activators, which were named DSPAs after their original source (Desmodus salivary plasminogen activators), The DSPAs share a high structural homology with t-PA, Four different variants of DSPA have been discovered, called DSPA alpha(1), alpha(2), beta and gamma, out of which, for its unique thrombolytic properties, DSPA alpha(1) has been selected for further development, It has a high potential to develop into a third generation thrombolytic drug. DSPA alpha(1) is a protein with high thrombolytic potency and efficacy, Unlike all other plasminogen activators currently in use, it is almost completely fibrin specific, Furthermore, its prolonged half-life seems to warrant single bolus administration, Above all, recanalization with DSPA alpha(1) seems to occur more rapidly and more completely and, unlike with other plasminogen activators, is sustained over prolonged time periods, Despite being a non human protein its antigenicity is low and only repeated administrations of the substance in short time intervals may non consistently produce low titers of nan neutralizing antibodies, The favorable thrombolytic profile of DSPA alpha(1) warrants studying in future thrombolytic trials.