Snake venom metalloproteases are a major component in blood-poisoning

Question

Snake venom metalloproteases are a major component in blood-poisoning venoms, like those of vipers. Metalloproteases toxins may cause massive internal hemorrhaging and tissue damage around the bite site. The toxins, however, rely on zinc ions to function. Drugs used to treat heavy metal poisoning bind up  loose metal ions ; so, doctors have long wondered if those drugs could also starve the toxins of zinc. Casewell, a biomedical scientist, set out to find something easy to administer, stoking the dream of a portable snakebite pill. Casewell found that one particular drug called unithiol saved or extended the lives of mice injected with lethal doses of viper venom. The researchers didn’t give the mice actual pills – the capsules were too large for the small animals to swallow. But oral administration of liquid unithiol 15 minutes after venom injection delayed the death of mice compared with mice that didn’t get the drug, and even boosted the survival of some mice. For example, of the five mice injected with viper venom and given unithiol, two lived and three lasted from 12 to 21 hours, while those that didn’t get the drug died within four hours. Some clinical researchers stress that results for humans may not be the same. Secondly, oral treatment may do little for bites from snakes such as cobras whose toxins predominantly target nerves instead of blood. However, unithiol may be paired with other drugs that inhibit more of the major toxins in snake venom, creating a universal snakebite pill.   1 
 1. Which of the following, if true, would most tend to alleviate some researchers' concern that the results of unithiol testing on human snake bites may not be the same as those found in mice snake bites in the experiment?

A. Humans respond to unithiol faster than previously believed.
B. Humans respond to metal poisoning slower than mice do.
C. Humans respond to snake bites slower than previously believed.
D. Humans respond to most drugs similar to how mice respond to the same drugs.
E. Humans respond to oral medication slower than to intra-nervous medication.

2 
 2. The primary purpose of the passage is to discuss the

A. uses of a drug treating metal poisoning
B. different ways in which a pill used in one treatment can be used in another
C. necessity of a portable drug for blood-poisoning snake venoms
D. possibility of developing a portable snakebite pill by using a drug from another treatment
E. means by which a particular drug inhibits toxins in the blood

3 
 3. The author of the passage mentions “loose metal ions” (see highlighted text) in order to suggest how

A. metal poisoning spreads through them
B. metal poisoning can be treated by controlling them
C. a nerve is attacked if they are not bound
D. they are similar to metalloproteases toxins
E. drugs controlling them could inhibit metalloproteases toxins

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Dereno · Answer

1. Which of the following, if true, would most tend to alleviate some researchers' concern that the results of unithiol testing on human snake bites may not be the same as those found in mice snake bites in the experiment?

The concern for some researchers were : a) Are the humans same as mice ? B) is oral treatment effective especially for snakes like cobra which strikes the nerves rather than the skin.

A. Humans respond to unithiol faster than previously believed.

This option is wrong, as we are not concerned with the reaction timings of Unithiol in human beings.

B. Humans respond to metal poisoning slower than mice do.

This is also an irrelevant option, as the metal poisoning response rates of humans vs mice’s, is not a concern of debate.

C. Humans respond to snake bites slower than previously believed.

Humans responding to snake bites cannot be generalised and depending on various factors and bite site, like skin or nerve etc. This is completely irrelevant. Hence, wrong.

D. Humans respond to most drugs similar to how mice respond to the same drugs.

This addresses the researchers initial concern, if the humans respond to most drugs similar to how mice repsond to the same drugs. Then we can be sure, that the new drug could be effective. Hence, correct answer.

E. Humans respond to oral medication slower than to intra-nervous medications.

The rate of response can be slow or fast, we are concerned with the efficacy of the drug and not the response rates. Hence, wrong.

Option D

2. The primary purpose of the passage is to discuss the

A. uses of a drug treating metal poisoning.

This option is explained a bit to show how binding of toxins happens in treatment of heavy metal poisoning. Hence, wrong.

B. different ways in which a pill used in one treatment can be used in another.

The different ways can be either oral or intravenous, and it differs depending on how it’s given. This is not the primary purpose of the passage. Thus, Wrong.

C. necessity of a portable drug for blood-poisoning snake venoms.

We are not speaking about whether we need a portable drug or not, but a need for a universal pill that can be administered for all snakebites. Hence, Wrong.

D. possibility of developing a portable snakebite pill by using a drug from another treatment.

This is the primary purpose of the passage, as we study about casewell studies about Unithiol on mice, and how we can utilise the same drug as an oral pill for treating snakebites on humans. Hence, Correct answer.

E. means by which a particular drug inhibits toxins in the blood.

The passage is not mainly concerned with how a particular drug inhibits toxins in the blood. Hence, Wrong.

Option D

3. The author of the passage mentions “loose metal ions” (see highlighted text) in order to suggest how

A. metal poisoning spreads through them
B. metal poisoning can be treated by controlling them
C. a nerve is attacked if they are not bound
D. they are similar to metalloproteases toxins
 E. drugs controlling them could inhibit metalloproteases toxins.

The snake venom - metalloproteases is a major component in Blood poisoning. This toxin needs the help of Zinc ions to function.

As per the lines from the passage - “  Drugs used to treat heavy metal poisoning bind up  loose metal ions ; so, doctors have long wondered if those drugs could also starve the toxins of zinc “. If those drugs were capable to bind up with Zinc, then the toxin could become ineffective.

Option E

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Mind-map   
     
  To suggest that drugs treating metal poisoning may be used to create a snakebite pill (Portion 1)  
  To discuss the methodology and results of a drug’s testing (Portion 2)  
  To indicate that the drug may not be a cure-all but still helpful for snakebites (Portion 3)  
   
  = = = = = = = = = =

1.   Which of the following, if true, would most tend to alleviate some researchers' concern that the results of unithiol testing on human snake bites may not be the same as those found in mice snake bites in the experiment?  
   
 a.   Humans respond to unithiol faster than previously believed. 
 b.   Humans respond to metal poisoning slower than mice do. 
 c.   Humans respond to snake bites slower than previously believed. 
 d.    Humans respond to most drugs similar to how mice respond to the same drugs.  
 e.   Humans respond to oral medication slower than to intra-nervous medication. 
 
 Question Type: Inference 
 
  Explanation:   
 
 The second portion mentions that unithiol “delayed the death of mice compared with mice that didn’t get the drug, and even boosted the survival of some mice” and the third portion mentions that “Some clinical researchers stress that results for humans may not be the same”. The answer choice that strengthens the link between the experiment/its findings about mice’s response to unithiol and humans’ response to unithiol will alleviate the concern cited by the researchers. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in this context. 
 
 A. Trap. If humans respond to unithiol faster than previously believed, humans are likely to get faster results in metal positioning; however, it   does not necessarily suggest that unithiol is effective in controlling snake bites in humans  ; so, this answer choice does not alleviate some researchers' concern. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it strengthens the link between the experiment/its findings about mice’s response to unithiol and humans’ response to unithiol. Incorrect. 
 
 B. The researchers are concerned about human response to “snake bites” and   not to “metal poisoning”  ; so, the information that humans respond to metal poisoning slower than mice do is   just additional information and has no bearing   on the researchers’ concern. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it strengthens the link between the experiment/its findings about mice’s response to unithiol and humans’ response to unithiol. Incorrect. 
 
 C. Trap. If humans respond to snake bites slower than previously believed, it suggests that unithiol has more time to show its effect; however, it   does not necessarily suggest that unithiol is effective   in controlling snake bites in humans;   humans may not show any relief   even if unithiol has more time to control snake bites; so, this answer choice does not alleviate some researchers' concern. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it strengthens the link between the experiment/its findings about mice’s response to unithiol and humans’ response to unithiol. Incorrect. 
 
 D.  Correct . If humans respond to most drugs similar to how mice do, it suggests that   the effectiveness of unithiol in controlling snake bites in mice may also be expected in humans  ; such a suggestion strengthens the link between the experiment/its findings about mice’s response to unithiol and humans’ response to unithiol. 
 
 E. The researchers’ concern is that the results of unithiol testing on human snake bites may not be the same as those found in mice snake bites in the experiment; the researchers’ concern is   not about how the drug is administered  ; so, the information that humans respond to oral medication slower than to intra-nervous medication is   just additional information and has no bearing   on the researchers’ concern. Moreover, although the third portion mentions that “oral treatment may do little, if anything, for bites from snakes such as cobras whose toxins predominantly target nerves instead of blood”, this   discussion on oral medication and nerves is not in the context of the researchers’ concern  . Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it strengthens the link between the experiment/its findings about mice’s response to unithiol and humans’ response to unithiol. Incorrect. 
 
   D is the best choice.   
  
 = = = = = = = = = =   
   2.   The primary purpose of the passage is to discuss the   
   
 a.   uses of a drug treating metal poisoning 
 b.   different ways in which a pill used in one treatment can be used in another 
 c.   necessity of a portable drug for blood-poisoning snake venoms 
 d.    possibility of developing a portable snakebite pill by using a drug from another treatment  
 e.   means by which a particular drug inhibits toxins in the blood 
 
 Question Type: Structure 
 
   D is the best choice.   
  
 = = = = = = = = = =  
   
  Video explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyEJ_B9s0P4

3.   The author of the passage mentions “loose metal ions” (see highlighted text) in order to suggest how   
   
 a.   metal poisoning spreads through them 
 b.   metal poisoning can be treated by controlling them 
 c.   a nerve is attacked if they are not bound 
 d.   they are similar to metalloproteases toxins 
  e.     drugs controlling them could inhibit metalloproteases toxins  
   
 Question Type: Inference 
 
  Highlight Required:     “loose metal ions”  
 
  Explanation:   
 
 The first portion mentions that metalloproteases toxins in snake venom “rely on zinc ions to function” and that drugs treating metal poisoning bind up “loose metal ions”, making doctors wonder if “those drugs could also starve the toxins of zinc”. It can be inferred that, in the context of the discussion, the author mentions the highlighted text in order   to suggest the similarity between how metal poisoning and metalloproteases toxins in snake venom spread   in the blood. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in this context. 
 
 A. Trap. Although the first portion mentions that “Drugs used to treat heavy metal poisoning bind up loose metal ions” and thus control the metal particles in the blood, to suggest   how metal poisoning spreads through loose metal ions is not the reason   the author mentions the highlighted text; rather, in the context of the discussion, the author mentions the highlighted text in order to suggest the “  similarity” between how metal poisoning and metalloproteases toxins in snake venom spread   in the blood; we need an answer choice on similar lines. Incorrect. 
 
 B. Trap. Although the first portion mentions that “Drugs used to treat heavy metal poisoning bind up loose metal ions” and thus metal poisoning can be treated by controlling loose metal ions, to make   this suggestion is not the reason   the author mentions the highlighted text; rather, in the context of the discussion, the author mentions the highlighted text in order   to suggest the similarity between how metal poisoning and metalloproteases toxins in snake venom spread   in the blood; we need an answer choice on similar lines. Incorrect. 
 
 C. The passage makes   no mention of nerves in the context of the highlighted text  ; so, it is incorrect to state that the author mentions the highlighted text to suggest how a nerve is attacked if loose metal ions are not bound. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that the author mentions the highlighted text in order to suggest the similarity between how metal poisoning and metalloproteases toxins in snake venom spread in the blood.  
 
 D. Trap. The first portion mentions that metalloproteases toxins in snake venom “rely on zinc ions to function”; although it can be inferred that   metalloproteases toxins spread through loose metal ions  , it is   incorrect to state that the ions are “similar to metalloproteases toxins”  , as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that the author mentions the highlighted text in order to suggest the similarity between how metal poisoning and metalloproteases toxins in snake venom spread in the blood.  
 
 E.  Correct . The first portion mentions that metalloproteases toxins in snake venom “rely on zinc ions to function” and that drugs treating metal poisoning bind up “loose metal ions”, making doctors wonder if “those drugs could also starve the toxins of zinc”; it can be inferred that, in the context of the discussion, the author mentions the highlighted text in order to suggest the   similarity between how metal poisoning and metalloproteases toxins in snake venom spread   in the blood and, in turn, how drugs controlling loose metal ions could inhibit metalloproteases toxins, as the answer choice mentions.  
 
   E is the best choice.   
  
 = = = = = = = = = =

Snake venom metalloproteases are a major component in blood-poisoning

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Snake venom metalloproteases are a major component in blood-poisoning

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