Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica

Research

Hornet venoms are rich sources of biologically active substances such as enzymes, toxins, bioactive peptides and amines. We have purified a toxic protein with phospholipase A1 activity, the lethal factor, from the venom of Vespa basalis. Several novel bioactive peptides with unique structures and biological activities have also been isolated. We wish to establish the pharmacological basis for medical therapy of hornet stings and to identify novel substances useful as biological probes by

1. studying the toxicities of different hornet venoms.
2. purifying bioactive proteins and peptides from various hornet venoms.
3. finding out drugs that can prevent or inhibit the toxic effects of the venoms.
4. understanding the structure-activity relationships of isolated peptides and proteins.

Degrees and Positions Held

• 1979   Ph.D., Pharmacology, National Taiwan University
• 1971   M.S., Pharmacy, National Taiwan University
• 1968   B.S., Pharmacy, Taipei Medical College

• 1984 – 2001   Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 1982 – 1983   Visiting Scientist, Hormone Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco
• 1980 – 1984   Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 1972 – 1980   Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica
• 1968 – 1972   Teaching and Research Assistant, National Taiwan University

Selected Publications

Three toxins with phospholipase activity isolated from the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa verutina) venom. 
Ho CL, Lin YL, Li SF 
Toxicon (1999)

Structures and biological activities of new wasp venom peptides isolated from the black-bellied hornet (Vespa basalis) venom. 
Ho CL, Chen WC, Lin YL 
Toxicon (1998)

Structural requirements for the Edema-inducing and hemolytic activities of mastoparan B isolated from the hornet (Vespa basalis) venom. 
Ho CL, Lin YL, Chen WC, Hwang LL, Yu HM, Wang KT 
Toxicon (1996)

Immunogenicity of mastoparan B, a cationic tetradecapeptide isolated from the hornet (Vespa basalis) venom, and its structural requirements. 
Ho CL, Lin YL, Chen WC, Yu HM, Wang KT, Hwang LL, Chen CT 
Toxicon (1995)

Cardiovascular effects of mastoparan B and its structural requirements. 
Ho CL, Hwang LL, Lin YL, Chen CT, Yu HM, Wang KT 
Eur. J. Pharmacol. (1994)

Edema-inducing activity of a lethal protein with phospholipase A1 activity isolated from the black-bellied hornet (Vespa basalis) venom. 
Ho CL, Hwang LL, Chen CT 
Toxicon (1993)

Local edema induced by the black–bellied hornet (Vespa basalis) venom and its components. 
Ho CL, Hwang LL 
Toxicon (1991)

Structure and biological activities of a new mastoparan isolated from the venom of the hornet Vespa Basalis. 
Ho CL, Hwang LL 
Biochem. J. (1991)

Purification and characterization of a lethal protein with phospholipase A1 activity from the hornet (Vespa basalis) venom. 
Ho CL, Ko JL 
Biochim. Biophys. Acta. (1988)

Hornetin: The lethal protein of the hornet (Vespa flavitarsus) venom. 
Ho CL, Ko JL 
FEBS Lett. (1986)

Publication List