Structure of boophilin. Source: PLoS ONE. An international scientific team, involving Scientists at the Centre d'Investigació Cardiovascular de Barcelona (CSIC-ICCC), has isolated and cloned a new protein which inhibits coagulation factors. The new molecule has been isolated from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus, one of the most widespread parasites of farm animals. The protein, which has been named “boophilin” is very versatile and might have promising pharmacological applications.