Animal venom studies: Current benefits and future developments

Abstract

Poisonous organisms are represented in many taxa, including kingdom Animalia. During evolution, animals have developed special organs for production and injection of venoms. Animal venoms are complex mixtures, compositions of which depend on species producing venom. The most known and studied poisonous terrestrial animals are snakes, scorpions and spiders. Among marine animals, these are jellyfishes, anemones and cone snails. The toxic substances in the venom of these animals are mainly of protein and peptide origin. Recent studies have indicated that the single venom may contain up to several hundred different components producing diverse physiological effects. Bites or stings by certain poisonous species result in severe envenomations leading in some cases to death. This raises the problem of bite treatment. The most effective treatment so far is the application of antivenoms. To enhance the effectiveness of such treatments, the knowledge of venom composition is needed. On the other hand, venoms contain substances with unique biological properties, which can be used both in basic science and in clinical applications. The best example of toxin application in basic science is α-bungarotoxin the discovery of which made a big impact on the studies of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Today compositions of venom from many species have already been examined. Based on these data, one can conclude that venoms contain a large number of individual components belonging to a limited number of structural types. Often minor changes in the amino acid sequence give rise to new biological properties. Change in the living conditions of poisonous animals lead to alterations in the composition of venoms resulting in appearance of new toxins. At the same time introduction of new methods of proteomics and genomics lead to discoveries of new compounds, which may serve as research tools or as templates for the development of novel drugs. The application of these sensitive and comprehensive methods allows studying either of venoms available in tiny amounts or of low abundant components in already known venoms.

Peptide Fraction pOh2 Exerts Antiadipogenic Activity through Inhibition of C/EBP-αand PPAR-γExpression in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

“…However, venom-based medical treatments have only recently received attention [39]. The current study indicated that pOh2, isolated from the venom of Vietnamese O. hannah snake, may be a potential candidate for obesity treatment.…”

Scorpion Venom–Toxins that Aid in Drug Development: A Review

“…Poisonous, venom producing organisms, being a cause of mortality, have been a source of medicine to human syndrome since time immemorial. History says, in ancient Rome animal venoms were often used to diagnose smallpox, fever, leprosy and wound healing (Utkin 2015). One of the best contributions of animal venom in medical science is the discovery of bradykinin by Rocha e Silva and his team (Rocha e Silva et al 1949) to reduce contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum upon incubating globulin fraction of dog plasma with snake venom (obtained from Bothrops jararaca).…”

“…Venom-toxins exert their effect by interacting with a range of targets which include cellular receptors, membranes, and ion channels. α-Bungarotoxin (venom component of elapid snake Bungarus multicinctus), a type of α-neurotoxin proves to be fatal when it binds irreversibly to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, is one of the best examples of the application of toxin in medical research (Utkin 2015;Young et al 2003). 'Tumour Paint' outlined by natural toxins or peptides from natural organisms (viz.…”

A Combinational Strategy upon RNA Sequencing and Peptidomics Unravels a Set of Novel Toxin Peptides in Scorpion Mesobuthus martensii

“…A large number of species belong to the poisonous animal kingdom, such as chordates (reptiles, fishes, amphibians, mammals), echinoderms (starfishes, sea urchins), mollusks (cone snails, octopi), annelids (leeches), nemertines, arthropods (arachnids, insects, myriapods), and cnidarians (sea anemones, jellyfish, corals) [1]. Animal venoms are a rich source of natural compounds that have evolved to have high affinity and selectivity for a diverse range of biological targets.…”