Snake Genome Sequencing: Results and Future Prospects

Kerkkamp, Harald M. I.; Kini, R. Manjunatha; Pospelov, Alexey; Vonk, Freek J.; Henkel, Christiaan V.; Richardson, Michael K.

doi:10.3390/toxins8120360

Cited by 36 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 84 publications

(126 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus far, only a few snake genomes have been published. A majority of these were generated primarily using short-read sequencing resulting in highly fragmented assemblies, thus limiting their utility for creating a complete catalog of venomrelevant toxin genes [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] . The 'big four' medically important snakes from India, including N. naja, are no exception and have not been well characterized at either the genome or transcriptome level.…”

Section: Nature Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Indian cobra reference genome and transcriptome enables comprehensive identification of venom toxins

Suryamohan¹,

Krishnankutty

Guillory³

et al. 2020

Nat Genet

152

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ossil remains from ~100 million years ago (Ma) show that snakes were widely distributed across the world by the late Cretaceous period 1. During the course of their evolution, snakes lost their limbs, acquiring a serpentine body 2. Some also evolved or co-opted venom systems to help subdue, capture and digest their prey 2,3. The Colubroides clade of advanced snakes encompasses >3,000 extant species including >600 venomous species 4. The most venomous snakes include the true vipers and pit vipers, both members of the Viperidae family, and cobras, kraits, mambas and sea snakes from the Elapidae family 5. Although humans are not an intended target, accidental contact with venomous snakes can be deadly. Snakebite envenoming is a serious neglected tropical disease that affects ~5 million people worldwide annually, leading to ~400,000 amputations and >100,000 deaths 6. In India alone, the high rural population density combined with the presence of the 'big four' deadly snakes, namely the Indian cobra (Naja naja), Russell's viper (Daboia russelli), sawscaled viper (Echis carinatus) and common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), results in >46,000 snakebite-related deaths annually 7. Snake venom is a potent lethal cocktail rich in proteins and peptides, secreted by specialized venom gland cells. Venom components can be broadly classified as neurotoxic, cytotoxic, cardiotoxic or hemotoxic, and the composition can vary both between and within species 8-11. Currently, snake antivenom is the only treatment effective in the prevention or reversal of the effects of envenomation. Since 1896, antivenom has been developed by immunization of large mammals, such as the horse, with snake venom to generate a cocktail of antibodies that are used for therapy 12. Given the heterologous nature of these antibodies, they often elicit adverse immunological responses when treating snakebite victims 13. Moreover, the antivenom composition is not well defined and its ability to neutralize the venom

show abstract

Section: Nature Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Indian cobra reference genome and transcriptome enables comprehensive identification of venom toxins

Suryamohan¹,

Krishnankutty

Guillory³

et al. 2020

Nat Genet

152

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Viewed in this way, the reduction in the front limbs allows for the prioritization of (energy to) the hind limbs and head. Similarly, we are not inclined to ponder the use of the tiny limbs of ancestral snakes or remnants of the pelvic girdle among some families of extant snakes [ 8 , 9 ] because extant advanced snakes are successful without limbs. It is rarely considered for the heart, however, whether there are vestigial features without function [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examples of Weak, If Not Absent, Form-Function Relations in the Vertebrate Heart

Jensen

Smit

2018

JCDD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

That form and function are related is a maxim of anatomy and physiology. Yet, form-function relations can be difficult to prove. Human subjects with excessive trabeculated myocardium in the left ventricle, for example, are diagnosed with non-compaction cardiomyopathy, but the extent of trabeculations may be without relation to ejection fraction. Rather than rejecting a relation between form and function, we may ask whether the salient function is assessed. Is there a relation to electrical propagation, mean arterial blood pressure, or propensity to form blood clots? In addition, how should the extent of trabeculated muscle be assessed? While reviewing literature on trabeculated muscle, we applied Tinbergen’s four types of causation—how does it work, why does it work, how is it made, and why did it evolve—to better parse what is meant by form and function. The paper is structured around cases that highlight advantages and pitfalls of applying Tinbergen’s questions. It further uses the evolution of lunglessness in amphibians to argue that lung reduction impacts on chamber septation and it considers the evolution of an arterial outflow in fishes to argue that reductions in energy consumption may drive structural changes with little consequences to function. Concerning trabeculations, we argue they relate to pumping function in the embryo in the few weeks before the onset of coronary circulation. In human fetal and postnatal stages, a spectrum of trabeculated-to-compact myocardium makes no difference to cardiac function and in this period, form and function may appear unrelated.

show abstract

“…Snakes (Serpentes) are a species‐rich lineage of extant reptiles that exhibit phenotypically diverse radiation (Castoe, Jiang, Gu, Wang, & Pollock, ; Castoe et al., ; Secor & Diamond, ), with distribution broadly found in arboreal, terrestrial, and aquatic habitats. The snakes are considered as excellent model organisms for biomedical research, and snake venom is extracted for developing antivenoms to treat snakebites or for chemotherapeutical development (Blackburn, ; Kerkkamp et al., ; Ratanabanangkoon et al., ). Two distinct groups of snakes are classified as follows: (i) Scolecophidia including “blind” snakes, and (ii) Alethinophidia comprising Henophidia (pythons, boas, and other “primitive” snakes) and Caenophidia (advanced snakes) (Pyron, Burbrink, & Wiens, ; Wiens et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel method of caenophidian snake sex identification using molecular markers based on two gametologous genes

Laopichienpong

Tawichasri

Chanhome

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sex identification provides important information for ecological and evolutionary studies, as well as benefiting snake conservation management. Traditional methods such as cloacal probing or cloacal popping are counterproductive for sex identification concerning very small species, resulting in difficulties in the management of their breeding programs. In this study, the nucleotide sequences of gametologous genes (CTNNB1 and WAC genes) were used for the development of molecular sexing markers in caenophidian snakes. Two candidate markers were developed with the two primer sets, and successfully amplified by a single band on the agarose gel in male (ZZ) and two bands, differing in fragment sizes, in female (ZW) of 16 caenophidian snakes for CTNNB1 and 12 caenophidian snakes for WAC. Another candidate marker was developed with the primer set to amplify the specific sequence for CTNNB1W homolog, and the PCR products were successfully obtained in a female‐specific 250‐bp DNA bands. The three candidate PCR sexing markers provide a simple sex identification method based on the amplification of gametologous genes, and they can be used to facilitate effective caenophidian snake conservation and management programs.

show abstract

Snake Genome Sequencing: Results and Future Prospects

Cited by 36 publications

References 84 publications

The Indian cobra reference genome and transcriptome enables comprehensive identification of venom toxins

The Indian cobra reference genome and transcriptome enables comprehensive identification of venom toxins

Examples of Weak, If Not Absent, Form-Function Relations in the Vertebrate Heart

A novel method of caenophidian snake sex identification using molecular markers based on two gametologous genes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About