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Causes and Consequences of Snake Venom Variation
Nicholas R Casewell1, Timothy N W Jackson2, Andreas H Laustsen3
1Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|June 23, 2020
Summary
Snake venom composition varies greatly, leading to diverse pathologies and treatment failures in millions of snakebite victims annually. Understanding these variations is key to developing effective antivenoms for this neglected tropical disease.
Area of Science:
- Toxinology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Snake venoms are complex mixtures of toxins with significant inter- and intra-species variability.
- This variability poses challenges in treating millions of annual snakebite envenomings worldwide.
- Snakebite envenoming is recognized as a neglected tropical disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how molecular mechanisms drive snake venom variation.
- To explain the resulting toxic pathologies and treatment failures in human victims.
- To outline current and future therapeutic strategies against venom variation.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging advances in 'omic' technologies for comprehensive venom characterization.
- Investigating molecular mechanisms underlying venom composition differences.
- Analyzing functional consequences of venom variation on pathologies and treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- Mechanistic processes generate diverse toxin isoforms, causing varied human pathologies.
- Venom composition variability is a significant factor in antivenom treatment failure.
- Specific toxin isoforms contribute to diverse clinical presentations of snakebite.
Conclusions:
- Understanding venom variation is crucial for effective snakebite management.
- Next-generation antivenoms must address the challenge of toxin isoform diversity.
- Developing targeted therapies is essential to combat this neglected tropical disease.
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