Evolution of Venomous Animals and Their Toxins

Evolution of Venomous Animals and Their Toxins PDF Author: P. Gopalakrishnakone
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789400767270
Category : Electronic books
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description


Venomous Reptiles and Their Toxins

Venomous Reptiles and Their Toxins PDF Author: Bryan Grieg Fry
Publisher:
ISBN: 0199309396
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 609

Book Description
Venom research and technology has advanced greatly, rapidly transforming our knowledge of reptile venoms. Research advances, like the development of molecular systematics, provide the framework necessary to reconstruct the evolutionary history of glands and fangs. Such research developments have expanded our understanding of venom's evolution and its usefulness in therapeutic development. The results of this punctuated toxin molecular evolutionary expansion include protein neofunctionalization. While these changes may impact antivenom efficacy, this molecular diversity also facilitates their usefulness in the development of novel drug therapies. Venomous Reptiles And Their Toxins brings together the world's leading toxinologists in this comprehensive study of the entire scope of reptile venoms, from clinical effects to evolution to drug design and development. The book contains detailed applied chapters on clinical care of the envenomed patient, ineffective traditional or modern remedies, occupational considerations involved in the maintenance of institutional venomous reptile collections, veterinary care for venomous reptiles and research methods used in venom research. This book also devotes a chapter to each toxin class found in reptile venoms, detailing the full trajectory of research on the peptide or protein in question. These chapters discuss each toxin's respective role in the envenomation process through to how each has been explored for their biomedical potential. This book is a unique resource for anyone working with venomous reptiles.

Venomous Animals and Their Toxins

Venomous Animals and Their Toxins PDF Author: G. Habermehl
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642886051
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 205

Book Description
Venomous Animals have been a threat to man at all times, in the warm and wilder regions more than in the temperate areas. People in especially dangerous regions know about these risks and live accordingly. However, with modern tourism and nearly unlimited travel oppor tunities more and more people without experience and knowledge about venomous animals come into contact with them; this book is intended to provide these people with an introduction to the subject. Venomous animals, their habits, their whole ecology and their venoms have been the object or research since the beginning of this century; truly intensive work, how ever, first started about thirty years ago. Medical treat ment therefore has been changed by new insights in the mechanism of action and the constituents of the various venoms. In this regard this book is also directed to physi cians, biologists and chemists to give them an introduc tion in this important and interesting field. New aspects of treatment of envenomations are reported. This book cannot replace bigger textbooks and monographs - they are cited in the references - but it gives an overview and an entry into this field. The original German edition was written at the request of colleagues and students of medicine, biology and chemistry as well as frequent travellers in tropical countries. It was sold out within eight months, thus showing that it really filled a gap.

Venomous

Venomous PDF Author: Christie Wilcox
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 0374712212
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 219

Book Description
A thrilling tale of encounters with nature’s masters of biochemistry From the coasts of Indonesia to the rainforests of Peru, venomous animals are everywhere—and often lurking out of sight. Humans have feared them for centuries, long considering them the assassins and pariahs of the natural world. Now, in Venomous, the biologist Christie Wilcox investigates and illuminates the animals of our nightmares, arguing that they hold the keys to a deeper understanding of evolution, adaptation, and immunity. She reveals just how venoms function and what they do to the human body. With Wilcox as our guide, we encounter a jellyfish with tentacles covered in stinging cells that can kill humans in minutes; a two-inch caterpillar with toxic bristles that trigger hemorrhaging; and a stunning blue-ringed octopus capable of inducing total paralysis. How do these animals go about their deadly work? How did they develop such intricate, potent toxins? Wilcox takes us around the world and down to the cellular level to find out. Throughout her journey, Wilcox meets the intrepid scientists who risk their lives studying these lethal beasts, as well as “self-immunizers” who deliberately expose themselves to snakebites. Along the way, she puts her own life on the line, narrowly avoiding being envenomated herself. Drawing on her own research, Wilcox explains how venom scientists are untangling the mechanisms of some of our most devastating diseases, and reports on pharmacologists who are already exploiting venoms to produce lifesaving drugs. We discover that venomous creatures are in fact keystone species that play crucial roles in their ecosystems and ours—and for this alone, they ought to be protected and appreciated. Thrilling and surprising at every turn, Venomous will change everything you thought you knew about the planet’s most dangerous animals.

Venom

Venom PDF Author: Ronald Jenner
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
ISBN: 1588344541
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 207

Book Description
Venom brings readers face to face with some of the most dangerous creatures on the planet, including jellyfish, snakes, and wasps, as it uncovers the story of venom. The book explores how venom is used for predation, defense, competition, and communication by an incredible diversity of species. It examines the unique methods that these species have evolved to create and deliver their deadly toxins. The book traces venom back to its origin in early jellyfish and sea anemones, and reveals how venoms have evolved dozens of times independently all across the animal kingdom since that time. And finally, it examines the relationships between these dangerous creatures and humans. Humans have not only learned to live with them, but also to benefit from them: scientists increasingly are harnessing the power of venom to create new drugs, treatments, and anti-venoms.

Venomous Animals and Their Venoms

Venomous Animals and Their Venoms PDF Author: Wolfgang Bücherl
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 1483263630
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 732

Book Description
Venomous Animals and their Venoms focuses on the comprehensive presentation of the entire field of the venomous members of the animal kingdom, chemistry and biochemistry of venoms, and pharmacological actions and their antigenic properties. The selection first offers information on the development of knowledge about venoms and the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and its venomous characteristics, including biology, venom apparatus, properties of venom, and significance of venom apparatus in Ornithorhynchus. The text then elaborates on the classification, biology, and description of the venom apparatus of insectivores of the genera Solenodon, Neomys, and Blarina and the chemistry and pharmacology of insectivore venoms. The publication takes a look at karyotypes, sex chromosomes, and chromosomal evolution in snakes and coagulant, proteolytic, and hemolytic properties of some snake venoms. Topics include hemolytic property, karyotypes of South American snakes, sex chromosomes, methods for the study of chromosomes of reptiles, and chromosomal evolution. The selection is a vital source of data for readers interested in venomous animals and their venoms.

Diversity and Evolution of Animal Venoms: Neglected Targets, Ecological Interactions, Future Perspectives

Diversity and Evolution of Animal Venoms: Neglected Targets, Ecological Interactions, Future Perspectives PDF Author: Sebastien Dutertre
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889637123
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 127

Book Description


Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles

Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles PDF Author: Stephen P. Mackessy
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429623453
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 912

Book Description
A decade after publication of the first edition, Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles responds to extensive changes in the field of toxinology to endure as the most comprehensive review of reptile venoms on the market. The six sections of this new edition, which has nearly doubled in size, complement the original handbook by presenting current information from many of the leading researchers and physicians in toxinology, with topics ranging from functional morphology, evolution and ecology to crystallography, -omics technologies, drug discovery and more. With the recent recognition by the World Health Organization of snakebite as a neglected tropical disease, the section on snakebite has been expanded and includes several chapters dealing with the problem broadly and with new technologies and the promises these new approaches may hold to counter the deleterious effects of envenomation. This greatly expanded handbook offers a unique resource for biologists, biochemists, toxicologists, physicians, clinicians, and epidemiologists, as well as informed laypersons interested in the biology of venomous reptiles, the biochemistry and molecular biology of venoms, and the effects and treatment of human envenomation.

An Integrated View of the Molecular Recognition and Toxinology

An Integrated View of the Molecular Recognition and Toxinology PDF Author: Gandhi Radis-Baptista
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9535111515
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 548

Book Description
Molecular Toxinology has been consolidated as a scientific area focused on the intertwined description of several aspects of animal toxins. In an inquiring biotechnological world, animal toxins appear as an invaluable source for the discovery of therapeutic polypeptides. Animal toxins rely on specific chemical interactions with their partner molecule to exert their biological actions. The comprehension of how molecules interact and recognize their target is essential for the rational exploration of bioactive polypeptides as therapeutics. Investigation on the mechanism of molecular interaction and recognition offers a window of opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry and clinical medicine. Thus, this book brings examples of two interconnected themes - molecular recognition and toxinology concerning to the integration between analytical procedures and biomedical applications.

Venoms to Drugs

Venoms to Drugs PDF Author: Glenn King
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
ISBN: 1849736634
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 338

Book Description
This unique book will provide an up to date and comprehensive account of the potential of peptides and proteins from animal venoms as possible therapeutics. The pharmaceutical industry has become increasingly interested in biologics from animal venoms as a potential source for therapeutic agents in recent years, with a particularly emphasis on peptides. To date six drugs derived from venom peptides or proteins have been approved by the FDA, with nine further agents currently being investigated in clinical trials. In addition to these drugs in approved or advanced stages of development, many more peptides and proteins are being studied in varying stages of preclinical development. Topics covered include chemistry and structural biology of animal venoms, proteomic and transcriptomic approaches to drug discovery, bioassays, high-throughput screens and target identification, and reptile, scorpion, spider and cone snail venoms as a platform for drug development. Case studies are used to illustrate methods and successes and highlight issues surrounding administration and other important lessons that have been learnt from the development of approved therapeutics based on venoms. The first text to focus on this fascinating area and bridging an important gap, this book will provide the reader with essential and current knowledge on this fast-developing area. Venoms to Drugs will find wide readership with researchers working in academia and industry working in all medicinal and pharmaceutical areas.