Use of toxins in medicine: The importance of conserving venomous snakes by Kate Jackson Assistant Professor, Biology Whitman College Walla Walla, WA, USA

1. Use of toxins in medicine:
The importance of conserving venomous
snakes
Kate Jackson
Assistant Professor, Biology
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA, USA

2. Vonk, F. J., Jackson, K., Doley, R., Madaras, F.,
Mirtschin, P. J. and Vidal, N. 2011. Snake venom:
From fieldwork to the clinic: Recent insights
into snake biology, together with new
technology allowing high-throughput screening
of venom, bring new hope for drug discovery.
BioEssays 33: 269-279.

4. Recent insights into snake biology
bring new hope for drug discovery
• Medications and potential medications from snake
venoms already exist
• Snake venoms more variable than previously thought
• Taxonomic bias of research to date
• Snake populations worldwide are threatened
• We have a selfish reason to protect snakes!

5. Medications and potential medications
from snake venoms already exist

6. ACE inhibitors
Bothrops jararaca

7. Anticoagulants
Echis carinatus

8. • Anticoagulant, procoagulant, fibrinolytic, &c
• Analgesics
• Antibacterial
• Anti-viral
• Anti-cancer
• Nerve growth
• Etc…

9. Snake venoms more variable than
previously thought

10. • Geography
• Diet
• Ontogeny

11. Taxonomic bias of research to date

13. • 1622 snake venom toxin sequences
available on Universal Protein Resource
Database
49
• Of these only from snakes that pose no
danger to humans

14. Snake populations worldwide are
threatened

17. Dipsadoboa viridis

18. Bothrolycus ater

20. We have a selfish reason to protect snakes!

21. Thanksssssssssss!
Philothamnus carinatus