Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
T. D. Kazandjian, D. Petras, S. D. Robinson, J. van Thiel, H. W. Greene, K. Arbuckle, A. Barlow, D. A. Carter, R. M. Wouters, G. Whiteley, S. C. Wagstaff, A. S. Arias, L-O Albulescu, A. Plettenberg Laing, C. Hall, A. Heap, S. Penrhyn-Lowe, C. McCabe, S. Ainsworth, R. R. Silva, P. C. Dorrestein, M. K. Richardson, J. M. Gutierrez, J. J. Calvete, R. A. Harrison, I Vetter, E. A. B. Undheim, W. Wuester, N. R. Casewell
Summary: Convergent evolution in snakes has led to the independent evolution of spitting abilities in three cobra lineages, with distinct venom characteristics. This highlights the significance of selective drivers in driving species evolution through convergent evolution.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jens Puschhof, Yorick Post, Joep Beumer, Harald M. Kerkkamp, Matyas Bittenbinder, Freek J. Vonk, Nicholas R. Casewell, Michael K. Richardson, Hans Clevers
Summary: This protocol provides a method to generate snake venom gland organoids that maintain cellular heterogeneity and can be used for studying venom production, differentiation, and cellular heterogeneity.
Article
Infectious Diseases
R. R. Senji Laxme, Saurabh Attarde, Suyog Khochare, Vivek Suranse, Gerard Martin, Nicholas R. Casewell, Romulus Whitaker, Kartik Sunagar
Summary: Snake venom composition can vary significantly across geographically disparate populations of the same species, impacting the efficacy of antivenom treatments. This study reveals considerable differences in the venom composition of Naja naja across six biogeographical zones in India, leading to the ineffectiveness of commercially-available antivenom. The findings emphasize the urgent need for innovative, pan-India effective antivenoms to protect the lives and livelihoods of the country's snakebite victims.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ignazio Avella, Edgar Barajas-Ledesma, Nicholas R. Casewell, Robert A. Harrison, Paul D. Rowley, Edouard Crittenden, Wolfgang Wuster, Riccardo Castiglia, Chris Holland, Arie van der Meijden
Summary: This study compared the physical properties of venom in spitting and non-spitting cobras and found no significant differences in rheological and physical properties, with all venoms exhibiting Newtonian flow behavior. While the evolution of venom spitting did not significantly affect venom viscosity, models of fang pressure suggest that spitting cobras require lower pressures to eject venom than non-spitting cobras.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jaffer Alsolaiss, Chloe A. Evans, George O. Oluoch, Nicholas R. Casewell, Robert A. Harrison
Summary: Snake envenoming causes rapid and diverse systemic and local effects, with acute phase and inflammatory responses playing a crucial role. This study focused on the acute phase and inflammatory responses of mice to African snake venoms, highlighting species-specific effects and providing a foundation for future studies on human patients.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nessrin Alomran, Raja Chinnappan, Jaffer Alsolaiss, Nicholas R. Casewell, Mohammed Zourob
Summary: Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that causes death and disability. This study explores the potential of ssDNA aptamers as toxin-specific inhibitory alternatives to antibodies for treating snakebite. The findings demonstrate that toxin-specific aptamers can exhibit broad in vitro cross-reactivity against different snake venoms and inhibit toxins in relevant models of venom activity. This highlights the potential utility of ssDNA aptamers as novel toxin-inhibiting therapeutics for snakebite envenoming.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nessrin Alomran, Patricia Blundell, Jaffer Alsolaiss, Edouard Crittenden, Stuart Ainsworth, Charlotte A. Dawson, Rebecca J. Edge, Steven R. Hall, Robert A. Harrison, Mark C. Wilkinson, Stefanie K. Menzies, Nicholas R. Casewell
Summary: This study explored the feasibility of using recombinantly expressed toxins as immunogens to stimulate focused antibodies that counteract specific toxins associated with snakebite envenoming. The results showed that the recombinant toxins stimulated strong immune responses and the experimental antivenoms exhibited binding towards different snake venoms. The experimental antivenoms also showed some protective effects against toxin-induced clotting dysfunction.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Arif Arrahman, Taline D. Kazandjian, Kristina B. M. Still, Julien Slagboom, Govert W. Somsen, Freek J. Vonk, Nicholas R. Casewell, Jeroen Kool
Summary: Envenomation by certain elapid snakes can lead to coagulopathic symptoms, which can be reduced by the PLA(2) inhibitor varespladib in cobra venoms but not in mamba venoms. The SVMP inhibitor marimastat shows limited effect on anticoagulation caused by elapids.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jaffer Alsolaiss, Nessrin Alomran, Laura Hawkins, Nicholas R. Casewell
Summary: Snakebite envenoming is a life threatening disease that is a major public health concern in the tropics. Bothrops snakes in Latin America are important for causing severe systemic and local tissue effects. This study investigated the effectiveness of three antivenoms against various Bothrops venoms. The antivenoms showed broad recognition and inhibition of venom toxins, suggesting potential expansion of their clinical use.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Fernanda Gobbi Amorim, Damien Redureau, Thomas Crasset, Lou Freuville, Dominique Baiwir, Gabriel Mazzucchelli, Stefanie K. K. Menzies, Nicholas R. R. Casewell, Loic Quinton
Summary: This study applies a new generation of proteomic methodology, the MELD approach, to deeply characterize complex snake venom protein mixtures. The MELD method improves the sequencing and identification of peptides and proteins, leading to a greater identification of toxins and proteins. These results demonstrate that MELD is a credible methodology for venomic analysis and has the potential to expand global knowledge about venom composition.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Eric Wachtel, Matyas A. Bittenbinder, Bas van de Velde, Julien Slagboom, Axel de Monts de Savasse, Luis L. Alonso, Nicholas R. Casewell, Freek J. Vonk, Jeroen Kool
Summary: The cytotoxicity caused by snake venoms is a serious medical problem. Snake venoms target a range of molecular structures to induce cytotoxic effects. A high-throughput assay using fluorescent ECM substrates was developed to monitor ECM degradation by snake venom toxins. Viperid venoms showed higher proteolytic degradation compared to elapid venoms. The assay allows the study of proteolytic activity towards the ECM in vitro for crude and fractionated venoms.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Luis L. L. Alonso, Julien Slagboom, Nicholas R. R. Casewell, Saer Samanipour, Jeroen Kool
Summary: This study focused on examining the variability found in the venom's small molecules between two main families of venomous snakes, and developed a model that can classify unknown samples by specific features extracted from their LC-MS data. The model also provides insight into the composition of snake venom by clustering similarly composed venoms. The support vector machine model used 20 features merged into 10 principal components, and correctly classified all samples from the validation data subsets. The study also presents relevant biological hypotheses regarding the identified metabolite variations.
Article
Biology
Matyas A. Bittenbinder, Nick D. Bergkamp, Julien Slagboom, Jan Paul M. Bebelman, Nicholas R. Casewell, Marco H. Siderius, Martine J. Smit, Jeroen Kool, Freek J. Vonk
Summary: Snakebite envenoming is a significant public health concern with high mortality rates. Snake venoms can have various harmful effects on the body, including tissue damage. This study presents a workflow using fluorescently labeled ECM components to investigate the degradation of ECM caused by snake venom. This approach provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of proteolytic venom components and could aid in the development of effective snakebite treatments.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rohit N. Patel, Rachel H. Clare, Line Ledsgaard, Mieke Nys, Jeroen Kool, Andreas H. Laustsen, Chris Ulens, Nicholas R. Casewell
Summary: Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that causes over 100,000 deaths annually. Traditional treatments are difficult to access and not always effective, so researchers are seeking new therapeutic approaches. This study develops a screening assay to validate and identify substances that activate or inhibit the neurotoxicity caused by snakebite.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sedef Terzioglu, Matyas A. Bittenbinder, Julien Slagboom, Bas van de Velde, Nicholas R. Casewell, Jeroen Kool
Summary: Modern analytical size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is a suitable technique for separating venom toxin families based on their size characteristics. In this study, a method was developed using volatile, non-salt-containing solvents for analytical SEC, which allowed for the separation of intact venom toxins from Bungarus multicinctus and Daboia russelii venoms. This method was effective for post-column mass spectrometry, coagulation bioassaying, and high-throughput venomics. The results showed the presence of both procoagulant and anticoagulant toxins in Bungarus multicinctus venom, and identified a 90 kDa mass toxin as the Factor X-activating procoagulant heterotrimeric glycoprotein named RVV-X in Daboia russelii venom.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammadhossein Movassaghghazani, Nazanin Shabansalmani
Summary: The study revealed high levels of AFM1 in both breast milk and powdered milk samples in Tehran, with some samples exceeding the established limits. Therefore, monitoring and regulating toxin levels in these products is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Defeng Wen, Wantong Han, Quan Chen, Guanhui Qi, Mengling Gao, Pu Guo, Yu Liu, Zhongyuan Wu, Shulin Fu, Qirong Lu, Yinsheng Qiu
Summary: Luteolin can inhibit FB1-induced intestinal inflammatory injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and ERK signaling pathways, according to network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.
