Testing co-evolutionary processes driving venom diversity in tiger snakes

测试驱动虎蛇毒液多样性的共同进化过程。该项目旨在研究虎蛇在解剖学，生态学和生活史特征方面的地理差异，以及这些因素与毒液毒素和生产的关系;并评估虎蛇毒的真正药理潜力。该项目将研究毒液适应在长期动物进化中的作用，通过鉴定参与提供适应环境变化的进化潜力的稀有毒液转录物。这是至关重要的，因为气候和人类引起的环境变化持续影响着澳大利亚南部，那里有许多人生活，工作和与当地野生动物互动。预期的结果是最大限度地提高毒液的收获和蛇咬伤的治疗能力。

Testing co-evolutionary processes driving venom diversity in tiger snakes. This project aims to examine the geographic variation amongst tiger snakes in anatomy, ecology, and life history traits, and the relationship of these factors to venom toxins and production; and to evaluate the true pharmacological potential of tiger snake venom. This project will investigate the role of venom adaptation in long-term animal evolution, by identifying rare venom transcripts involved in providing evolutionary potential for adaptation to environmental change. This is essential as continuing climatic and human-induced alteration of our environment affects southern Australia where many people live, work and interact with native wildlife. Anticipated outcomes are maximizing venom harvests and enhanced snakebite treatment capacity.