Venomics: Molecular and functional analysis of Australian snake venoms for development of human therapeutics

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Australian snake venoms are lethal cocktails with potent effects on mammalian physiological processes, designed to immobilize and kill prey animals. Major targets of venom components are the nervous and blood coagulation systems but there is reason to believe that venoms have many other as yet unrecognized effects on mammalian systems. The project will combine techniques of modern molecular biology (particularly transcriptomics and proteomics) with functional and structural analysis of purified venom components. Venoms from approximately 20 Australian snakes will be studied to reveal lead compounds for improved human pharmaceuticals against common disorders such as high blood pressure, bleeding and stroke.