Applied Venom Proteomics / Venomics

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The proposed project unifies the scientific potential of German and Brazilian research groups for investigating structural, functional, biotechnological and pharmacological aspects of novel proteins and other biomolecules from selected insect, snake and spider venoms from the biodiversity of Europe and Brazil. The collaboration (see letter of intent) will utilize a sophisticated combination of know how and analytical techniques, as well as exchange of animal and insect venoms.We plan to determine in detail for the firs time and in a comparative way, the proteomic compostiions of selceted venoms. Our preliminary investigations showed more than 100 different protein components in the venom of a European snake, 50% of them being unknown compounds. We will isolate and characterize novel venom proteins affecting blood coagulation and clotting, Leishmaniasis and tumor growth. Detailed knowledge of the venom composition will allow the production of specific antivenoms with increased neutralizing effectivness and the investigation of important physiological processes. Beside the proposed joint research the interdisciplinary training and education of the commonly supervised PhD students from the German and Brazilian groups will be given a high priority. For the PhD fellows an exchange program will be implemented.