Using venoms to map critical and evolutionary conserved vulnerabilities

我们已经开发并应用了新的功能基因组方法来研究毒液的进化。使用CRISPR筛选，我们发现不相关的毒液通过利用相同的漏洞作用于细胞。通过对所有毒液类的这些弱点进行功能映射，我们可以开始开发通用的毒液解毒剂。相反，我们对毒液机制的了解大多来自毒液中生物多样性的一小部分，我们已经开发了基因组工具来研究毒液的“暗物质”。这项工作将导致毒液生物多样性的完整分子特征，新的毒液成分将有助于研究或作为新药。

We have developed and applied new functional genomic approaches to study venom evolution. Using CRISPR screening, we find that unrelated venoms act on cells by exploiting the same vulnerabilities. By functionally mapping these vulnerabilities for all venom classes, we can begin to develop universal venom antidotes. Conversely, much of what we know about venom mechanisms comes from a small percentage of the biodiversity within a venom, and we have developed genomic tools to study the venom “dark matter”. This work will lead to the full molecular characterisation of venom biodiversity, and new venom components will be useful for research or as novel medicines.