A5078081951- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Bioactive Natural Diterpenoids Research
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Dye analysis and toxicity
- Healthcare and Venom Research
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Congenital heart defects research
- Medicinal Plant Pharmacodynamics Research
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
2015-2024
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2020-2024
Leiden University
2010-2022
Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2022
Bangor University
2012-2013
Significance Snake venoms are toxic protein cocktails used for prey capture. To investigate the evolution of these complex biological weapon systems, we sequenced genome a venomous snake, king cobra, and assessed composition venom gland expressed genes, small RNAs, secreted proteins. We show that regulatory components secretory system may have evolved from pancreatic origin toxin genes were co-opted by distinct genomic mechanisms. After co-option, important capture massively expanded gene...
Snakes possess many extreme morphological and physiological adaptations. Identification of the molecular basis these traits can provide novel understanding for vertebrate biology medicine. Here, we study snake using genome sequence Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), a model metabolic adaptation. We compare king cobra genomes along with genomic samples from other snakes perform transcriptome analysis to gain insights into phenotypes python. discovered rapid massive transcriptional...
Snake envenoming causes several potentially lethal pathologies. The specific pathology is dictated by the toxin composition of venom, which varies species, geography and ontogeny. This variation severely restricts paraspecific efficacy antivenoms used to treat snakebite victims. With a view devising pathology-specific treatments, we assessed procoagulant activity 57 snake venoms investigated various antivenoms. We find that act differentially on key steps coagulation cascade, certain...
Bandy-bandies (genus Vermicella) are small (50-100cm) black and white burrowing elapids with a highly specialised diet of blindsnakes (Typhlopidae). There currently 5 recognized species in the genus, all located Australia, Vermicella annulata most encountered largest distribution. Morphological mitochondrial analyses specimens collected from Weipa area, Cape York, Queensland reveal existence new species, which we describe as parscauda sp. nov. Mitochondrial DNA analysis (16S ND4) external...
The cytotoxicity of the venom 25 species Old World elapid snake was tested and compared with morphological behavioural adaptations hooding spitting. We determined that, contrary to previous assumptions, venoms spitting are not consistently more cytotoxic than those closely related non-spitting species. While this correlation between found among African cobras, it present Asian cobras. On other hand, a consistent positive observed utilisation defensive display that cobras famous for. Hooding...
Snakebite is a global tropical disease that has long had huge implications for human health and well-being. Despite its long-standing medical importance, it been the most neglected of diseases. Reflective this many aspects pathology have underinvestigated. by species in Elapidae family typically characterised neurotoxic effects result flaccid paralysis. Thus, while clinically significant disturbances to coagulation cascade reported, bulk research date focused upon neurotoxins. In order fill...
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes are important toxins found in many snake venoms, and they can exhibit a variety of toxic activities including causing hemolysis and/or anticoagulation. In this study, the inhibiting effects small molecule PLA2 inhibitor varespladib on venom PLA2s was investigated by nanofractionation analytics, which combined chromatography, mass spectrometry (MS), bioassays. The venoms medically species Bothrops asper, Calloselasma rhodostoma, Deinagkistrodon acutus, Daboia...
Snakebite envenoming is a major issue in certain developing parts of the world, with tens thousands deaths and multitude lingering permanent medical conditions on yearly basis as result. Venoms consist plethora biologically active compounds, mainly peptides proteins, that can induce these effects. Snake venom characterisation, terms identifying quantifying toxin proteins crude venoms, aid pinpointing toxins responsible for pathologies observed snakebite victims. It also assist new generation...
Snake venoms are complex mixtures of toxins that differ on interspecific (between species) and intraspecific (within levels. Whether venom variation within a group closely related species is explained by the presence, absence and/or relative abundances remains largely unknown. Taipans (Oxyuranus spp.) brown snakes (Pseudonaja represent medically relevant across Australasian region provide an excellent model clade for studying variation. Using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet mass...
Monitor lizards are emblematic reptiles that widely distributed in the Old World. Although relatively well studied vertebrate research, their biogeographic history is still controversial. We constructed a molecular dataset for 54 anguimorph species, including representatives of all families with detailed sampling Varanidae (38 species). Our results consistent an Asian origin followed by dispersal to Africa 41 (49–33) Ma, possibly via Iranian route. Another major event was monitors Australia...
Venom systems are key adaptations that have evolved throughout the tree of life and typically facilitate predation or defense. Despite venoms being model for studying a variety evolutionary physiological processes, many taxonomic groups remain understudied, including venomous mammals. Within order Eulipotyphla, multiple shrew species solenodons oral venom systems. morphological variation their delivery systems, it remains unclear whether represents ancestral state in this group is result...
Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that results in variety of systemic and local pathologies envenomed victims responsible for around 138,000 deaths every year. Many snake venoms cause severe coagulopathy makes vulnerable to suffering life-threating haemorrhage. The mechanisms action coagulopathic venom toxins are diverse can result both anticoagulant procoagulant effects. However, because consist mixture numerous protein peptide components, high throughput characterizations specific...
Animal-derived antivenoms are the only specific therapies currently available for treatment of snake envenoming, but these products have a number limitations associated with their efficacy, safety and affordability use in tropical snakebite victims. Small molecule drugs drug candidates regarded as promising alternatives filling critical therapeutic gap between envenoming effective treatment. In this study, by using an advanced analytical technique that combines chromatography, mass...
During cardiogenesis the epicardium, covering surface of myocardial tube, has been ascribed several functions essential for normal heart development vertebrates from lampreys to mammals. We investigated a novel function epicardium in ventricular species with partial and complete septation. These include reptiles, birds Adult turtles, lizards snakes have complex ventricle three cava, partially separated by horizontal vertical septa. The crocodilians, mammals origins some 100 million years...