Venom-based drug discovery

What is it about?

In this chapter, we describe in vivo methods of assaying venoms and venom components, and then describe approaches that use more defined assay systems. Many venom components activate or inhibit ion channels or cellular signalling components. These components range from agonists or antagonists of ion channels (e.g. voltage-gated calcium, sodium and potassium channels) or signalling receptors (e.g. acetylcholine, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and kinin receptors), to protein toxins and hydrolytic enzymes. As such, they are a rich source of potential drugs.

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