Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies

Bittenbinder, Mátyás A., vanThiel, Jory, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Casewell, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8035-4719, Gutiérrez, José-María, Kool, Jeroen and Vonk, Freek J. (2024) 'Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies'. Communications Biology, Vol 7, Issue 1, e358.

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Abstract

Snakebite envenoming is an important public health issue responsible for mortality and severe morbidity. Where mortality is mainly caused by venom toxins that induce cardiovascular disturbances, neurotoxicity, and acute kidney injury, morbidity is caused by toxins that directly or indirectly destroy cells and degrade the extracellular matrix. These are referred to as ‘tissue-damaging toxins’ and have previously been classified in various ways, most of which are based on the tissues being affected (e.g., cardiotoxins, myotoxins). This categorisation, however, is primarily phenomenological and not mechanistic. In this review, we propose an alternative way of classifying cytotoxins based on their mechanistic effects rather than using a description that is organ- or tissue-based. The mechanisms of toxin-induced tissue damage and their clinical implications are discussed. This review contributes to our understanding of fundamental biological processes associated with snakebite envenoming, which may pave the way for a knowledge-based search for novel therapeutic options.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QW Microbiology and Immunology > Antigens and Antibodies. Toxins and Antitoxins > QW 630 Toxins. Antitoxins WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or Environmental Origin, etc > Animal Poisons > WD 410 Reptiles
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06019-6
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	27 Mar 2024 13:57
Last Modified:	27 Mar 2024 13:57
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/24249

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