Drug Discovery Benefits from Venomous Clues
نویسنده
چکیده
Pharmaceutical drug discovery is reliant on innovative research and development approaches that uncover novel agents that could service a drug pipeline. Development of novel drugs to combat human disease is largely dependent on the availability of safe and effective drugs, many of which are under development and evaluation—the so-called “drug pipeline”. While the costs involved in novel drug discovery, research, development and clinical evaluation are quite significant, one approach that can prove both cost-effective and a viable source of bio-therapeutic agents involves bio-prospecting for therapeutically active compounds commonly found in natural resources including microorganisms, plants, invertebrates or reptiles. In a recent issue of Proteomic Insights, Hang Fai Kwok et al provide a historical and current perspective of proteomic and genomic approaches on lizard venoms that have allowed us to understand and appreciate not only this valuable resource of discovering biologically active molecules, but also to alert us to the need of conservation of such invaluable and beneficial natural resources.
منابع مشابه
***Removed from the Issue*** Application of Cell-Based Assay Systems for the Early Screening of Human Drug Hepatotoxicity in the Discovery Phase of Drug Development
متن کامل
Use of Snake Venom for Biomedical Researches and Drug Development
Accidents with venomous animals are a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality. Through the evolution, these animals have used their venomous apparatus for defence and prey capture. During the adaptation process in environment, several changes have occurred in snake venoms constitution. Nowadays, it is currently known that these animals are able to accumulate a mixture of different c...
متن کامل***Removed from the Issue*** Application of Cell-Based Assay Systems for the Early Screening of Human Drug Hepatotoxicity in the Discovery Phase of Drug Development
متن کامل
Microhabitats within venomous cone snails contain diverse actinobacteria.
Actinomycetes can be symbionts in diverse organisms, including both plants and animals. Some actinomycetes benefit their host by producing small molecule secondary metabolites; the resulting symbioses are often developmentally complex. Actinomycetes associated with three cone snails were studied. Cone snails are venomous tropical marine gastropods which have been extensively examined because of...
متن کاملTargeting voltage sensors in sodium channels with spider toxins.
Voltage-activated sodium (Nav) channels are essential in generating and propagating nerve impulses, placing them amongst the most widely targeted ion channels by toxins from venomous organisms. An increasing number of spider toxins have been shown to interfere with the voltage-driven activation process of mammalian Nav channels, possibly by interacting with one or more of their voltage sensors....
متن کامل