New Aspects in Clinical Characteristics and Toxicology of Animal Venom

Dear Colleagues,

New Aspects in the Clinical Characteristics and Toxicology of Animal Venom are an important topic. Animal venoms pose a significant threat to human health, and today, there is a notable gap to be filled concerning their effects on animals, which represents a research vein to be explored. A better understanding of these venoms’ actions and potential methods of inhibition, coupled with new tools to understand their clinical and toxicological characteristics as a system, may assist in the development of more effective treatments and the prevention of accidents. The chemical and biochemical composition of animal venoms, the mechanisms of action of animal venoms, individual and intraspecific variability in venom toxicity, and the factors that influence human responses to animal venoms have been explored for years. The use of antivenom is a mandatory therapeutic procedure, but with additional variations. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo tests have aided in the discovery of new actions of toxins, which are collectively referred to as enzymatic toxins.

Much is already known about the topic of venomous animal toxins and their actions. However, currently, we are experiencing irreversible changes in our climate, the greenhouse effect, and high population growth; these changes will have significant consequences for our environment and people's health.

The questions are whether climate change, population growth, and changes in ecosystems can affect aspects of the clinical characteristics and toxicology of animal venom. Can these changes affect the behavior, distribution, and chemical composition of animal venoms, which might have implications for human health? If so, what is the extent of this change?

Climate change is causing a series of alterations in the environment, including changes in temperature, precipitation, food availability, and other factors. Can these alterations affect the behavior, distribution, and chemical composition of animal venoms? Can climate change lead to changes in the chemical composition of animal venoms, and could this result in changes in therapeutic conduct?

The increase in the human population means that more people are living in areas in which venomous animals are found. This heightens the risk of contact between humans and these animals, potentially leading to accidents; said accidents have been happening as new cities emerge and various venomous animals begin to coexist in these new urban habitats. Will this affect the behavior and chemical composition of venoms, and the species of venomous animals, and is the healthcare system prepared for the necessary interventions?

Could population growth and changes in ecosystems have significant implications for human health? Could these changes lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of animal venom accidents?

Will the development of new technologies for the diagnosis, analysis of the extent of severity, and treatment and prevention of animal venom accidents be necessary? Will the current methods be sufficient?

The development of new methods for the characterization of animal venoms, such as mass spectrometry and structural biochemistry, may play a vital role, along with the use of computational models for the simulation of the action of animal venoms, thereby elucidating the actions of toxins and the adoption of natural and synthetic compounds for the treatment of accidents. This would allow for the development of new therapies for the treatment of animal venom accidents.

This is a topic of global interest. Animal venoms are found on all continents, and accidents involving these venoms can occur anywhere in the world. These accidents may cause significant harm to humans, both in terms of deaths and permanent consequences, and are constantly changing due to human factors and our relationship with the environment.

Thus, in this call, we are encouraging venom researchers to write about the following topics:

1. The impact of climate change, population growth, and changes in ecosystems on the clinical characteristics and toxicology of animal venom. This area is vital, because environmental changes are altering the behavior, distribution, and chemical composition of animal venoms, which may have implications for human health.
2. Public health and prevention; evaluation of the healthcare system's readiness to handle a potential increase in poisoning incidences; and the development of preventive and educational strategies to minimize the risk of animal venom accidents in expanding urban areas.
3. The development of new technologies for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of animal venom accidents. This area is important because current methods may not be sufficient to cope with the increased frequency and severity of animal venom accidents, and the adoption of new adjuvants or medications alongside antivenom is necessary to combat oxidative stress, cellular damage, etc.
4. Understanding the action of animal venoms at the molecular and cellular level, primarily using in silico models and molecular dynamics of the actions of compounds on the toxin. This area is vital for the development of new treatments that are more effective and less toxic.

Prof. Dr. Marcos Hikari Toyama
Guest Editor

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• venomous animal
• venom
• envenoming
• antivenom
• drug
• therapeutics
• toxicology
• pharmaceutical