Snake Bites Venom and Anti-Venom
SNAKE BITES VENOM AND ANTI-VENOM
Snake venom is modified saliva and is produced by modified saliva glands.
Venoms are rich in hydrolithic enzymes, a complex mix of polypeptides, nucleases, peptidases, etc., which help digest the snake's prey. Some of them also enhance or contribute to the toxic effect of the venom. As early as 1949 it was shown that an enzyme from the Bothrops species produces a vasodilation resulting from the production of a hypotensor neuropeptide, bradykinin. This had important consequences for man leading to drugs for the control of blood pressure.
The proteins that can kill or immobilize prey vary and differ in their effect and the percentages in which they are present in venom.
| Some toxins and their effects |
|Class |Examples |Action |
|α-Neiurotoxins |a-Bungarotoxin, a-toxin, erabutoxin, cobrotoxin|Blocks neuromuscular transmission by linking, like |
| | |curare, onto the cholinergic receptor found on the |
| | |skeletal muscle fibers |
|-Toxins |κ-Toxin |Blocks some of the central nervous system's cholinergic |
| | |receptors |
|β-Neurotoxins |Notexin, ammodytoxin, β-bungarotoxin, crotoxin,|Blocks neuromuscular transmission by keeping nerve ends |
| |taipoxin |from liberating acetylcholine. Possible interaction with
Snake venom is modified saliva and is produced by modified saliva glands.
Venoms are rich in hydrolithic enzymes, a complex mix of polypeptides, nucleases, peptidases, etc., which help digest the snake's prey. Some of them also enhance or contribute to the toxic effect of the venom. As early as 1949 it was shown that an enzyme from the Bothrops species produces a vasodilation resulting from the production of a hypotensor neuropeptide, bradykinin. This had important consequences for man leading to drugs for the control of blood pressure.
The proteins that can kill or immobilize prey vary and differ in their effect and the percentages in which they are present in venom.
| Some toxins and their effects |
|Class |Examples |Action |
|α-Neiurotoxins |a-Bungarotoxin, a-toxin, erabutoxin, cobrotoxin|Blocks neuromuscular transmission by linking, like |
| | |curare, onto the cholinergic receptor found on the |
| | |skeletal muscle fibers |
|-Toxins |κ-Toxin |Blocks some of the central nervous system's cholinergic |
| | |receptors |
|β-Neurotoxins |Notexin, ammodytoxin, β-bungarotoxin, crotoxin,|Blocks neuromuscular transmission by keeping nerve ends |
| |taipoxin |from liberating acetylcholine. Possible interaction with