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Advances in Venom Research: Biological Activities, Therapeutic Potential, and Molecular...
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Advances in Venom Research: Biological Activities, Therapeutic Potential, and Molecular Mechanism

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2104

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Montamas Suntravat

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
Interests: snake venom toxins; pathophysiology; recombinant proteins; molecular mechanisms of action; envenomation; proteomics; vascular permeability; extracellular vesicle; inflammatory responses; signaling pathways
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Juliana Pavan Zuliani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratório de Imunologia Celular Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ-Rondônia, Porto Velho 76812-245, RO, Brazil
2. Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho 76801-059, RO, Brazil
Interests: snake venom toxins; pathophysiology; molecular mechanisms of action; envenomation; inflammatory responses; innate immunity; signaling pathways; inflammatory mediators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Venom research has significantly advanced our understanding of the biological activities and therapeutic potential of various animal venoms and toxins. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent breakthroughs and novel insights into the multifaceted roles of venom, in both natural and medical contexts. We invite researchers to submit original research articles, comprehensive reviews, short communications, and insightful perspectives that explore the diverse biological activities of animal venoms, including their molecular mechanisms, pharmacological and pathophysiological effects, and therapeutic potential.

Key topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms of venom action;
  • Novel venom-derived peptides and proteins with therapeutic potential;
  • Venom effects on human health and disease models;
  • Technological innovations in venom research and toxinology.

This Special Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and provide a platform for disseminating cutting-edge research that bridges the gap between basic science and clinical applications. By enhancing our understanding of venom components and their mechanisms of action, we aim to uncover new avenues for drug discovery and therapeutic interventions. We look forward to your contributions to this dynamic and impactful field of study.

Dr. Montamas Suntravat
Dr. Juliana Pavan Zuliani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • venoms
  • toxins
  • biological activities
  • therapeutic potential
  • molecular mechanism
  • venomous animals
  • pharmacological effects

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2417 KiB  
Communication
Two Amino Acid Substitutions Improve the Pharmacological Profile of the Snake Venom Peptide Mambalgin
by Dmitry I. Osmakov, Timur A. Khasanov, Ekaterina E. Maleeva, Vladimir M. Pavlov, Victor A. Palikov, Olga A. Belozerova, Sergey G. Koshelev, Yuliya V. Korolkova, Igor A. Dyachenko, Sergey A. Kozlov and Yaroslav A. Andreev
Toxins 2025, 17(3), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17030101 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 510
Abstract
Mambalgins are peptide inhibitors of acid-sensing ion channels type 1 (ASIC1) with potent analgesic effects in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To optimize recombinant peptide production and enhance pharmacological properties, we developed a mutant analog of mambalgin-1 (Mamb) through molecular modeling and [...] Read more.
Mambalgins are peptide inhibitors of acid-sensing ion channels type 1 (ASIC1) with potent analgesic effects in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To optimize recombinant peptide production and enhance pharmacological properties, we developed a mutant analog of mambalgin-1 (Mamb) through molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis. The resulting peptide, Mamb-AL, features methionine-to-alanine and methionine-to-leucine substitutions, allowing for a more efficient recombinant production protocol in E. coli. Electrophysiological experiments demonstrated that Mamb-AL exhibits three-fold and five-fold greater inhibition of homomeric ASIC1a and ASIC1b channels, respectively, and a two-fold increase in inhibition of heteromeric ASIC1a/3 channels compared with Mamb. In a mouse model of acetic acid-induced writhing pain, Mamb-AL showed a trend toward stronger analgesic efficacy than the wild-type peptide. These improvements in both production efficiency and pharmacological properties make Mamb-AL a valuable tool for studying ASIC channels and a promising candidate for analgesic drug development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Venom Research: Biological Activities, Therapeutic Potential, and Molecular Mechanism)
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14 pages, 1375 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Purified Opharin Isolated from the Venom of King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in Modulating Macrophage Inflammatory Responses and Vascular Integrity
by Tuchakorn Lertwanakarn, Armando Reyes, Emelyn Salazar, Martha Barrientos, Elda E. Sanchez and Montamas Suntravat
Toxins 2024, 16(12), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16120550 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 950
Abstract
King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom comprises a diverse array of proteins and peptides. However, the roles and properties of these individual components are still not fully understood. Among these, Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRiSPs) are recognized but not fully characterized. This study [...] Read more.
King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom comprises a diverse array of proteins and peptides. However, the roles and properties of these individual components are still not fully understood. Among these, Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRiSPs) are recognized but not fully characterized. This study investigates the biological effects of Opharin, the CRiSP from king cobra venom (KCV). The effects of Opharin on cytokine production, specifically on IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-10 release, were evaluated over 24 h in monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) cells. Notably, the levels of these inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased over 24 h, with values higher than those observed in cells treated with crude KCV at most time points. Additionally, the in vivo Miles assay in mice revealed that Opharin increased vascular permeability by 26% compared to the negative control group. These findings highlight the Opharin’s role in severe inflammatory and vascular responses observed in king cobra envenomation. Still, further research is essential to elucidate the pharmacological and toxicological effects of venom components, ultimately enhancing the clinical management of envenomation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Venom Research: Biological Activities, Therapeutic Potential, and Molecular Mechanism)
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