Publication Date:
2024-02-01
Description:
Snake venoms are complex mixtures of toxins that differ on interspecific (between species)
\nand intraspecific (within species) levels. Whether venom variation within a group of closely related
\nspecies is explained by the presence, absence and/or relative abundances of venom toxins remains
\nlargely unknown. Taipans (Oxyuranus spp.) and brown snakes (Pseudonaja spp.) represent medically
\nrelevant species of snakes across the Australasian region and provide an excellent model clade
\nfor studying interspecific and intraspecific venom variation. Using liquid chromatography with
\nultraviolet and mass spectrometry detection, we analyzed a total of 31 venoms covering all species of
\nthis monophyletic clade, including widespread localities. Our results reveal major interspecific and
\nintraspecific venom variation in Oxyuranus and Pseudonaja species, partially corresponding with their
\ngeographical regions and phylogenetic relationships. This extensive venom variability is generated
\nby a combination of the absence/presence and differential abundance of venom toxins. Our study
\nhighlights that venom systems can be highly dynamical on the interspecific and intraspecific levels
\nand underscores that the rapid toxin evolvability potentially causes major impacts on neglected
\ntropical snakebites.
Keywords:
snake venom
;
venom variation
;
evolvability
;
liquid chromatography
;
mass spectrometry
Repository Name:
National Museum of Natural History, Netherlands
Type:
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Format:
application/pdf
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