Skip to the content
 

Venoms and Toxins




Photo: Luke Allen, Venom Supplies Pty Ltd, Tanunda

Venoms and Toxins

Background

Australia is home to some of the most venomous creatures in the world. To date little, if any, work has been undertaken on many of these venoms. The focus of our group is on the pharmacological and biochemical examination of venoms from Australasian animals. We are interested in identifying the primary mode of action of these venoms and isolating and characterising components. We are also interested in examining whether the currently available antivenoms can be utilised for envenoming by other species (some closely related while others are not). This research will help in the identification of new, or improved, treatment strategies, the identification of new highly potent research tools and the identification of lead compounds for pharmaceuticals.

Current projects

We are currently working on a broad range of Australian and exotic venoms with a particular emphasis on snake and marine venoms. In particular, we are interested in the neurotoxic, myotoxic and cardiovascular effects of these venoms and their toxins. To discuss projects please contact Professor Wayne Hodgson

Personnel

  • Professor Wayne Hodgson
  • A/Professor Geoff Isbister (Adjunct)
  • Dr Eddie Rowan (University of Strathclyde, Scotland - External consultant)
  • Dr Nicki Konstantakopoulos (Postdoctoral Fellow)
  • Andrew Hart (PhD student)
  • Rachelle Kornhauser (PhD student)
  • Usswin Santiphanpithaks (PhD student)
  • Janeyuth Chaisakul (PhD student)
  • Jure Skejic (PhD student)
  • Muhamad Rusdi Ahmad Rusmili (PhD student)
  • Carmel Barber (PhD student)
  • Daryl Yang (Honours student)
  • Steven Fernandez (Honours student)
  • Kaijun (Ralph) Lin (Honours student)
  • Nami Nagar (Honours student)

Collaborators

  • Professor Graham Nicholson (University of Technology, Sydney)
  • Professor Ian Smith and Dr Sanjaya Kuruppu (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University)
  • Dr Pierre Escoubas (Nice, France)
  • A/Professor Jamie Seymour (James Cook University, Queensland)
  • Dr Diane Brinkman (Australian Institute of Marine Science, Queensland)
  • A/Professor Bryan Grieg Fry (University of Queensland)
  • Peter Mirtschin and Nathan Dunstan (Venom Supplies Pty Ltd, South Australia)

Publications (2005-present)

  1. Kalam, Y., Isbister, G.K., Mirtschin, P., Hodgson, W.C. & Konstantakopoulos, N. Validation of a cell-based assay to differentiate between the cytotoxic effects of elapid snake venoms. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Methods, 63, 137-142, 2011.

  2. Fry, B.G., Winter, K., Norman, J.A., Roelants, K., Nabuurs, R.J.A., van Osch, M.J.P., Teeuwisse, W.M., van der Weerd, L., McNaughtan, J.E., Kwok, H.F., Scheib, H., Greisman, L., Kochva, E., Miller, L.J., Gao, F., Karas, J., Scanlon, D., Lin, F., Kuruppu, S., Shaw, C., Wong, L. & Hodgson, W.C. Functional and structural diversification of the Anguimorpha lizard venom system. Mol. Cell. Proteomics, 9, 2369-2390, 2010.

  3. Chaisakul, J., Konstantakopoulos, N., Smith, A.I. & Hodgson, W.C. Isolation and characterisation of P-EPTX-Ap1a and P-EPTX-Ar1a: pre-synaptic neurotoxins from the venom of the northern (Acanthophis praelongus) and Irian Jayan (Acanthophis rugosus) death adders. Biochem. Pharmacol., 80, 895-902, 2010.

  4. Kulawickrama, S., O’Leary, M.A., Hodgson,W.C., Brown, S.G.A., Jacoby, T., Davern, K. & Isbister, G.K. Development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for measuring taipan venom in serum. Toxicon, 55, 1510-1518, 2010.

  5. Blacklow, B., Konstantakopoulos, K., Hodgson, W.C. & Nicholson, G.M. Presence of presynaptic neurotoxin complexes in the venoms of Australo-Papuan death adders (Acanthophis spp.). Toxicon, 55, 1171-1180, 2010.


    Kornhauser, R., Hart, A.J., Reeve, S., Smith, I.A., Fry, B.G. & Hodgson, W.C. Variations in the pharmacological profile of post-synaptic neurotoxins isolated from the venoms of the Papuan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni) and coastal (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus) taipans. NeuroToxicology, 31, 239-243, 2010.

  6. Winter, K.L., Isbister, G.K., McGowan, S., Konstantakopoulos, N., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. A pharmacological and biochemical examination of the geographical variation of Chironex fleckeri venom. Toxicol. Lett., 192, 419-424, 2010.

  7. Isbister, G.K., O’Leary, M.A., Hagan, J., Nichols, K., Jacoby, T., Davern, K., Hodgson, W.C. & Schneider, J.J. Cross-neutralisation of Australian brown snake, taipan and death adder venoms by monovalent antibodies. Vaccine, 28, 798-802, 2010.

  8. Fry, B.G., Roelants, K., Winter, K.L., Hodgson, W.C., Greisman, L., Kwok, H.F., Scanlon, D., Karas, J., Shaw, C., Wong, L. & Norman, J.A. Novel venom proteins produced by differential domain-expression strategies in beaded lizards and Gila Monsters (genus Heloderma). Mol. Biol. Evol. 27, 395-407, 2010.

  9. Fry, B.G., Wroe, S., Teeuwisse, W., van Osch, M.J.P., Moreno, K., Ingle, J., McHenry, C., Ferrara, T., Clausen, P., Scheib, H., Winter, K.L., Greisman, L., Roelants, K., van der Weerd, L., Clemente, C.J., Giannakis, E., Hodgson, W.C., Luz, S., Martelli, P., Krishnasamy, K., Kochva, E., Kwok, H.F., Scanlon, D., Karas, J., Citron, D.M., Goldstein, E.J.C., McNaughtan, J.E. & Norman, J.A. Central role for venom in predation by the Komodo Dragon and the giant extinct Megalania. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 106, 8969-8974, 2009.

  10. Konstantakopoulos, N., Isbister, G.K., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. A cell-based assay for screening of antidotes to and antivenom against Chironex fleckeri (box jellyfish) venom. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Methods, 59, 166-170, 2009.

  11. Winter, K.L., Isbister, G.K., Jacoby, T., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. An in vivo comparison of the efficacy of CSL box jellyfish antivenom with antibodies raised against nematocyst-derived Chironex fleckeri venom. Toxicol. Lett., 187, 94-98, 2009.

  12. O’Leary, M.A., Kornhauser, R.S. Hodgson, W.C. & Isbister, G.K. An examination of the activity of expired and mistreated commercial antivenoms. T. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. H., 103, 937-942, 2009.

  13. Hodgson, W.C. & Isbister, G.K. (Review) The application of toxins and venoms to cardiovascular drug discovery. Curr. Opin. Pharmacol., 9, 173-176, 2009.

  14. Herzig, V. & Hodgson, W.C. Intersexual variations in the pharmacological properties of Coremiocnemis tropix (Araneae, Theraphosidae) spider venom. Toxicon, 53, 196-205, 2009.

  15. Winter, K.L., Isbister, G.K., Schneider, J.J., Konstantakopoulos, N., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. An examination of the cardiovascular effects of an ‘Irukandji’ jellyfish, Alatina nr mordens. Toxicol. Lett., 179, 118-123, 2008.

  16. Herzig, V. & Hodgson, W.C. Neurotoxic and insecticidal properties of venom from the Australian theraphosid spider Selenotholus foelschei. Neurotoxicol., 29, 471-475, 2008.
  17. Herzig, V., Khalife A.A., Chong, Y., Isbister, G.K., Currie, B.J., Churchill, T.B., Horner, S., Escoubas, P., Nicholson, G.M. & Hodgson, W.C. Intersexual variations in Northern (Missulena pruinosa) and Eastern (M. bradleyi) mouse spider venom. Toxicon, 51, 1167-1177, 2008.

  18. Kuruppu, S., Smith, A.I., Isbister, G.K. & Hodgson, W.C. (Review) Neurotoxins from Australo-Papuan elapids: a biochemical and pharmacological perspective. Crit. Rev. Toxicol., 38, 73-86, 2008.

  19. Conduit, R., Sasse, A., Hodgson, W., Trinder, J., Veasey, S. & Tucker, A. (Review) A neurotoxinological approach to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleep Med. Rev., 11, 361-375, 2007.

  20. Kuruppu, S., Robinson, S., Hodgson, W.C. & Fry, B.G. The in vitro neurotoxic and myotoxic effects of the venom from the Suta genus (Curl Snakes) of elapid snakes. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 101, 407-410, 2007.

  21. Chong, Y., Hayes, J.L., Sollod, B., Wen, S., Wilson, D.T., Hains, P.G., Hodgson, W.C., Broady, K.W., King, G.F. & Nicholson, G.M. The w‑atracotoxins: selective blockers of insect M-LVA and HVA calcium channels. Biochem. Pharmacol., 74, 623-638, 2007.

  22. Hodgson, W.C., Dal Belo, C.A. & Rowan, E.G. The neuromuscular activity of paradoxin: a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus). Neuropharmacol., 52, 1229-1236, 2007.

  23. Winter, K.L., Isbister, G.K., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. An in vivo examination of the stability of venom from the Australian box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri. Toxicon, 49, 804-809, 2007.

  24. Lumsden, N.G., Banerjee, Y., Kini, R.M., Kuruppu, S. & Hodgson, W.C. Isolation and characterization of rufoxin, a novel protein exhibiting neurotoxicity from the venom of Psammophiine, Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus (Rufous beaked snake). Neuropharmacol., 52, 1065-1070, 2007.

  25. Winter, K.L., Fernando, R., Ramasamy, S., Seymour, J.E., Isbister, G.K. & Hodgson, W.C. The in vitro cardiovascular effects of two chirodropid (Chironex fleckeri and Chiropsella bronzie) venoms. Toxicol. Lett., 168, 13-20, 2007.

  26. Kim, E., Lee, S., Kim, J-S., Yoon, W.D., Lim D., Hart, A.J. & Hodgson, W.C. Cardiovascular effects of Nemopilema nomurai (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae) jellyfish venom in rats. Toxicol. Lett., 167, 205-211, 2006.

  27. Hodgson, W.C. & Wickramaratna, J.C. (Invited review) Snake venoms and their toxins: an Australian perspective. Toxicon, 48, 931-940, 2006.

  28. Clarke, C., Kuruppu, S., Reeve, S., Smith, A.I. & Hodgson, W.C. Oxylepitoxin-1, a reversible neurotoxin from the venom of the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus). Peptides, 27, 2655-2660, 2006.

  29. Tan, L.C., Kuruppu, S., Smith, A.I., Reeve, S. & Hodgson, W.C. Isolation and pharmacological characterisation of hostoxin-1, a postsynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of the Stephen’s banded snake (Hoplecephalus stephensi). Neuropharmacol., 51, 782-788, 2006.

  30. Kuruppu, S., Fry, B.G. & Hodgson, W.C. In vitro neurotoxic and myotoxic effects of the venom from the Black Whip Snake (Demansia papuensis) and their neutralisation with antivenoms. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol., 33, 364-368, 2006.

  31. Fry, B.G., Vidal, N., Norman, J.A., Vonk, F.J., Scheib, H., Ramjan, R., Kuruppu, S., Fung, K., Hedges, S.B., Richardson, M.K., Hodgson, W.C., Ignjatovic, V., Summerhayes, R. & Kochva, E. Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes. Nature, 439, 584-588, 2006.

  32. Hart, A.J., Smith, A.I., Reeve, S. & Hodgson, W.C. Isolation and characterisation of acanmyotoxin-2 and acanmyotoxin-3, myotoxins from the venom of the death adder Acanthophis sp. Seram. Biochem. Pharmacol., 70, 1807-1813, 2005.

  33. Kuruppu, S., Reeve, S., Banerjee, Y., Kini, R.M., Smith, A.I. & Hodgson, W.C. Isolation and pharmacological characterisation of cannitoxin, a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of the Papuan taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni). J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 315, 1196-1202, 2005.

  34. Kuruppu, S., Reeve, S., Smith, A.I. & Hodgson, W.C. Isolation and pharmacological characterisation of papuantoxin-1, a postsynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of the Papuan black snake (Pseudechis papuanus). Biochem. Pharmacol., 70, 794-800, 2005.

  35. Wen, S., Wilson, D.T.R., Kuruppu, S., Korsinczky, M.L.J., Hedrick, J., Pang, L., Szeto, T., Hodgson, W.C., Alewood, P.F. & Nicholson, G.M. Discovery of an MIT-like atracotoxin family: spider venom peptides that share sequence homology but not pharmacological properties with AVIT family proteins. Peptides, 26, 2412-2426, 2005.

  36. Kuruppu, S., Isbister, G.K. & Hodgson, W.C. Phospholipase A2 dependent effects of the venom from the New Guinean small-eyed snake Micropechis ikaheka. Muscle and Nerve, 32, 81-87, 2005.

  37. Pung, Y.F., Wong, T-H.P., Kumar, P.P., Hodgson, W.C. & Kini, R.M. Ohanin, a novel protein from king cobra venom induces hypolocomotion and hyperalgesia in mice: its identification, isolation, expression and functional characterization. J. Biol. Chem., 280, 13137-13147, 2005.

  38. Ramasamy, S., Fry, B.G. & Hodgson, W.C. Neurotoxic effects of venoms from seven species of Australasian black snakes (Pseudechis): efficacy of black and tiger snake antivenoms. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol., 32, 7-12, 2005.

  39. Kuruppu, S., Fry, B.G. & Hodgson, W.C. Presynaptic neuromuscular activity of venom from the Brown-Headed Snake (Furina tristis). Toxicon, 45, 383-388, 2005.

  40. Lumsden, N.G., Fry, B.G., Ventura, S., Kini, R.M. & Hodgson, W.C. Pharmacological characterisation of a neurotoxin from the venom of Boiga dendrophila (Mangrove catsnake). Toxicon, 45, 329-334, 2005.

  41. Ramasamy, S., Isbister, G.K., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. The in vivo cardiovascular effects of an Australasian box jellyfish (Chiropsalmus sp.) venom in rats. Toxicon, 45, 321-327, 2005.

  42. Fry, B.G., Wickramaratna, J.C., Lemme, S., Beuve, A., Garbers, D., Hodgson, W.C. & Alewood, P. Novel natriuretic peptides from the venom of the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus): isolation, chemical and biological characterisation. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 327, 1011-1015, 2005.

  43. Lumsden, N.G., Ventura, S., Dauer, R. & Hodgson, W.C. A biochemical and pharmacological examination of Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus (Rufous beaked snake) venom. Toxicon, 45, 219-231, 2005.

  44. Ramasamy, S., Isbister, G.K., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. Pharmacologically distinct cardiovascular effects of box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) venom and a tentacle-only extract in rats. Toxicol. Lett., 155, 219-226, 2005.

  45. Ramasamy, S., Isbister, G.K., Seymour, J.E. & Hodgson, W.C. The in vivo cardiovascular effects of the Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) nematocyst venom and a tentacle extract in rats. Toxicol. Lett., 155, 135-141, 2005.