African Elapid and Viperid Snake Venom Toxins

This target represents a complex mixture of bioactive proteins and peptides derived from the venom of medically significant African snakes, including cobras (Naja), mambas (Dendroaspis), and vipers (Bitis, Echis). These toxins primarily consist of three-finger toxins (3FTx), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), and serine proteases (SVSPs) [WHO, 2019]. Biologically, they function by disrupting the nervous system through neurotoxicity, interfering with blood coagulation via hemotoxicity, and causing localized tissue destruction through cytotoxicity [Casewell et al., 2020]. In the context of disease, these toxins are the causative agents of snakebite envenomation, leading to symptoms ranging from respiratory failure and paralysis to systemic hemorrhage and necrosis [The Lancet, 2017]. Therapeutic intervention typically involves polyvalent antivenoms that contain antibodies designed to bind and neutralize these diverse toxins [PubMed, 2021]. Emerging treatments also include small-molecule inhibitors like varespladib and marimastat, which target specific enzymatic components of the venom to prevent systemic damage [Lewin et al., 2016; Albulescu et al., 2020].

Other names

African elapid toxinsAfrican viperid toxinsNaja nigricollis venom proteinsDendroaspis polylepis venom proteinsBitis arietans venom proteinsEchis species venom proteinsNaja mossambica venom proteinsBitis caudalis venom proteinsOphitoxins

Antibody-mediated neutralization of venom proteins, competitive inhibition of phospholipase A2 enzymes, and chelation-based inhibition of zinc-dependent metalloproteinases.