Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles

by Stephen P. Mackessy (Editor)

Overview

Bringing together contributions from many of the world's leading experts in toxinology, the Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles covers a broad range of topics relevant to a wide range of professionals including clinicians, biomedical researchers, herpetologists, and zoologists, as well as pharmacologists and evolutionary scientists. It discusses phylogeny and gland structure, venom enzymes and toxins, non-protein venom components, and envenomation and its treatment, including ideal treatments contrasted with that which is actually available in specific areas of the world. The text also addresses venom enzymes and assay procedures used to detect venoms along with venom toxins.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780849391651
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/14/2009
Pages:	552
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Stephen P. Mackessy is currently professor of biology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). His research broadly encompasses the biology of venomous snakes and the biochemistry of snake venoms, and he has published over one hundred scientific papers, book chapters, and natural history notes.

Table of Contents

Field of Reptile Toxinology: Snakes, Lizards, and Their Venoms, S.P. Mackessy

Recent Advances in Venomous Snake Systematics, A. Quijada-Mascareñas and W. Wüster

Reptile Venom Glands: Form, Function, and Future, S.A. Weinstein, T.L. Smith, and K.V. Kardong

Snake Venom Metalloproteinases, J.W. Fox and S.M.T. Serrano

Snake Venom Metalloproteinases: Biological Roles and Participation in the Pathophysiology of Envenomation, J.M. Gutiérrez, A. Rucavado, and T. Escalante

Thrombin-like Snake Venom Serine Proteinases, D.J. Phillips, S.D. Swenson, and F.S. Markland, Jr.

Snake Venom Nucleases, Nucleotidases, and Phosphomonoesterases, B.L. Dhananjaya, B.S. Vishwanath, and C.J.M. D’Souza

Snake Venom Phospholipase A2 Enzymes, R. Doley, X. Zhou, and R.M. Kini

Snake Venom Acetylcholinesterase, M. Ahmed, J.B.T. Rocha, V.M. Morsch, and M.R.C. Schetinger

Snake Venom L-Amino Acid Oxidases, N.-H. Tan and S.-Y. Fung

Hyaluronidases, a Neglected Class of Glycosidases from Snake Venom: Beyond a Spreading Factor, K. Kemparaju, K. S. Girish, and S. Nagaraju

Enzyme Inhibitors in Reptile Venoms and Innate Immunity to Snake Venoms, A.G. da Costa Neves-Ferreira, R.H. Valente, J. Perales, and G.B. Domont

Snake Venom Three-Finger Toxins, R.P. Hegde, N. Rajagopalan, R. Doley, and R.M. Kini

Sarafotoxins, the Snake Venom Homologs of the Endothelins, A. Bdolah

Fasciculins: Toxins from Mamba Venoms That Inhibit Acetylcholinesterase, A.L. Harvey

Cysteine-rich Secretory Proteins in Reptile Venoms, W.H. Heyborne and S.P. Mackessy

Snake Venomics and Disintegrins: Portrait and Evolution of a Family of Snake Venom Integrin Antagonists, J.J. Calvete, P. Juárez, and L. Sanz

Reptile C-type Lectins, X.-Y. Du and K.J. Clemetson

Snake Venom Nerve Growth Factors, M.F. Lavin, S. Earl, G. Birrell, L. St. Pierre, J. de Jersey, and P. Masci

The Role of Purine and Pyrimidine Nucleosides in Snake Venoms, S.D. Aird

Envenomation: Prevention and Treatment in Australia, J. White

Snakebite in Africa: Current Situation and Urgent Needs, J.-P. Chippaux

Envenomations by Reptiles in the United States, J. Smith and S. Bush

Snakebite Envenomation in Central America, J.M. Gutiérrez

Index

Editorial Reviews

"It is compact, packed with information, and more affordable than other existing handbooks on animal toxins. … There is no doubt that Mackessey has assembled the foremost experts in the field of toxinology and clinical management of envenomation to contribute to this volume. A particularly valuable feature of this book is the inclusion of topics that many toxinologists would perceive as marginal to the field, and which are often absent in similar volumes.

Ultimately, the strength of this volume lies in its ability to reveal the gaps in our knowledge as well as reviewing the knowledge itself. It provides a valuable snapshot of the field of reptile toxinology at the end of the first decade of the 21^st Century, and for that it deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in venoms and envenomation."
—Anita Malhotra, School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, United Kingdom, Copeia, June 2012

"… comfortably fills an existing hole in the literature for toxinologists, biochemists, physicians and herpetologists interested in natural toxins. Representing the most comprehensive review of reptile venoms for a number of years. This book provides a thorough and attractive exploration of the field of toxinology, with numerous colour (an eight page insert) and black and white figures supporting detailed text which primarily describes the molecular, structural and functional aspects of the toxic components that make some reptile venoms so potent. … a valuable addition to the shelf of anyone interested in venom biology …"
—Herpetological Bulletin

From the Publisher