FROM VENOM TO MEDICINE: REPTILE TOXINS AS A SOURCE OF THERAPEUTIC INNOVATION

Abstract

Natural toxins have for centuries evoked fear, fascination, and scientific curiosity. Today, it is well recognized that reptile venoms are not merely weapons for predation or defense, but also an exceptionally rich source of bioactive molecules with significant potential for drug development. Over millions of years of evolution, complex mixtures of peptides, enzymes, and proteins have emerged that precisely target key physiological pathways, including blood coagulation, neural signaling, metabolism, and cellular communication. This remarkable specificity positions venoms among the most important sources of inspiration for modern translational medicine and emphasizes the importance and power of comparative research.

Od strupa do zdravila: plazilski toksini kot vir terapevtskih inovacij

Izvleček: Naravni toksini že stoletja vzbujajo strah, fascinacijo in znanstveno radovednost. Danes vemo, da strupi plazilcev niso zgolj orožje za lov ali obrambo, temveč predstavljajo izjemno bogat vir bioaktivnih molekul z velikim potencialom za razvoj novih zdravil. Evolucija je skozi milijone let oblikovala kompleksne mešanice peptidov, encimov in proteinov, ki natančno ciljajo ključne fiziološke poti, vključno s strjevanjem krvi, živčnim signaliziranjem, presnovo in celično komunikacijo. Prav ta visoka specifičnost omogoča, da strupi predstavljajo enega najpomembnejših virov navdiha za sodobno translacijsko medicino ter poudarjajo pomen in moč primerjalnih raziskav.

Ključne besede: strupi plazilcev; kačji strupi; translacijska medicina; hemostaza; tromboza; razvoj zdravil; GLP-1; antikoagulanti