title: Snake venom components and their cross-reactivity: a review.
abstract: Snake venoms are complex mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds, many of which display biological activity. It has been demonstrated that antisera raised against whole venom or a single purified venom protein from one species of snake will react with proteins in the venom of other species. This cross-reactivity between species may have applications in determining snake phylogeny, but recent studies on the variation of venom components within a species make these evolutionary conclusions questionable.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Infectivity Group, Biomedical Defense Section, Defense Research Establishment Suffield, Ralston, Alta., Canada.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bhatti
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003429:Cross Reactions; D050830:L-Amino Acid Oxidase; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D012910:Snake Venoms; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D050830:L-Amino Acid Oxidase; D010741:Phospholipases A; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases