title: Next-generation snake venomics: protein-locus resolution through venom proteome decomplexation.
abstract: Venom research has been continuously enhanced by technological advances. High-throughput technologies are changing the classical paradigm of hypothesis-driven research to technology-driven approaches. However, the thesis advocated in this paper is that full proteome coverage at locus-specific resolution requires integrating the best of both worlds into a protocol that includes decomplexation of the venom proteome prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry matching against a species-specific transcriptome. This approach offers the possibility of proof-checking the species-specific contig database using proteomics data. Immunoaffinity chromatography constitutes the basis of an antivenomics workflow designed to quantify the extent of cross-reactivity of antivenoms against homologous and heterologous venom toxins. In the author's view, snake venomics and antivenomics form part of a biology-driven conceptual framework to unveil the genesis and natural history of venoms, and their within- and between-species toxicological and immunological divergences and similarities. Understanding evolutionary trends across venoms represents the Rosetta Stone for generating broad-ranging polyspecific antivenoms.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain +34 963 391 778 +34 963 690 800 jcalvete@ibv.csic.es.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Calvete
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000378:metabolism; D030562:Databases, Protein; D006801:Humans; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D020543:Proteome; D012910:Snake Venoms
keywords: affinity chromatography; antivenom; antivenomics; mass spectrometry; snake venom; snakebite envenoming; venomics