ABSTRACT
Reptile venoms represent a vast and global resource of raw materials for many different areas of research in the natural sciences, from drug discovery to biochemistry, molecular biology, -omics, evolutionary biology, and behavioral and ecological studies. With the tremendous technical advances in proteomics and genomics over the last 10 years, our understanding of the composition of venoms from many species of medical importance has progressed exponentially, allowing a rational and realistic approach to create universal treatments for snakebite and the attendant morbidities it can produce. In addition, the realization that venoms represent a tractable phenotype that is directly tied to the genome has increased interest in venoms and venomous animals in a wide variety of disciplines, from basic to applied research. Venom toxins have allowed the dissection at the molecular level of many different physiological processes, and there is good reason to believe that investigations of venoms and venomous reptiles will continue to reveal new approaches to understanding the biology and biochemistry of these fascinating animals. Like many organisms worldwide, reptiles are threatened by a myriad of challenges, and many species have experienced local extirpation and may be facing extinction. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us, regardless of specific interests, to promote conservation of these organisms and to provide outreach and information to the lay public of the promises in toxinological research, which is dependent upon their continued existence.
