Deadlier together: Mechanisms and therapeutic implications of the probable synergy between snake venom toxins
Supervisors:
Dr Steven Hall, Lancaster University
Prof Andrew Jamieson, University of Glasgow
Sarah Allinson, Lancaster University
Summary:
Snakebite envenoming in livestock is an under-reported and economically devastating reality faced by agricultural workers globally, worsening an already precarious food supply chain in many rural tropical communities. Understanding how snake venoms work is the first step to developing new therapies for this neglected tropical disease, in humans and animals alike.
This PhD studentship explores how various snake venom toxins work together to synergistically maximise their damaging properties. We are particularly interested in determining the precise mechanisms through which the major snake venom toxin superfamilies – snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs), snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs), phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), and three-finger toxins (3FTxs) – interact with each other or their cellular targets to induce cell death. While it is widely accepted that many snake venom toxins act synergistically to enhance their toxic properties, few studies have specifically explored this synergy, and none have used chemical biology and pharmacology to explore their precise mechanisms of action in detail.
This studentship will provide the student with multidisciplinary training within pharmacology and chemical biology. The student will learn valuable skills in data acquisition, analysis, and visualisation. They will have opportunities to present their findings orally in platform and poster presentations and write manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This comprehensive training will ensure that the student is well-equipped and competitive for whatever career they choose to pursue upon completion.