Venoms Research Group
UniSA’s Venoms Research Group examines the venoms of
Australian snakes and spiders, pinpointing their components, functions and
effects to identify new compounds useful in medicine, diagnostics and
industry.
Venoms have long been recognised as fertile ground for research, with a number of venom-inspired drugs and diagnostic treatments already developed overseas, and enormous potential existing in the study of Australia’s poisonous creatures.
The VRG was established in the mid ‘90s when Peter Mirtschin (of Venom Supplies in Tanunda) approached UniSA pharmacologist Michael Venning with the idea of studying the effect of death adder venom on blood vessel dilation.
The group has since grown and broadened its focus to include an exciting array of research with potential applications ranging from better treatments for cancer and cardiovascular disease to a variety of industrial uses.
UniSA staff
Dr Michael Venning - director
Andrew Beck
Professor Mary Barton
Associate Professor Tony Woods
Dr Miguel de Barros Lopes
Dr Brian Dale
Dr Michael Kokkinn
Postgraduate students
Frozan Jamali
Adjunct research associates
Peter Mirtschin (Venom Supplies and Venom Science, Tanunda)
Frank Madaras (Venom Science, Tanunda)
Venom Supplies (Tanunda, South Australia)
Institut Butantan (Brazil)
National University of Singapore
Haematex Research
Pty Ltd (Sydney, Australia)
Research projects and activities currently being undertaken by the Venoms Research Group include studies into:
Blood clotting components
Researchers: Brian Dale, Frank Madaras, Peter Mirtschin,
Michael Venning
This project aims to investigate
the use of Australian snake venom for use in diagnostics, particularly in the
development of improved blood-clotting tests.
Analgesics
Researchers: Marucia Chacur (University of Sao Paulo/
Institut Butantan), Frank Madaras, Peter Mirtschin, Paul Masci (University
Queensland), Michael Venning
A collaborative project bringing together Australian and
Brazilian researchers to investigate the analgesic (and pain-relieving)
properties of snake venoms.
Venom components useful in food and wine
Researchers: Miguel de Barros Lopes, Frank Madaras,
Peter Mirtschin, Michael Venning, Mary Barton, David Ellis (Women’s and
Children’s Hospital)
Researchers are looking into various potential applications
for venom components in the food and wine industry, including their use as anti-fungals.
Manufacture of venom components for research
Frank Madaras, Ceilidh
Marchant, Peter Mirtschin, Michael Venning
Together with Venom Supplies, the Venoms Research Group is
involved in the manufacture of venom components (particularly cobra venom
factor) for use in medical research in fields such as immunology.
Diagnostics
Researchers: Frank Madaras, Peter Mirtschin, Tom Exner (Haematex
Research)
This project aims to investigate the potential use of venom
compounds in various diagnostic procedures.
Antibacterials
Researchers: Frank Madaras, Peter Mirtschin, Mary
Barton, Susan Semple
Many existing antibacterial drugs
are becoming less effective as new resistant strains of bacteria develop. This
project is building upon existing knowledge of the antibacterial qualities of
venoms with a view to developing new, more effective treatments for bacterial
infections.
Components useful in remote organ failure after
ischaemia
Researchers: Frank Madaras, Peter Mirtschin, Michael
Venning, Prue Cowled
Ischaemia reperfusion injuries can occur when blood flow is
restored after being blocked, particularly in heart attack and stroke patients.
This project is investigating the application of venom components to protect
against tissue damage and organ failure following ischaemia.
Venoms and digestion
Researchers: Michael Kokkin, Frank Madaras, Peter
Mirtschin
Snakes are known for their complex and powerful digestive
systems, but much about exactly how they work is unknown. This project aims to
better understand the role of venoms in digestive processes, potentially opening
up a wide range of medical and nutritional applications.
Complement activators in venoms
Researchers: Frank Madaras, Ceilidh Marchant, Peter
Mirtschin, Michael Venning
This research is looking into how venoms compounds
(including cobra venom factor) affect blood coagulation and the immune system.
Snake venoms and tumour-associated
microvasculature
Researchers: Tony Woods, Michael Venning, Peter Mirschin
This project is investigating
snake venom-derived agents for anti-vascular effects especially as these relates
to tumour-derived microvasculature.
Mechanisms regulating snake
venom production
Researchers: Tony Woods, Frozan Jamali, Peter Mirschin
The mechanism of initiation and regulation of venom
production in snake venom glands is not well understood. This project uses
molecular techniques to examine the developing glands in various species to
identify these mechanisms.
Venom production in venom glands
Researchers: Frozan Jamali, Jalal Volker, Tony Woods,
Peter Mirtschin, Michael Venning, Frank Madaras
Research to investigate how and where venom components are
produced in the snake’s venom gland.
Kokkinn M, Nicholson J, Mirtschin PJ, Madaras F, Venning MG
Toxicon 48, (2006) 422 428. ‘Digestive properties of the venom of the Australian Coastal Taipan Oxyuranus scutellatus
Bateman EH, Mirtschin PJ, Venning MG, Woods AE (2006)
‘Purification and characterisation of two apoptosis-inducing l-amino acid oxidases from the venoms of selected Australian elapids’. IST 15th World Congress on Animal, Plant & Microbial Toxins, Glasgow, September, 2006 (conference proceedings)
Dr Michael Venning
Venom Research Group
Sansom Institute
School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences
University of South Australia
GPO Box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
AUSTRALIA
Ph +61 8 8302 2639
Fax + 61 3 8302 2389
Mob +61419847975
Email: michael.venning@unisa.edu.au
Peter Mirtschin
Managing Director
Venom Supplies Pty Ltd
Adjunct Research Fellow
School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences
University of South Australia
PO Box 547
Tanunda
South Australia 5352
Phone: +61 8 8563 0001
Fax: +61 8 8563 0020
Mobile: 0412 811 859
Email: venoms@venomsupplies.com
Web: www.venomsupplies.com