From Book News, Inc.
Contains contributions reviewing major recent advances in toxins research centering on venomous animals and microbes and their targets in mammals, insects, and other animals. The volume's 27 contributions are arranged in sections addressing toxins found in microorganisms; animal toxins and new methodologies in toxicology; exploiting animal toxins for the design of new drugs; the evolution of animal toxins; and venom treatments. Contributors include a genuinely international group of researchers in the fields of biotechnology, physiology, neurophysiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, and many other fields.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Review
"...useful not only to those in the field of toxinology, but also to any interested in dramatic examples of the applications and promise of modern techniques of molecular biology to medicine in general." (Veterinary and Human Toxicology, Vol. 44, No. 6, December 2002)
"...insightful and informative reviews...much to ponder here..." (Chemistry & Industry, (3 March 2003)
Review
"...useful not only to those in the field of toxinology, but also to any interested in dramatic examples of the applications and promise of modern techniques of molecular biology to medicine in general." (Veterinary and Human Toxicology, Vol. 44, No. 6, December 2002)
"...insightful and informative reviews...much to ponder here..." (Chemistry & Industry, (3 March 2003)
Book Description
Covering the most recent advances in our understanding of toxins from venomous animals and microbes as well as that of their targets, this book expertly addresses the many intriguing and unsolved questions concerning; proteomics studies of the "toxinome", intimate modes of toxin actions, molecular basis of specificity, pleiotropic properties of toxins and structural biology of toxins. Through twenty-seven chapters the authors discuss the role of structural genomics in toxinology, how toxins are subject to accelerated evolution, how toxins can be exploited as models for the design of new drugs, and what the future holds for the treatment of snake bites. In order to address these challenging aspects, the authors have posed crystal-clear questions. Based on the most precise knowledge the attendant reasoning shows how toxinology has become an important area of biochemistry and is directly associated with advances in cellular microbiology, molecular pharmacology, molecular physiology, cell biology, protein engineering and many other disciplines.
From the Back Cover
In this volume the editors have reviewed the most recent major advances in our understanding of toxins from venomous animals and microbes and their targets in mammals, insects and other animals. To approach these challenging aspects, the authors have posed crystal-clear questions based on the most precise acquired knowledge. What can be learnt from genomics and proteomics? What are the intimate modes of action of toxins on ion channels, receptors, enzymes, cell membranes? What is the molecular basis of specificity and more generally of pleiotropism of toxins? What else can be learnt about toxin tertiary structures and dynamics? How can we enhance our understanding of target architecture and complex toxin-target structures? Are toxins subject to accelerated evolution? Can they be exploited as models for the design of new drugs? What does the future hold for the treatment of snake bites? These are just some of the many questions that have been addressed in this book. Complete answers may not always be readily apparent, but the attendant reasoning shows how toxinology has become an important area of biochemistry, directly associated with advances in cellular microbiology, molecular pharmacology, molecular physiology, cell biology, protein engineering, and other disciplines.
Home
