About this Research Topic
Therefore, studies of venom components reveal more and more examples of natural toxins with highly specific actions on the immune system, which can be used both as pharmacological tools and as a useful starting point for drug development. Moreover, venoms are known to cause severe and complex envenomings in humans. Understanding the effects triggered by venoms and their toxins is particularly important to elucidate the mechanism of clinical envenomings and help in the discovery of better therapies, i.e. antivenoms.
This Research Topic focuses on recent discoveries on the immunology of toxins as well as on efforts to understand clinical envenomings to improve therapeutic interventions. We welcome expert Reviews of aspects of toxin immunology, as well as Original Research articles describing novel findings related to, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
- Effects of venoms and toxins in the immune system
- Toxins with potential immunotherapeutic application
- Clinical studies exploring the immunological effects of venom and toxins
- Discovery of new therapies based on neutralization of venoms and toxins (e.g. antibodies)
Keywords: venoms, toxins, immunology, drug development, envenoming
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.