About this Research Topic
Venom peptides are amongst the most powerful classes of natural molecules targeting receptors and ion channels with remarkable potency and selectivity. The unique ability of these peptides to modulate human physiology led to the development of venom-derived drugs such as Captopril, used to treat hypertension, Ziconotide for the treatment of chronic pain and Exenatide to treat type-2 diabetes, amongst others. The extraordinary potential of venom peptides to translate into new therapeutic candidates have attracted the interest of researchers seeking modern molecular tools and drugs to assist in the treatment a variety of human diseases from neurological disorders to cancer, autoimmunity and infection. In addition, peptides have been studied as good candidates for insecticides.
The discovery of venom peptides and the understanding of their molecular mechanisms are crucial for the identification and development of novel drugs to treat a range of complex diseases. Recent advancements in venomics, high-throughput functional assays, three-dimensional structure determination and peptide engineering have had a significant impact in the discovery of novel venom peptides and in the understanding of their biological effects and mechanisms through which these peptides modulate our physiology. We have learned these venoms comprise a rich and almost unexplored combinatorial library of peptides highly specialized in modulating a number of ion channels such as voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels, and receptors such as GLP-1 and integrin receptors and GPCRs, as well as antimicrobial function. This plethora of biological activities has direct applications in therapeutics development, besides the proposal as potent insecticides. As result, we aim to capture the state-of-the-art research in this field with this Research Topic in Frontiers of Molecular Biosciences.
We welcome submissions of reviews and research articles including, but not limited to, the following areas:
I. Discovery of venom peptides
II. Venom to drugs
III. Venomics
IV. Pharmacology of venom peptides
V. Molecular engineering and optimization of venom peptides
VI. Structure-function relationships of venom peptides
VII. Toxins as diagnostic or imaging tools VIII. Toxins in the cosmetic field
IX. Venom peptides as tools to study physiological targets
X. Peptides as insecticides
The discovery of venom peptides and the understanding of their molecular mechanisms are crucial for the identification and development of novel drugs to treat a range of complex diseases. Recent advancements in venomics, high-throughput functional assays, three-dimensional structure determination and peptide engineering have had a significant impact in the discovery of novel venom peptides and in the understanding of their biological effects and mechanisms through which these peptides modulate our physiology. We have learned these venoms comprise a rich and almost unexplored combinatorial library of peptides highly specialized in modulating a number of ion channels such as voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels, and receptors such as GLP-1 and integrin receptors and GPCRs, as well as antimicrobial function. This plethora of biological activities has direct applications in therapeutics development, besides the proposal as potent insecticides. As result, we aim to capture the state-of-the-art research in this field with this Research Topic in Frontiers of Molecular Biosciences.
We welcome submissions of reviews and research articles including, but not limited to, the following areas:
I. Discovery of venom peptides
II. Venom to drugs
III. Venomics
IV. Pharmacology of venom peptides
V. Molecular engineering and optimization of venom peptides
VI. Structure-function relationships of venom peptides
VII. Toxins as diagnostic or imaging tools VIII. Toxins in the cosmetic field
IX. Venom peptides as tools to study physiological targets
X. Peptides as insecticides
Keywords: venom peptides, animal venoms, antimicrobial peptides, anticancer peptides, analgesic peptides, peptides and channelopathies, insecticidal peptides
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.
