https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index en-au 5 A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) priscus https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:8224 Sat 24 Mar 2018 08:40:37 AEDT ]]> Toxinology of venoms from five Australian lesser known elapid snakes https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:14463 25 kDa. All venoms (10 μg/ml) demonstrated in vitro neurotoxicity in the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation, with a relative rank order of: H. signata ≥ D. devisi ≥ V. annulata = E. curta > C. boschmai. CSL polyvalent antivenom neutralized the inhibitory effects of C. boschmai venom but only delayed the inhibitory effect of the other venoms. All venoms displayed PLA2 activity but over a wide range (i.e. 1–621 μmol/min./mg). The venoms of C. boschmai (60 μg/kg, i.v.), D. devisi (60 μg/kg, i.v.) and H. signata (60 μg/kg, i.v.) produced hypotensive effects in vivo in an anaesthetized rat preparation. H. signata displayed moderate pro-coagulant activity while the other venoms were weakly pro-coagulant. This study demonstrated that these understudied Australian elapids have varying pharmacological activity, with notable in vitro neurotoxicity for four of the venoms, and may produce mild to moderate effects following systemic envenoming.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 08:19:17 AEDT ]]>