Revisiting the potential of South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus toxins as therapeutic, theranostic and/or biotechnological agents

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) Vol. 206; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Hayashi, Mirian A.F., Campeiro, Joana D., Yonamine, Camila M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 30.01.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Crotalid Venoms - toxicity; Crotalus; Crotalus durissus terrificus; Crotoxin; Drug discovery; Humans; Precision Medicine; Rattlesnake; South America; Theranostic; Therapeutic potential; Toxin; South America; Toxin; Rattlesnake; Drug discovery; Crotalus durissus terrificus; Therapeutic potential; Theranostic
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.12.005

The potential biotechnological and biomedical applications of the animal venom components are widely recognized. Indeed, many components have been used either as drugs or as templates/prototypes for the development of innovative pharmaceutical drugs, among which many are still used for the treatment of human diseases. A specific South American rattlesnake, named Crotalus durissus terrificus, shows a venom composition relatively simpler compared to any viper or other snake species belonging to the Crotalus genus, although presenting a set of toxins with high potential for the treatment of several still unmet human therapeutic needs, as reviewed in this work. In addition to the main toxin named crotoxin, which is under clinical trials studies for antitumoral therapy and which has also anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, other toxins from the C. d. terrificus venom are also being studied, aiming for a wide variety of therapeutic applications, including as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumoral or antiparasitic agent, or as modulator of animal metabolism, fibrin sealant (fibrin glue), gene carrier or theranostic agent. Among these rattlesnake toxins, the most relevant, considering the potential clinical applications, are crotamine, crotalphine and gyroxin. In this narrative revision, we propose to organize and present briefly the updates in the accumulated knowledge on potential therapeutic applications of toxins collectively found exclusively in the venom of this specific South American rattlesnake, with the objective of contributing to increase the chances of success in the discovery of drugs based on toxins. [Display omitted] •Biotechnological and biomedical applications of toxins are widely recognized.•Rattlesnake toxins have high potential for treating several human diseases.•Potential therapeutic applications of rattlesnake toxins were reviewed here.•Several rattlesnake toxins are under preclinical or clinical studies.•Some rattlesnake toxins share similar therapeutic application.