SUBJECT

Title

Significance and Use of Animal Venoms and Bioactive Products

Type of instruction

lecture

Level

Master

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Part of degree program

Biology MSc

Credits

Recommended in

Semesters 1-4

Typically offered in

Autumn/Spring semester

Course description

1. Definition of poisonous and venomous animals. Poisonous and venomous animals in myths and mythology. Application of drugs, poison and venoms in the natural therapy and in the drug industry.

2. Dinoflagellates poisoning, shellfish poisoning, Red tide. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of the poisonous species. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment.

3. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous sponges and cnidarians, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs. 4

. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous molluscs and annelids, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

5. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous spiders and scorpions, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

6. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous chilopods, diplopods and beetles, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

7. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous butterflies, wasps and other hymenopterans, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

8. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous fishes, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

9. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous amphibians, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

10. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of venomous snakes (Opistoglypha, Helodermatidae), evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

11. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of venomous snakes (Proteroglypha/Elapidae), evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

12. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of venomous snakes (Viperidae, Crotalidae), evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

13. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of venomous snakes (Viperidae, Crotalidae), evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

14. Classification, phylogeny and distribution of poisonous and venomous birds and mammals, evolutionary strategy. Stucture of the poison apparats, poisoning and envenomation. Biochemistry and pharmacology of the poison. Effect methods, clinical aspects. Envenomation, first aid, treatment. Possibility of new drugs.

15. Visiting a snake farm.

Readings

W. Bücherl, E. E. Buckley, V. Deulofeu: Venomous animals and their venoms I-III., Academic Press, 1971
G. G. Habermehl: Gift-Tiere und ihre Waffen, Springer-Verlag, 1994