Beyond Venom and Constriction: Bite Performance and Trophic Ecology in the Genus Drymarchon

Posted by
  Beyond Venom and Constriction: Bite Performance and Trophic Ecology in the Genus Drymarchon Abstract Snakes exhibit extreme cranial kinesis that facilitates ingestion of prey with large cross-sectional area, but this ability is widely predicted to reduce bite performance due to decreased structural rigidity. Consequently, most large-bodied snakes rely on envenomation or constriction to subdue prey prior to ingestion. Species within the genus Drymarchon represent a notable exception: these large, non-venomous, non-constricting snakes routinely consume a wide range of prey, including large and potentially dangerous vertebrates, using only simple seizing and pinioning behaviors. Here, we quantify bite performance in three species of Drymarchon ( D. corais, D. couperi, and D. melanurus ), examine morphological predictors of biting performance, compare biting pressure to constriction pressure in similarly sized snakes, and synthesize dietary records across the genus. Our results sh...

Immunomodulatory properties of venom-derived crotamine

Posted by

 


Immunomodulatory properties of venom-derived crotamine

Abstract

Crotamine is a low-molecular-weight cationic polypeptide isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, classified as a non-enzymatic toxin with distinctive structural and functional properties. This toxin also exhibits characteristics of a cell-penetrating peptide, owing to its ability to translocate across biological membranes in a largely non-specific manner and to deliver diverse molecular cargos into cells. Beyond its well-established internalization capacity, emerging evidence suggests that crotamine exerts immunomodulatory effects. In our mini review, we discuss current advances in understanding crotamine as a venom-derived immunomodulatory peptide, highlighting its structural similarities with host defense peptides, its interactions with immune cells, and its potential applications in immunotherapy and drug delivery.

Oliveira, I. S., Ferreira, I. G., Sousa, L., Alberghini-dos-Santos, J., Cerni, F. A., & Pucca, M. B. (2026). Immunomodulatory properties of venom-derived crotamine. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 17, 1860014. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2026.1860014