PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL VENOMS

1. Australia has some of the most venomous fauna In the world. Althoug h humans are not usually perceived as being predators against these an imals they are often envenomated, accidentally or otherwise. This has led to the development of antivenoms against some of the potentially l ethal venoms. However, further understanding of the mechanism(s) of ac tion of these and other venoms is important, not only for developing n ew treatment strategies but also in the search far novel research tool s. 2. The present review discusses the pharmacology of some of the com ponents found in venoms and outlines the research undertaken on some o f Australia's venomous animals, with the exception of snakes. 3. Bioge nic amines, peptides and enzymes are common venom components and produ ce a wide range of effects in envenomated humans. For example, respira tory failure observed after envenomation by the box jellyfish (Chirone x fleckeri) and Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is most like ly due to potent neurotoxins in the venoms. Stonefish (Synanceja trach ynis) sind platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) venoms, although not co nsidered lethal, cause severe pain. However, the components responsibl e far these effects have not been isolated. Venom components, as yea u nidentified, may be responsible for the cutaneous necrotic lesions tha t have been reported after some spider bites (e.g. Lampona cylindrata) . Other venoms, such as those of the jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) an d bull ant (M. pyriformis), may produce only mild skin irritation to t he majority of humans but a severe anaphylactic response in sensitized victims. 4. While there has been a renewed interest in toxinology, fu rther research is required to fully elucidate the pharmacological acti on of many of these venoms.