Investigating cardiovascular activities of animal venom

Venom is made up of a complex cocktail of toxins, many of which are harmful to humans. Many toxins have been well studied however the activity of proteins/peptides affecting the cardiovascular system are poorly understood. In this thesis, the cardiovascular effects of venom from different snake species and vampire bat were investigated. The mechanisms behind cardiovascular collapse (rapid drop in blood pressure) , and prolonged hypotension (gradual decrease in blood pressure) were examined and characterized. The mechanisms of actions of these venom components were further elucidated. The results of this thesis will provide us a better understanding of the envenoming of humans and potential treatment strategies.