[Use of snake venom proteins in medicine].

Snakes feed exclusively on freshly killed prey animals which, following their immobilization, have to be swallowed whole. Venomous snakes effect prey immobilization by injection of their venom. Snake venoms are highly concentrated, complex mixtures of individual proteins which, either as enzymes, enzyme effectors or blocking ligands, acting as single agents or in synergistic conjunction with other venom components, modify vital structures of the prey organism to destroy their biological function. Predominantly neurotoxic venoms paralyze respiratory activity by pre- or postsynaptic blockade of neuromuscular transmission. Predominantly haemocytotoxic snake venoms contain components which interact with proteins of the haemostasis, kallikrein or complement system, causing blood volume loss, hypotension or intravascular coagulation which finally lead to circulatory failure. Several isolated snake venom proteins with a known mode of action have found practical application as pharmaceutical agents, diagnostic reagents or preparative tools in the field of haemostaseology, neurobiology and complement research.