17 November 2005
An international research team involving Monash researchers has found monitor lizards and iguanas produce venom similar to that found in snakes.
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| Mr Sanjaya Kuruppu (front) and Associate Professor Wayne Hodgson from the Monash Venom Group. |
Venom was thought to have been restricted to just two species of lizards - the Gila Monster and the Bearded Lizard.
But a collaboration of researchers, including Associate Professor Wayne Hodgson and Mr Sanjaya Kuruppu from the Monash Venom Group at Monash University, has found otherwise. Their results are published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.
Dr Hodgson and his colleagues have found that all snake and lizard species that possess toxin-secreting oral glands form a "clade" -- a single group of species coming from the same ancestor. This demonstrates a single origin of the venom systems in both lizards and snakes.
Although the lizards contain venom they do not contain the apparatus, such as fangs, to inject it. Instead, venom compounds are found in secretions such as saliva.
Dr Hodgson said while his study had focused on particular species of lizards, potentially all lizards could contain venom.
The discovery could have important implications for the development of new drugs, he said.
"This finding is likely to lead to a massive increase in toxins that could be used to help develop drugs," Dr Hodgson said. "Potentially there are hundreds or thousands of further species that could include toxins.
"It has major implications for our understanding of the evolution of venom and increases the likelihood of finding further novel toxins which could be used as the lead compound in the design of new drugs."
Currently venom from snakes, spiders and cone snails is the lead compound in drug design.
For more information contact Ms Diane Squires in Media Communications on +613 9905 9315 or 0417 603 400.
Photographs of Dr Hodgson are available.
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