Helena Safavi-Hemami

Venomous animals have evolved large libraries of bioactive compounds that are all targeted at disrupting the physiology and/or behavior of other organisms. The venoms of marine cone snails have been particularly useful because of the high diversity and specificity of peptides that potently target receptors, ion channels and transporters in prey. These molecular targets play critical roles in health and disease rendering cone snail venoms ideal sources for the discovery of pharmacological tools and therapeutics for a wide range of conditions including pain, epilepsy, stroke and autoimmune disease.

Our research centers on applying novel computational and experimental tools for the discovery of toxins with therapeutic potential. We are particularly interested in small peptide toxins that mimic endogenous receptor ligands in prey, including venom peptides involved in glucose homeostasis (e.g., venom insulins) and pain (e.g., neurotensin-like peptides).

Figure 1: Diversity of predatory marine gastropods sequenced for drug discovery

Figure 2: Cone snails prey on fish, other snails and worms (artwork by Bob Lang)

Figure 3: Journal cover showing how the geography cone (Conus geographus) captures its fish prey