Fig. 6.

Cartoon of the exclusive and overlapping domains of Ecological Venomics and Clinical Toxinology, emphasising the mutually enlightening relationship between evolutionary and translational venomics, guided by an integrative knowledge platform on snake venoms, supported by their compositional (venomics, aided by databases provided by transcriptomics and genomics), functional (toxicovenomics), and immunological (antivenomics) characteristics. Studies on adaptive variations that have evolved via natural selection and enhance the snake foraging success on preferred prey belongs exclusively to the field of ecological venomics, whereas the identification of the relevant toxins that should be neutralised to reverse the symptoms of snakebites inflicted to non-prey animals, such as pets, farm animals, or humans, falls into the exclusive scope of clinical toxinology. It is hoped that the expansion of integrative venomics may facilitate a deeper understanding of biological (ecological venomics) and medical (translational venomics) aspects of snake venoms, as well as contribute to confront the problem of snakebite envenomings by guiding improvements in the design and production of improved antivenoms.