Web of venom: exploration of big data resources in animal toxin research.
Giulia ZancolliBjörn Marcus von ReumontGregor AnderluhFigen CaliskanMaria Luisa ChiusanoJacob FröhlichEvroula HapeshisBenjamin-Florian HempelMaria P IkonomopoulouFlorence JungoPascale MarchotTarcisio Mendes de FariasMaria Vittoria ModicaYehu MoranAyse NalbantsoyJan ProchazkaAndrea TaralloFiorella TonelloRui VitorinoMark Lawrence ZammitAgostinho AntunesPublished in: GigaScience (2024)
Research on animal venoms and their components spans multiple disciplines, including biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, pharmacology, medicine, and more. Manipulating and analyzing the diverse array of data required for venom research can be challenging, and relevant tools and resources are often dispersed across different online platforms, making them less accessible to nonexperts. In this article, we address the multifaceted needs of the scientific community involved in venom and toxin-related research by identifying and discussing web resources, databases, and tools commonly used in this field. We have compiled these resources into a comprehensive table available on the VenomZone website (https://venomzone.expasy.org/10897). Furthermore, we highlight the challenges currently faced by researchers in accessing and using these resources and emphasize the importance of community-driven interdisciplinary approaches. We conclude by underscoring the significance of enhancing standards, promoting interoperability, and encouraging data and method sharing within the venom research community.