Professor Bryan Fry
Professor

Bryan Fry

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 58515
Mobile: 
0400 193 182

Background

Venoms play a range of adaptive roles in the animal kingdom from predation to defense to competitor deterrence. Remarkably, despite their biological importance and uniqueness, the evolution of venom systems is poorly understood. New insights into the evolution of venom systems and the importance of the associated toxins cannot be advanced without recognition of the true biochemical, ecological, morphological and pharmacological diversity of venoms and associated venom systems. A major limitation has been the very narrow taxonomical range studied. Entire groups of venomous animals remain virtually unstudied. My research is inherently interdisciplinary, integrating ecological, evolutionary, and functional genomics approaches in order to understand the evolution of venom systems. Studies range from discovering the shock-inducing hypotensive and anticoagulant venom of the iconic Komodo Dragon through to exploring the unique temperature specific adaptations of Antarctic octopus venoms.

Availability

Professor Bryan Fry is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Zoology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Bryan Fry’s works on UQ eSpace

224 works between 1998 and 2025
All (224) Journal Article (206) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (13)

21 - 40 of 224 works

2024

Journal Article

A Russian doll of resistance: Nested gains and losses of venom immunity in varanid lizards

Chandrasekara, Uthpala, Mancuso, Marco, Seneci, Lorenzo, Bourke, Lachlan, Trembath, Dane F., Sumner, Joanna, Zdenek, Christina N. and Fry, Bryan G. (2024). A Russian doll of resistance: Nested gains and losses of venom immunity in varanid lizards. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25 (5) 2628, 1-28. doi: 10.3390/ijms25052628

A Russian doll of resistance: Nested gains and losses of venom immunity in varanid lizards

2024

Journal Article

Disentangling the anacondas: revealing a new Green species and rethinking Yellows

Rivas, Jesús A., De La Quintana, Paola, Mancuso, Marco, Pacheco, Luis F., Rivas, Gilson A., Mariotto, Sandra, Salazar-Valenzuela, David, Baihua, Marcelo Tepeña, Baihua, Penti, Burghardt, Gordon M., Vonk, Freek J., Hernandez, Emil, García-Pérez, Juán Elías, Fry, Bryan G. and Corey-Rivas, Sarah (2024). Disentangling the anacondas: revealing a new Green species and rethinking Yellows. Diversity, 16 (2) 127. doi: 10.3390/d16020127

Disentangling the anacondas: revealing a new Green species and rethinking Yellows

2023

Journal Article

Malaysian and Chinese King Cobra venom cytotoxicity in melanoma and neonatal foreskin fibroblasts is mediated by age and geography

Op den Brouw, Bianca, Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel A., Charlton, Tom, Fry, Bryan G. and Ikonomopoulou, Maria P. (2023). Malaysian and Chinese King Cobra venom cytotoxicity in melanoma and neonatal foreskin fibroblasts is mediated by age and geography. Toxins, 15 (9) 549, 549. doi: 10.3390/toxins15090549

Malaysian and Chinese King Cobra venom cytotoxicity in melanoma and neonatal foreskin fibroblasts is mediated by age and geography

2023

Journal Article

Comparative analysis of alpha-1 orthosteric-site binding by a clade of central American pit vipers (genera Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium)

Jones, Lee, Waite, Callum, Neri-Castro, Edgar and Fry, Bryan G. (2023). Comparative analysis of alpha-1 orthosteric-site binding by a clade of central American pit vipers (genera Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium). Toxins, 15 (8) 487. doi: 10.3390/toxins15080487

Comparative analysis of alpha-1 orthosteric-site binding by a clade of central American pit vipers (genera Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium)

2023

Book Chapter

Evolutionary and clinical implications of the snake venom system: dynamic diversification

Fry, Bryan G., Seneci, Lorenzo, Harris, Richard J., Cleuren, Silke G. C. and Jackson, Timothy N. W. (2023). Evolutionary and clinical implications of the snake venom system: dynamic diversification. Snakes: morphology, function, and ecology. (pp. 343-414) Hauppage, NY USA: Nova Science Publishers.

Evolutionary and clinical implications of the snake venom system: dynamic diversification

2023

Journal Article

Resistance is not futile: Widespread convergent evolution of resistance to alpha-neurotoxic snake venoms in caecilians (amphibia: gymnophiona)

Mancuso, Marco, Zaman, Shabnam, Maddock, Simon T., Kamei, Rachunliu G., Salazar-Valenzuela, David, Wilkinson, Mark, Roelants, Kim and Fry, Bryan G. (2023). Resistance is not futile: Widespread convergent evolution of resistance to alpha-neurotoxic snake venoms in caecilians (amphibia: gymnophiona). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (14) 11353, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/ijms241411353

Resistance is not futile: Widespread convergent evolution of resistance to alpha-neurotoxic snake venoms in caecilians (amphibia: gymnophiona)

2023

Journal Article

Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)

Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Merritt, David J., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Mercedes, Raine S., Eagles, David A., Cooper, Paul, Zdenek, Christina N., Fry, Bryan G., Hall, Donald W., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2023). Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (29) e2305871120, e2305871120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2305871120

Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)

2023

Journal Article

Venom biotechnology: casting light on nature’s deadliest weapons using synthetic biology

Lüddecke, Tim, Paas, Anne, Harris, Richard J., Talmann, Lea, Kirchhoff, Kim N., Billion, André, Hardes, Kornelia, Steinbrink, Antje, Gerlach, Doreen, Fry, Bryan G. and Vilcinskas, Andreas (2023). Venom biotechnology: casting light on nature’s deadliest weapons using synthetic biology. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11 1166601, 1-17. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1166601

Venom biotechnology: casting light on nature’s deadliest weapons using synthetic biology

2023

Journal Article

Functional and proteomic insights into Aculeata venoms

Dashevsky, Daniel, Baumann, Kate, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Nouwens, Amanda, Ikonomopoulou, Maria P., Schmidt, Justin O., Ge, Lilin, Kwok, Hang Fai, Rodriguez, Juanita and Fry, Bryan G. (2023). Functional and proteomic insights into Aculeata venoms. Toxins, 15 (3) 224, 1-25. doi: 10.3390/toxins15030224

Functional and proteomic insights into Aculeata venoms

2023

Journal Article

Children and snakebite: snake venom effects on adult and paediatric plasma

Zdenek, Christina N., Rodrigues, Caroline F. B., Bourke, Lachlan A., Tanaka-Azevedo, Anita Mitico, Monagle, Paul and Fry, Bryan G. (2023). Children and snakebite: snake venom effects on adult and paediatric plasma. Toxins, 15 (2) 158, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/toxins15020158

Children and snakebite: snake venom effects on adult and paediatric plasma

2022

Journal Article

Extreme procoagulant potency in human plasma of venoms from the African viperid genera Atheris, Cerastes, and Proatheris and the relative efficacy of antivenoms and synthetic enzyme-inhibitors

Chowdhury, Abhinandan, Lewin, Matthew R., Carter, Rebecca, Soria, Raul, Aldridge, Matt and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). Extreme procoagulant potency in human plasma of venoms from the African viperid genera Atheris, Cerastes, and Proatheris and the relative efficacy of antivenoms and synthetic enzyme-inhibitors. Toxins, 14 (12) 836, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/toxins14120836

Extreme procoagulant potency in human plasma of venoms from the African viperid genera Atheris, Cerastes, and Proatheris and the relative efficacy of antivenoms and synthetic enzyme-inhibitors

2022

Journal Article

Engineering the cyclization loop of MCoTI-II generates targeted cyclotides that potently inhibit factor XIIa

Tian, Sixin, Durek, Thomas, Wang, Conan K., Zdenek, Christina N., Fry, Bryan G., Craik, David J. and de Veer, Simon J. (2022). Engineering the cyclization loop of MCoTI-II generates targeted cyclotides that potently inhibit factor XIIa. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 65 (23), 15698-15709. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01080

Engineering the cyclization loop of MCoTI-II generates targeted cyclotides that potently inhibit factor XIIa

2022

Journal Article

Varespladib in the treatment of snakebite envenoming: development history and preclinical evidence supporting advancement to clinical trials in patients bitten by venomous snakes

Lewin, Matthew R., Carter, Rebecca W., Matteo, Isabel A., Samuel, Stephen P., Rao, Sunita, Fry, Bryan G. and Bickler, Philip E. (2022). Varespladib in the treatment of snakebite envenoming: development history and preclinical evidence supporting advancement to clinical trials in patients bitten by venomous snakes. Toxins, 14 (11) 783, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/toxins14110783

Varespladib in the treatment of snakebite envenoming: development history and preclinical evidence supporting advancement to clinical trials in patients bitten by venomous snakes

2022

Journal Article

Proteomic and toxicological characterization of the venoms of the most enigmatic group of rattlesnakes: the long-tailed rattlesnakes

Neri-Castro, Edgar, Zarzosa, Vanessa, Colis-Torres, Andrea, Fry, Bryan G., Olvera-Rodríguez, Alejandro, Jones, Jason, Reyes-Velasco, Jacobo, Zamudio, Fernando, Borja, Miguel, Alagón, Alejandro and Lomonte, Bruno (2022). Proteomic and toxicological characterization of the venoms of the most enigmatic group of rattlesnakes: the long-tailed rattlesnakes. Biochimie, 202, 226-236. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.08.015

Proteomic and toxicological characterization of the venoms of the most enigmatic group of rattlesnakes: the long-tailed rattlesnakes

2022

Journal Article

Keel venom: Rhabdophis subminiatus (red-necked keelback) venom pathophysiologically affects diverse blood clotting pathways

Chowdhury, Abhinandan, Lewin, Matthew R., Carter, Rebecca W., Casewell, Nicholas R. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). Keel venom: Rhabdophis subminiatus (red-necked keelback) venom pathophysiologically affects diverse blood clotting pathways. Toxicon, 218, 19-24. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.08.017

Keel venom: Rhabdophis subminiatus (red-necked keelback) venom pathophysiologically affects diverse blood clotting pathways

2022

Journal Article

Diverse and dynamic alpha-neurotoxicity within venoms from the palearctic viperid snake clade of Daboia, Macrovipera, Montivipera, and Vipera

Chowdhury, Abhinandan, Zdenek, Christina N. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). Diverse and dynamic alpha-neurotoxicity within venoms from the palearctic viperid snake clade of Daboia, Macrovipera, Montivipera, and Vipera. Neurotoxicity Research, 40 (6), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s12640-022-00572-w

Diverse and dynamic alpha-neurotoxicity within venoms from the palearctic viperid snake clade of Daboia, Macrovipera, Montivipera, and Vipera

2022

Journal Article

Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals

van Thiel, Jory, Khan, Muzaffar A., Wouters, Roel M., Harris, Richard J., Casewell, Nicholas R., Fry, Bryan G., Kini, R. Manjunatha, Mackessy, Stephen P., Vonk, Freek J., Wüster, Wolfgang and Richardson, Michael K. (2022). Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals. Biological Reviews, 97 (5), 1823-1843. doi: 10.1111/brv.12865

Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals

2022

Journal Article

Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas

Youngman, Nicholas J., Llinas, Joshua, Haworth, Mark, Gillett, Amber, Jones, Lee, Walker, Andrew A. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas. Toxicon, 216, 37-44. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.012

Untangling interactions between Bitis vipers and their prey using coagulotoxicity against diverse vertebrate plasmas

2022

Journal Article

The relative efficacy of chemically diverse small-molecule enzyme-inhibitors against anticoagulant activities of Black Snake (Pseudechis spp.) venoms

Chowdhury, Abhinandan, Youngman, Nicholas J., Liu, Jiaojiao, Lewin, Matthew R., Carter, Rebecca W. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). The relative efficacy of chemically diverse small-molecule enzyme-inhibitors against anticoagulant activities of Black Snake (Pseudechis spp.) venoms. Toxicology Letters, 366, 26-32. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.06.009

The relative efficacy of chemically diverse small-molecule enzyme-inhibitors against anticoagulant activities of Black Snake (Pseudechis spp.) venoms

2022

Journal Article

The target selects the toxin: specific amino acids in snake-prey nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are selectively bound by king cobra venoms

Chandrasekara, Uthpala, Harris, Richard J. and Fry, Bryan G. (2022). The target selects the toxin: specific amino acids in snake-prey nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are selectively bound by king cobra venoms. Toxins, 14 (8) 528, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/toxins14080528

The target selects the toxin: specific amino acids in snake-prey nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are selectively bound by king cobra venoms

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Evolutionary models and biodiscovery tools from neurotoxic snake venoms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Replacing the use of animals for the study of the alpha-5 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and to probe the drug potential of novel ligands for colitis and anti-smoking
    The MAWA Trust
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    An integrated, multi-node bio-layer interferometry facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Functional evolution and therapeutic potential of snake venom coagulotoxins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Imaging Mass Spectrometry at Higher Mass Resolution
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Coagulotoxic effects of Brazilian snake venoms: Role in adaptive evolution and human pathophysiological implications
    UQ-FAPESP Strategic Research Fund SPRINT
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multichannel peptide synthesiser to accelerate UQ's biodiscovery pipeline and peptide drug development programs
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Deep Protein Sequencing, Structure and Quantification Facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Integrative blood coagulation research core facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Patch-clamp electrophysiology platform for drug and insecticide discovery
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Evolution of Sea Snakes in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria
    National Geographic Society
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Imaging the world of miniature venomous arthropods
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Fish venom as a model system for the molecular evolution of defensive toxins
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Investigation of the venom of two endangered snakes
    Australian Geographic Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    ResTeach 2013 0.05 FTE School of Biological Sciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2013
    UQ Travel Awards Category 1 - Dr Nicholas Casewell
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    The only poisonous primates: the ecological and behaviour context of slow loris venom.
    Oxford Brookes University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Adaptive evolution of coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, squid) venoms
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Evolutionary venomics: Venom system diversification in the animal kingdom
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Bryan Fry is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Anacondas as sentinel species for accumulation of oil spill heavy metals into the food web

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jianxin Zhao

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Evolutionary and clinical implications of differential pathophysiological effects of rattlesnake venoms upon blood coagulation, cell function, and nerve transmission.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Dr Andrew Walker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Venom variation in American pit vipers

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Evaluation of Phylogenetic Patterns of Scorpion Pathophysiological Effects and Effectiveness of Next-Generation Antivenoms

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Glenn King, Dr Sam Robinson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Salivary Adaptations in Australian Blood-feeding Arthropods: Insights from Tabanid Flies and the Australian Paralysis Tick

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Glenn King, Dr Andrew Walker

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Bryan Fry directly for media enquiries about:

  • Animal venoms
  • Antivenoms
  • Biodiscovery
  • Drug design
  • Venom

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