
Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Bryan Fry’s works on UQ eSpace
2014
Journal Article
Vintage venoms: proteomic and pharmacological stability of snake venoms stored for up to eight decades
Jesupret, Clémence, Baumann, Kate, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Ali, Syed Abid, Yang, Daryl C., Greisman, Laura, Kern, Larissa, Steuten, Jessica, Jouiaei, Mahdokht, Casewell, Nicholas R., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Koludarov, Ivan, Debono, Jordan, Low, Dolyce H. W., Rossi, Sarah, Panagides, Nadya, Winter, Kelly, Ignjatovic, Vera, Summerhayes, Robyn, Jones, Alun, Nouwens, Amanda, Dunstan, Nathan, Hodgson, Wayne C., Winkel, Kenneth D., Monagle, Paul and Fry, Bryan Grieg (2014). Vintage venoms: proteomic and pharmacological stability of snake venoms stored for up to eight decades. Journal of Proteomics, 105, 285-294. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.01.004
2014
Journal Article
Origin and Functional Diversification of an Amphibian Defense Peptide Arsenal
Roelants, Kim, Fry, Bryan G., Ye, Lumeng, Stijlemans, Benoit, Brys, Lea, Kok, Philippe, Clynen, Elke, Schoofs, Liliane, Cornelis, Pierre and Bossuyt, Franky (2014). Origin and Functional Diversification of an Amphibian Defense Peptide Arsenal. Plos Genetics, 9 (8) e1003662, e1003662.1-e1003662.15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003662
2013
Journal Article
Molecular evolution of vertebrate neurotrophins: co-option of the highly conserved nerve growth factor gene into the advanced snake venom arsenalf
Sunagar, Kartik, Fry, Bryan Grieg, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Casewell, Nicholas R., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Vidal, Nicolas, Ali, Syed A., King, Glenn F., Vasudevan, Karthikeyan, Vasconcelos, Vitor and Antunes, Agostinho (2013). Molecular evolution of vertebrate neurotrophins: co-option of the highly conserved nerve growth factor gene into the advanced snake venom arsenalf. PLoS One, 8 (11) e81827, e81827.1-e81827.19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081827
2013
Journal Article
Proteomic comparison of Hypnale hypnale (Hump-Nosed Pit-Viper) and Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan Pit-Viper) venoms
Ali, Syed A., Baumann, Kate, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Wood, Kelly, Mason, Steven, Undheim, Eivind A.B., Nouwens, Amanda, Koludarov, Ivan, Hendrikx, Iwan, Jones, Alun and Fry, Bryan Grieg (2013). Proteomic comparison of Hypnale hypnale (Hump-Nosed Pit-Viper) and Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan Pit-Viper) venoms. Journal of Proteomics, 91, 338-343. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.07.020
2013
Journal Article
Functional characterization on invertebrate and vertebrate tissues of tachykinin peptides from octopus venoms
Ruder, Tim, Ali, Syed Abid, Ormerod, Kiel, Brust, Andreas, Roymanchadi, Mary-Louise, Ventura, Sabatino, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Mercier, A. Joffre, King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F. and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Functional characterization on invertebrate and vertebrate tissues of tachykinin peptides from octopus venoms. Peptides, 47, 71-76. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2013.07.002
2013
Journal Article
Mad, bad and dangerous to know: the biochemistry, ecology and evolution of slow loris venom
Nekaris, K. Anne-Isola, Moore, Richard S., Rode, E. Johanna and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Mad, bad and dangerous to know: the biochemistry, ecology and evolution of slow loris venom. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases, 19 (1) 21, 21.1-21.9. doi: 10.1186/1678-9199-19-21
2013
Journal Article
Venom proteomic characterization and relative antivenom neutralization of two medically important Pakistani elapid snakes (Bungarus sindanus and Naja naja)
Ali, Syed A., Yang, Daryl C., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Koludarov, Ivan, Wood, Kelly, Jones, Alun, Hodgson, Wayne C., McCarthy, Sean, Ruder, Tim and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Venom proteomic characterization and relative antivenom neutralization of two medically important Pakistani elapid snakes (Bungarus sindanus and Naja naja). Journal of Proteomics, 89, 15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.05.015
2013
Journal Article
Dracula's children: molecular evolution of vampire bat venom
Low, Dolyce H. W., Sunagar, Kartik, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Ali, Syed A., Alagon, Alejandro C., Ruder, Tim, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Gonzalez, Sandy Pineda, King, Glenn F., Jones, Alun, Antunes, Agostinho and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Dracula's children: molecular evolution of vampire bat venom. Journal of Proteomics, 89, 95-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.05.034
2013
Journal Article
Squeezers and leaf-cutters: differential diversification and degeneration of the venom system in toxicoferan reptiles
Fry, Bryan G., Undheim, Eivind A. B., Ali, Syed A., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Debono, Jordan, Scheib, Holger, Ruder, Tim, Morgenstern, David, Cadwallader, Luke, Whitehead, Darryl, Nabuurs, Rob, van der Weerd, Louise, Vidal, Nicolas, Roelants, Kim, Hendrikx, Iwan, Gonzalez, Sandy Pineda, Koludarov, Ivan, Jones, Alun, King, Glenn F., Antunes, Agostinho and Sunagar, Kartik (2013). Squeezers and leaf-cutters: differential diversification and degeneration of the venom system in toxicoferan reptiles. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 12 (7), 1881-1899. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M112.023143
2013
Journal Article
Molecular phylogeny and evolution of the proteins encoded by coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, and squid) posterior venom glands
Ruder, Tim, Sunagar, Kartik, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Ali, Syed A., Wai, Tak-Cheung, Low, Dolyce H. W., Jackson, Timothy N. W., King, Glenn F., Antunes, Agostinho and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Molecular phylogeny and evolution of the proteins encoded by coleoid (cuttlefish, octopus, and squid) posterior venom glands. Journal of Molecular Evolution, 76 (4), 192-204. doi: 10.1007/s00239-013-9552-5
2013
Journal Article
Response to "Replies to Fry et al. (Toxicon 2012, 60/4, 434-448). Part B. Analyses of squamate reptile oral glands and their products: A call for caution in formal assignment of terminology designating biological function"
Jackson, Timothy N. W., Casewell, Nicholas R. and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Response to "Replies to Fry et al. (Toxicon 2012, 60/4, 434-448). Part B. Analyses of squamate reptile oral glands and their products: A call for caution in formal assignment of terminology designating biological function". Toxicon, 64, 113-115. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.12.023
2013
Journal Article
Response to "Replies to Fry et al. (Toxicon 2012, 60/4, 434-448). Part A. Analyses of squamate reptile oral glands and their products: A call for caution in formal assignment of terminology designating biological function"
Jackson, Timothy N. W., Casewell, Nicholas R. and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Response to "Replies to Fry et al. (Toxicon 2012, 60/4, 434-448). Part A. Analyses of squamate reptile oral glands and their products: A call for caution in formal assignment of terminology designating biological function". Toxicon, 64, 106-112. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.11.006
2013
Journal Article
Differential evolution and neofunctionalization of snake venom metalloprotease domains
Brust, Andreas, Sunagar, Kartik, Eivind Undheim, Vetter, Irina, Yang, Daryl C., Casewell, Nicholas R., Ruder, Tim, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Koludarov, Ivan, Alewood, Paul F., Hodgson, Wayne C., Lewis, Richard J., King, Glenn F., Antunes, Agostinho, Hendrikx, Iwan and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Differential evolution and neofunctionalization of snake venom metalloprotease domains. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 12 (3), 651-663. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M112.023135
2013
Journal Article
Anaerobic and aerobic bacteriology of the saliva and gingiva from 16 captive Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis): New implications for the bacteria as venom model
Goldstein, Ellie J. C., Tyrrell, Kerin L., Citron, Diane M., Cox, Cathleen R., Recchio, Ian M., Okimoto, Ben, Bryja, Judith and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Anaerobic and aerobic bacteriology of the saliva and gingiva from 16 captive Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis): New implications for the bacteria as venom model. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 44 (2), 262-272. doi: 10.1638/2012-0022R.1
2013
Journal Article
Evolution stings: the origin and diversification of scorpion toxin peptide scaffolds
Sunagar, Kartik, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Chan, Angelo H. C., Koludarov, Ivan, Munoz-Gomez, Sergio A., Antunes, Agostinho and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Evolution stings: the origin and diversification of scorpion toxin peptide scaffolds. Toxins, 5 (12), 2456-2487. doi: 10.3390/toxins5122456
2013
Journal Article
Molecular evidence that the deadliest sea snake Enhydrina schistosa (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) consists of two convergent species
Ukuwela, Kanishka D. B., de Silva, Anslem, Mumpuni, Fry, Bryan G., Lee, Michael S. Y. and Sanders, Kate L. (2013). Molecular evidence that the deadliest sea snake Enhydrina schistosa (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) consists of two convergent species. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 66 (1), 262-269. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.09.031
2013
Journal Article
Venom down under: dynamic evolution of Australian elapid snake toxins
Jackson, Timothy N. W., Sunagar, Kartik, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Koludarov, Ivan, Chan, Angelo H. C., Sanders, Kate, Ali, Syed A., Hendrikx, Iwan, Dunstan, Nathan and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Venom down under: dynamic evolution of Australian elapid snake toxins. Toxins, 5 (12), 2621-2655. doi: 10.3390/toxins5122621
2013
Journal Article
Three-fingered RAVERs: Rapid Accumulation of Variations in Exposed Residues of snake venom toxins
Sunagar, Kartik, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Undheim, Elvind A. B., Ali, Syed A., Antunes, Agostinho and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). Three-fingered RAVERs: Rapid Accumulation of Variations in Exposed Residues of snake venom toxins. Toxins, 5 (11), 2172-2208. doi: 10.3390/toxins5112172
2013
Journal Article
A proteomics and transcriptomics investigation of the venom from the Barychelid spider Trittame loki (brush-foot trapdoor)
Undheim, Eivind A. B., Sunagar, Kartik, Herzig, Volker, Kely, Laurence, Low, Dolyce H. W., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Jones, Alun, Kurniawan, Nyoman, King, Glenn F., Ali, Syed A., Antunes, Agostino, Ruder, Tim and Fry, Bryan G. (2013). A proteomics and transcriptomics investigation of the venom from the Barychelid spider Trittame loki (brush-foot trapdoor). Toxins, 5 (12), 2488-2503. doi: 10.3390/toxins5122488
2013
Journal Article
Atractaspis aterrima toxins: The first insight into the molecular evolution of venom in side-stabbers
Terrat, Yves, Sunagar, Kartik, Fry, Bryan G., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Scheib, Holger, Fourmy, Rudy, Verdenaud, Maria, Blanchet, Guillaume, Antunes, Agostinho and Ducancel, Frederic (2013). Atractaspis aterrima toxins: The first insight into the molecular evolution of venom in side-stabbers. Toxins, 5 (11), 1948-1964. doi: 10.3390/toxins5111948
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Bryan Fry is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Venom variation in American pit vipers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker
-
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
Evaluation of Phylogenetic Patterns of Scorpion Pathophysiological Effects and Effectiveness of Next-Generation Antivenoms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King, Dr Sam Robinson
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Dr Andrew Walker
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Pathophysiological actions of elapid snake venom on prey and human targets
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Therapeutic options for divergent snake venom.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mary-Louise Roy Manchadi
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Coagulotoxicity and neurotoxicity variation in Bitis venoms: Evolutionary, pathophysiological and biodiscovery implications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
The Co-Evolutionary Dynamics of alpha-Neurotoxic Snake Venoms and their Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and Diversification of the Anguimorphan Lizard Venom System
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Characterising venom variation and antivenom effectiveness within the "True" vipers (Viperinae: Viperidae)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of Australian snake venoms on coagulation: Differential potency, biochemistry, and antivenom efficacy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Novelty in three-finger toxin evolution
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
A Blood Bond: Evolutionary, Pathophysiological and Biodiscovery implications of coagulotoxic snake venoms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Tarantulas of Australia: phylogenetics and venomics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King, Associate Professor Lyn Cook
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of the venom system in aculeate hymenoptera
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
An investigation of the evolution of the Anguimorph lizard venom system
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution and diversification of the cnidarian venom system
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
A philosophical and empirical investigation of the evolution of the toxicoferan reptile venom system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Irina Vetter, Professor Glenn King
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Centipede Venom Evolution: Casting light on a neglected group of venomous animals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Glenn King
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Bryan Fry directly for media enquiries about:
- Animal venoms
- Antivenoms
- Biodiscovery
- Drug design
- Venom
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