The 'Big Four’ Snakes of India

Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee is the Director of the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Assam, India, and a Professor of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Tezpur University, Assam, India. He did M. Sc. (Biochemistry) from Banaras Hindu University, Ph. D. in biochemistry and pharmacology of Indian Cobra and Russell’s viper venom from Burdwan Medical College under Burdwan University, and D. Sc. (Biotechnology) from Calcutta University on characterization and biotechnological application of phospholipase A2 and proteases from Indian Cobra and Russell’s viper venom. Prof. Mukherjee has more than 25 years of research experience on Indian snake venoms and the treatment of venomous snakebites. His current research interest includes biochemical, pharmacological, and proteomic analyses of Indian snake venoms, quality assessment of commercial antivenom, and novel diagnostics and drug discovery from natural resources, including snake venom. He has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals and book chapters, guided Ph. D. students, and received several awards and medals for his academic competence and research achievements, the most notable is the Visitor’s Award for Research in Basic and Applied Sciences from honorable President of India in 2018. Prof. Mukherjee is also the task force member of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India, and World Health Organization (WHO) on prevention and control of snakebite envenoming.

Chapter 1. Introduction: The snakebite problem.- Chapter 2. Evolution of snakes and systematics of Big Four venomous snakes of India.- Chapter 3. Snake venom: Composition, evolution, function, and biomedical applications.- Chapter 4. Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja).- Chapter 5. Indian common Krait (Bungarus cerelus).- Chapter 6. Indian Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii).- Chapter 7. Indian Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus).- Chapter 8. Prevention and Treatment of Big Four Snakebite in India.