简介：Venomousanimalsontheearthhavebeenfoundtobevaluableresourcesforthedevelopmentoftherapeutics.Enzymaticandnon-enzymaticproteinsandpeptidesarethemajorcomponentsofanimalvenoms,manyofwhichcantargetvariousionchannels,receptors,andmembranetransporters.Comparedtotraditionalsmallmoleculedrugs,naturalproteinsandpeptidesexhibithigherspecificityandpotencytotheirtargets.Inthisreview,wesummarizethevarietiesandcharacteristicsoftoxinsfromafewrepresentativevenomousanimals,anddescribethecomponentsandapplicationsofanimaltoxinsaspotentialdrugcandidatesinthetreatmentofhumandiseases,includingcancer,neurodegenerativediseases,cardiovasculardiseases,neuropathicpain,aswellasautoimmunediseases.Inthemeantime,therearemanyobstaclestotranslatenewtoxindiscoverytotheirclinicalapplications.Thechallenges,strategies,andperspectivesinthedevelopmentoftheproteintoxin-baseddrugsarediscussedaswell.