Computational Strategies for Broad Spectrum Venom Phospholipase A₂ Inhibitors

Snakebite envenoming is a persistent cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide due to the logistical challenges and costs of current antibody-based treatments. Their persistence motivates a broad interest in the discovery of inhibitors against multispecies venom phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), which are underway as an alternative or supplemental treatment to improve health outcomes. Here, we present new computational strategies for improved inhibitor classification for challenging metalloenzyme targets across many species, including both a new method to utilize existing molecular docking, and subsequent data normalization. These methods were improved to support experimental screening efforts estimating the broader efficacy of candidate PLA₂ inhibitors against diverse viper and elapid venoms.