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Muyldermans S, Smider VV. Distinct antibody species: structural differences creating therapeutic opportunities. Curr Opin Immunol 2016; 40:7-13. [PMID: 26922135 PMCID: PMC4884505 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies have been a remarkably successful class of molecules for binding a large number of antigens in therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications. Typical antibodies derived from mouse or human sources use the surface formed by complementarity determining regions (CDRs) on the variable regions of the heavy chain/light chain heterodimer, which typically forms a relatively flat binding surface. Alternative species, particularly camelids and bovines, provide a unique paradigm for antigen recognition through novel domains which form the antigen binding paratope. For camelids, heavy chain antibodies bind antigen with only a single heavy chain variable region, in the absence of light chains. In bovines, ultralong CDR-H3 regions form an independently folding minidomain, which protrudes from the surface of the antibody and is diverse in both its sequence and disulfide patterns. The atypical paratopes of camelids and bovines potentially provide the ability to interact with different epitopes, particularly recessed or concave surfaces, compared to traditional antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Muyldermans
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Vaughn V Smider
- Fabrus Inc., Division of Sevion Therapeutics, San Diego, CA 92121, United States; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States.
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Ye F, Mi Q, Zhang N, Li X, Yu J, Gao Z, Zheng Y, Fan Q, Wang J, Wang J. Probing the Key Binding Sequence and Improvement of the Stability of a β-Bungarotoxin-binding Aptamer in Snake Venom. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.10737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fengping Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing 100071 China
- Institute of Military Medicine; Chengdu Military Region's Center for Disease Control & Prevention; Kunming 650032 China
| | - Qili Mi
- Technology Center; China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., Ltd; Kunming 650231 China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Institute of Military Medicine; Chengdu Military Region's Center for Disease Control & Prevention; Kunming 650032 China
- Hospital of Unit 77256, PLA; Kunming 650225 China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Technology Center; China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., Ltd; Kunming 650231 China
| | - Jing Yu
- Institute of Military Medicine; Chengdu Military Region's Center for Disease Control & Prevention; Kunming 650032 China
| | - Zhongping Gao
- Medical Department; General Hospital of Qinghai Armed Police; Xining 810000 China
| | - Ying Zheng
- Institute of Military Medicine; Chengdu Military Region's Center for Disease Control & Prevention; Kunming 650032 China
| | - Quanshui Fan
- Institute of Military Medicine; Chengdu Military Region's Center for Disease Control & Prevention; Kunming 650032 China
| | - Jie Wang
- Institute of Military Medicine; Chengdu Military Region's Center for Disease Control & Prevention; Kunming 650032 China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology; Beijing 100071 China
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Management of Tissue Loss After Agkistrodon Snakebite: Appropriate Use of Crotalidae-Fab Antivenin. J Trauma Nurs 2016; 23:169-72. [DOI: 10.1097/jtn.0000000000000207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Schneider FS, de Almeida Lima S, Reis de Ávila G, Castro KL, Guerra-Duarte C, Sanchez EF, Nguyen C, Granier C, Molina F, Chávez-Olortegui C. Identification of protective B-cell epitopes of Atroxlysin-I: A metalloproteinase from Bothrops atrox snake venom. Vaccine 2016; 34:1680-7. [PMID: 26917009 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Atroxlysin-I (Atr-I) is a hemorrhagic snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) from Bothrops atrox venom, the snake responsible for the majority of bites in the north region of South America. SVMPs like Atr-I produce toxic effects in victims including hemorrhage, inflammation, necrosis and blood coagulation deficiency. Mapping of B-cell epitopes in SVMPs might result in the identification of non-toxic molecules capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies and improving the anti-venom therapy. Here, using the SPOT-synthesis technique we identified two epitopes located in the N-ter region of Atr-I (AtrEp1-(22)YNGNSDKIRRRIHQM(36); and AtrEp2-(55)GVEIWSNKDLINVQ(68)). Based on the sequence of AtrEp1 and AtrEp2 a third peptide named Atr-I biepitope (AtrBiEp) was designed and synthesized ((23)NGNSDKIRRRIH(34)GG(55)GVEIWSNKDLINVQ(68)). AtrBiEp was used to immunize BALB/c mice. Anti-AtrBiEp serum cross-reacted against Atr-I in western blot and was able to fully neutralize the hemorrhagic activity of Atr-I. Our results provide a rational basis for the identification of neutralizing epitopes on Atr-I snake venom toxin and show that the use of synthetic peptides could improve the generation of immuno-therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Schneider
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Sys2Diag, FRE 3690, CNRS Alcediag, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, France
| | - S de Almeida Lima
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - G Reis de Ávila
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - K L Castro
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - C Guerra-Duarte
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - E F Sanchez
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - C Nguyen
- Sys2Diag, FRE 3690, CNRS Alcediag, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, France
| | - C Granier
- Sys2Diag, FRE 3690, CNRS Alcediag, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, France
| | - F Molina
- Sys2Diag, FRE 3690, CNRS Alcediag, Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, France
| | - C Chávez-Olortegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Macpherson EE, Adams ER, Bockarie MJ, Hollingsworth TD, Kelly-Hope LA, Lehane M, Kovacic V, Harrison RA, Paine MJ, Reimer LJ, Torr SJ. Mass Drug Administration and beyond: how can we strengthen health systems to deliver complex interventions to eliminate neglected tropical diseases? BMC Proc 2015; 9:S7. [PMID: 28281705 PMCID: PMC4699030 DOI: 10.1186/1753-6561-9-s10-s7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Achieving the 2020 goals for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) requires scale-up of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) which will require long-term commitment of national and global financing partners, strengthening national capacity and, at the community level, systems to monitor and evaluate activities and impact. For some settings and diseases, MDA is not appropriate and alternative interventions are required. Operational research is necessary to identify how existing MDA networks can deliver this more complex range of interventions equitably. The final stages of the different global programmes to eliminate NTDs require eliminating foci of transmission which are likely to persist in complex and remote rural settings. Operational research is required to identify how current tools and practices might be adapted to locate and eliminate these hard-to-reach foci. Chronic disabilities caused by NTDs will persist after transmission of pathogens ceases. Development and delivery of sustainable services to reduce the NTD-related disability is an urgent public health priority. LSTM and its partners are world leaders in developing and delivering interventions to control vector-borne NTDs and malaria, particularly in hard-to-reach settings in Africa. Our experience, partnerships and research capacity allows us to serve as a hub for developing, supporting, monitoring and evaluating global programmes to eliminate NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily R Adams
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | - Mike Lehane
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vanja Kovacic
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Mark Ji Paine
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Lisa J Reimer
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Sohi AN, Rajabibazl M, Rasaee MJ, Omidfar K. The use of camel antibodies in development of EGFRvIII enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683815030163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Sapsutthipas S, Leong PK, Akesowan S, Pratanaphon R, Tan NH, Ratanabanangkoon K. Effective equine immunization protocol for production of potent poly-specific antisera against Calloselasma rhodostoma, Cryptelytrops albolabris and Daboia siamensis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003609. [PMID: 25774998 PMCID: PMC4361046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake envenomation has been estimated to affect 1.8 million people annually with about 94,000 deaths mostly in poor tropical countries. Specific antivenoms are the only rational and effective therapy for these cases. Efforts are being made to produce effective, affordable and sufficient antivenoms for these victims. The immunization process, which has rarely been described in detail, is one step that needs to be rigorously studied and improved especially with regard to the production of polyspecific antisera. The polyspecific nature of therapeutic antivenom could obviate the need to identify the culprit snake species. The aim of this study was to produce potent polyspecific antisera against 3 medically important vipers of Thailand and its neighboring countries, namely Cryptelytrops albolabris "White lipped pit viper" (CA), Calleoselasma rhodostoma "Malayan pit viper" (CR), and Daboia siamensis "Russell's viper" (DS). Four horses were immunized with a mixture of the 3 viper venoms using the 'low dose, low volume multi-site' immunization protocol. The antisera showed rapid rise in ELISA titers against the 3 venoms and reached plateau at about the 8th week post-immunization. The in vivo neutralization potency (P) of the antisera against CA, CR and DS venoms was 10.40, 2.42 and 0.76 mg/ml, respectively and was much higher than the minimal potency limits set by Queen Soavabha Memorial Institute (QSMI). The corresponding potency values for the QSMI monospecific antisera against CA, CR and DS venoms were 7.28, 3.12 and 1.50 mg/ml, respectively. The polyspecific antisera also effectively neutralized the procoagulant, hemorrhagic, necrotic and nephrotoxic activities of the viper venoms. This effective immunization protocol should be useful in the production of potent polyspecific antisera against snake venoms, and equine antisera against tetanus, diphtheria or rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sompong Sapsutthipas
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Poh Kuan Leong
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Ronachai Pratanaphon
- Division of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-industry, Chiang Mai University, Chaing Mai, Thailand
| | - Nget Hong Tan
- Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kavi Ratanabanangkoon
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Laboratory of Immunology, Chulabhorn Research Institute and Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Thailand
- * E-mail: ,
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Omics meets biology: application to the design and preclinical assessment of antivenoms. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:3388-405. [PMID: 25517863 PMCID: PMC4280540 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6123388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming represents a neglected tropical disease that has a heavy public health impact worldwide, mostly affecting poor people involved in agricultural activities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. A key issue that complicates the treatment of snakebite envenomings is the poor availability of the only validated treatment for this disease, antivenoms. Antivenoms can be an efficacious treatment for snakebite envenoming, provided they are safe, effective, affordable, accessible and administered appropriately. The shortage of antivenoms in various regions, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of Asia, can be significantly alleviated by optimizing the use of current antivenoms and by the generation of novel polyspecific antivenoms having a wide spectrum of efficacy. Complementing preclinical testing of antivenom efficacy using in vivo and in vitro functional neutralization assays, developments in venomics and antivenomics are likely to revolutionize the design and preclinical assessment of antivenoms by being able to test new antivenom preparations and to predict their paraspecific neutralization to the level of species-specific toxins.
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Archer J, Whiteley G, Casewell NR, Harrison RA, Wagstaff SC. VTBuilder: a tool for the assembly of multi isoform transcriptomes. BMC Bioinformatics 2014; 15:389. [PMID: 25465054 PMCID: PMC4260244 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-014-0389-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Within many research areas, such as transcriptomics, the millions of short DNA fragments (reads) produced by current sequencing platforms need to be assembled into transcript sequences before they can be utilized. Despite recent advances in assembly software, creating such transcripts from read data harboring isoform variation remains challenging. This is because current approaches fail to identify all variants present or they create chimeric transcripts within which relationships between co-evolving sites and other evolutionary factors are disrupted. We present VTBuilder, a tool for constructing non-chimeric transcripts from read data that has been sequenced from sources containing isoform complexity. Results We validated VTBuilder using reads simulated from 54 Sanger sequenced transcripts (SSTs) expressed in the venom gland of the saw scaled viper, Echis ocellatus. The SSTs were selected to represent genes from major co-expressed toxin groups known to harbor isoform variants. From the simulated reads, VTBuilder constructed 55 transcripts, 50 of which had a greater than 99% sequence similarity to 48 of the SSTs. In contrast, using the popular assembler tool Trinity (r2013-02-25), only 14 transcripts were constructed with a similar level of sequence identity to just 11 SSTs. Furthermore VTBuilder produced transcripts with a similar length distribution to the SSTs while those produced by Trinity were considerably shorter. To demonstrate that our approach can be scaled to real world data we assembled the venom gland transcriptome of the African puff adder Bitis arietans using paired-end reads sequenced on Illumina’s MiSeq platform. VTBuilder constructed 1481 transcripts from 5 million reads and, following annotation, all major toxin genes were recovered demonstrating reconstruction of complex underlying sequence and isoform diversity. Conclusion Unlike other approaches, VTBuilder strives to maintain the relationships between co-evolving sites within the constructed transcripts, and thus increases transcript utility for a wide range of research areas ranging from transcriptomics to phylogenetics and including the monitoring of drug resistant parasite populations. Additionally, improving the quality of transcripts assembled from read data will have an impact on future studies that query these data. VTBuilder has been implemented in java and is available, under the GPL GPU V0.3 license, from http:// http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/vtbuilder. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12859-014-0389-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Archer
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA2, UK.
| | - Gareth Whiteley
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA2, UK.
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA2, UK.
| | - Robert A Harrison
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA2, UK.
| | - Simon C Wagstaff
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA2, UK.
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Engineering venom's toxin-neutralizing antibody fragments and its therapeutic potential. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:2541-67. [PMID: 25153256 PMCID: PMC4147596 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6082541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum therapy remains the only specific treatment against envenoming, but anti-venoms are still prepared by fragmentation of polyclonal antibodies isolated from hyper-immunized horse serum. Most of these anti-venoms are considered to be efficient, but their production is tedious, and their use may be associated with adverse effects. Recombinant antibodies and smaller functional units are now emerging as credible alternatives and constitute a source of still unexploited biomolecules capable of neutralizing venoms. This review will be a walk through the technologies that have recently been applied leading to novel antibody formats with better properties in terms of homogeneity, specific activity and possible safety.
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Hassanzadeh-Ghassabeh G, Devoogdt N, De Pauw P, Vincke C, Muyldermans S. Nanobodies and their potential applications. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2013; 8:1013-26. [PMID: 23730699 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.13.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies are recombinant, antigen-specific, single-domain, variable fragments of camelid heavy chain-only antibodies. The innate supremacy of nanobodies as a renewable source of affinity reagents, together with their high production yield in a broad variety of expression systems, minimal size, great stability, reversible refolding and outstanding solubility in aqueous solutions, and ability to specifically recognize unique epitopes with subnanomolar affinity, have combined to make them a useful class of biomolecules for research and various medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This article speculates on a number of technological innovations that might be introduced in the nanobody identification platform to streamline the generation of more potent nanobodies and to expand their application range.
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Cologna CT, Cardoso JDS, Jourdan E, Degueldre M, Upert G, Gilles N, Uetanabaro APT, Costa Neto EM, Thonart P, de Pauw E, Quinton L. Peptidomic comparison and characterization of the major components of the venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps collected in four different areas of Brazil. J Proteomics 2013; 94:413-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Frauches TS, Petretski JH, Arnholdt ACV, Lasunskaia EB, de Carvalho ECQ, Kipnis TL, da Silva WD, Kanashiro MM. Bothropic antivenom based on monoclonal antibodies, is it possible? Toxicon 2013; 71:49-56. [PMID: 23732123 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against three major toxic components of Bothrops atrox venom were produced and tested. The mAbs against phospholipase A2, hemorrhagic metalloprotease, and thrombin-like enzymes were produced in large amounts and purified with caprylic acid followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Purified mAbs were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and their ability to neutralize the respective toxins was tested. Five Swiss mice were injected i.p. with 13.5 mg of pooled mAbs and challenged via s.c. route with venom. Survival rate was recorded for the next 48 h. All mice treated and challenged with venom survived, whereas only one mouse in the control group survived. Bleeding time in mice treated with mAbs was similar to that observed in control mice. Our results show that monoclonal antibodies neutralized the lethal toxicity of Bothrops venom and indicate that there is a reasonable possibility of developing antivenoms based on humanized mAbs to treat victims of venomous animals in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago S Frauches
- Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, CEP:28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
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Casewell NR, Wüster W, Vonk FJ, Harrison RA, Fry BG. Complex cocktails: the evolutionary novelty of venoms. Trends Ecol Evol 2012; 28:219-29. [PMID: 23219381 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 593] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2012] [Revised: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Venoms have evolved on numerous occasions throughout the animal kingdom. These 'biochemical weapon systems' typically function to facilitate, or protect the producing animal from, predation. Most venomous animals remain unstudied despite venoms providing model systems for investigating predator-prey interactions, molecular evolution, functional convergence, and novel targets for pharmaceutical discovery. Through advances in 'omic' technologies, venom composition data have recently become available for several venomous lineages, revealing considerable complexity in the processes responsible for generating the genetic and functional diversity observed in many venoms. Here, we review these recent advances and highlight the ecological and evolutionary novelty of venom systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R Casewell
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK.
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65
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Pla D, Gutiérrez JM, Calvete JJ. Second generation snake antivenomics: Comparing immunoaffinity and immunodepletion protocols. Toxicon 2012; 60:688-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.04.342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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66
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Stoyanova V, Aleksandrov R, Lukarska M, Duhalov D, Atanasov V, Petrova S. Recognition of Vipera ammodytes meridionalis neurotoxin vipoxin and its components using phage-displayed scFv and polyclonal antivenom sera. Toxicon 2012; 60:802-9. [PMID: 22750218 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Revised: 06/03/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Vipoxin is a potent postsynaptic heterodimeric neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the Bulgarian snake Vipera ammodytes meridionalis, whose snakebites cause different and strongly manifested pathophysiological effects (neurotoxic, hemolytic, anticoagulant, convulsant, hypotensive, hyperglycemic etc.). The neutralization of snake toxins calls for extensive research through the application of different approaches: antibodies, non-immunologic inhibitors, natural products derived from plants and animals, as well as synthetic drugs. In this study, we applied naive Tomlinson I + J (Cambridge, UK) libraries to obtain recombinant human scFv antibodies against the vipoxin's two subunits--basic and toxic phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and acidic, non-toxic component. We found that 33 of more than hundred tested clones were positive and recognized vipoxin and its subunits. Enriched scFv-phage samples (1.2 × 10⁹ pfu/ml) were analyzed for their binding (ELISA) and enzyme-inhibiting abilities. Single chain Fv-phage clones--D₁₂, E₃, F₆, D₁₀ and G₅ exhihest binding affinity for the toxic component. Clones A₁, D₁₂ and C₁₂ recognized preferentially vipoxin's acidic component. Clones E₃, G₅ and H₄ inhibited the enzymatic activity of both vipoxin and its purified and separated toxic subunit to the highest extent. Six of the selected clones (E₃, G₅, H₄, C₁₂, D₁₀ and A₁₁) inhibited direct hemolytic activity of vipoxin and its pure PLA₂ subunit. The obtained specific scFv antibodies will be used for epitope mapping studies required to shed light on the role of the phospholipase A₂ activity for the vipoxin toxicity and its effective neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishnya Stoyanova
- Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Faculty of Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Enzymology, 8 "Dragan Tsankov" Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Snake venomics of Macrovipera mauritanica from Morocco, and assessment of the para-specific immunoreactivity of an experimental monospecific and a commercial antivenoms. J Proteomics 2012; 75:2431-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2012] [Revised: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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68
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