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Valencia-Martínez H, Riaño-Umbarila L, Olamendi-Portugal T, Romero-Moreno JA, Possani LD, Becerril B. Neutralization of Centruroides tecomanus scorpion venom by the use of two human recombinant antibody fragments. Mol Immunol 2023; 164:79-87. [PMID: 37980772 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The first toxic component identified against mammals in the venom from Centruroides tecomanus scorpion from Colima, Mexico was Ct1a toxin, which was neutralized by human single chain variable fragment (scFv) RAS27. Venom characterization from these scorpions collected on the Pacific coast of Colima, enabled the identification of a second component of medical importance named Ct71 toxin. Amino acid sequence of Ct71 shares a high identity with Chui5 toxin from C. huichol scorpion, which was neutralized by scFv HV. For this reason, the kinetic parameters of interaction between Ct71 toxin and scFv HV were determined by surface plasmon resonance. Results showed a significantly higher affinity for Ct71 as compared to Chui5. As expected, this toxin was neutralized by scFv HV. The injection of a mixture of scFvs HV and RAS27, resulted in the neutralization of C. tecomanus venom, corroborating that human recombinant antibody fragments can efficiently contribute to the neutralization of medically important toxins and their respective venoms from Mexican scorpions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Valencia-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- Investigadora por México, CONAHCyT-Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca 62250, Mexico
| | - Timoteo Olamendi-Portugal
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - José Alberto Romero-Moreno
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - Lourival D Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, 62250, Mexico.
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Gómez-Ramírez IV, Corrales-García LL, Possani LD, Riaño-Umbarila L, Becerril B. Expression in Pichia pastoris of human antibody fragments that neutralize venoms of Mexican scorpions. Toxicon 2023; 223:107012. [PMID: 36592762 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.107012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has been one of the most widely used organisms in recent years as an expression system for a wide variety of recombinant proteins with therapeutic potential. Its popularity as an alternative system to Escherichia coli is mainly due to the easy genetic manipulation and the ability to produce high levels of heterologous proteins, either intracellularly or extracellularly. Being a eukaryotic organism, P. pastoris carries out post-translational modifications that allow it to produce soluble and correctly folded recombinant proteins. This work, evaluated the expression capacity in P. pastoris of two single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) of human origin, 10FG2 and LR. These scFvs were previously obtained by directed evolution against scorpion venom toxins and are able to neutralize different toxins and venoms of Mexican species. The yield obtained in P. pastoris was higher than that obtained in bacterial periplasm (E. coli), and most importantly, biochemical and functional properties were not modified. These results confirm that P. pastoris yeast can be a good expression system for the production of antibody fragments of a new recombinant antivenom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse V Gómez-Ramírez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico
| | - Ligia Luz Corrales-García
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico; Departamento de Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y Alimentarias, Universidad de Antioquia, AA 1226, Medellín, 050010, Colombia
| | - Lourival D Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico
| | - Lidia Riaño-Umbarila
- Investigadora por México, CONACyT, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
| | - Baltazar Becerril
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62250, Mexico.
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Ghezellou P, Jakob K, Atashi J, Ghassempour A, Spengler B. Mass-Spectrometry-Based Lipidome and Proteome Profiling of Hottentotta saulcyi (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14060370. [PMID: 35737031 PMCID: PMC9228814 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14060370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Scorpion venom is a complex secretory mixture of components with potential biological and physiological properties that attracted many researchers due to promising applications from clinical and pharmacological perspectives. In this study, we investigated the venom of the Iranian scorpion Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) by applying mass-spectrometry-based proteomic and lipidomic approaches to assess the diversity of components present in the venom. The data revealed that the venom’s proteome composition is largely dominated by Na+- and K+-channel-impairing toxic peptides, following the enzymatic and non-enzymatic protein families, e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme, serine protease, metalloprotease, hyaluronidase, carboxypeptidase, and cysteine-rich secretory peptide. Furthermore, lipids comprise ~1.2% of the dry weight of the crude venom. Phospholipids, ether-phospholipids, oxidized-phospholipids, triacylglycerol, cardiolipins, very-long-chain sphingomyelins, and ceramides were the most intensely detected lipid species in the scorpion venom, may acting either independently or synergistically during the envenomation alongside proteins and peptides. The results provide detailed information on the chemical makeup of the venom, helping to improve our understanding of biological molecules present in it, leading to a better insight of the medical significance of the venom, and improving the medical care of patients suffering from scorpion accidents in the relevant regions such as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Afghanistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parviz Ghezellou
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Correspondence: (P.G.); (B.S.)
| | - Kevin Jakob
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Javad Atashi
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran; (J.A.); (A.G.)
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983969411, Iran; (J.A.); (A.G.)
| | - Bernhard Spengler
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Correspondence: (P.G.); (B.S.)
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Boghozian A, Nazem H, Fazilati M, Hejazi SH, Sheikh Sajjadieh M. Toxicity and protein composition of venoms of Hottentotta saulcyi, Hottentotta schach and Androctonus crassicauda, three scorpion species collected in Iran. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:2418-2426. [PMID: 34358414 PMCID: PMC8604134 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scorpion stings comprise a serious problem throughout the globe, especially in regions where they are more frequent. Despite a recent upsurge of interest in scorpion venoms by various research groups, there remain many challenges. OBJECTIVE Therefore, in this study, we aimed to study the toxicity and protein composition of venoms of Hottentotta saulcyi, Hottentotta schach and Androctonus crassicauda, three scorpion species collected in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS Scorpion species were collected from Esfahan farm scorpion company and maintained in the laboratory in containers that mimic their natural habitat. Venom was extracted from A. crassicauda, H. schach and H. saulcyi by electrical stimulation of 8 and 10 V. The toxicity of each venom was established by using four groups of male Swiss albino mice aged 2 months (weighting 18-20 g) for testing each dose of venom. One group was used as a control. Venom was injected into mice by subcutaneous route. Then, animals were monitored for 24 h and LD50 was estimated by the graphic method of Miller and Tainter. Thus, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was used to determine amino acids in the venom, and protein concentrations were determined by the Biuret method. RESULTS LD50 of scorpion venoms by subcutaneous route was found to be 1.70 mg/kg b.w (A. crassicauda), 1.47 mg/kg b.w (H. saulcyi) and 0.85 mg/kg b.w (H. schach). A. crassicauda, H. saulcyi and H. schach contain 26, 30, and 31 amino acids, respectively. A. crassicauda contains low concentrations of alpha-aminoadipic acid, beta-aminoisobutyric acid, beta-alanine and citrulline. H. saulcyi contains a concentration of hydroxylysine, whereas H. schach has no such concentration. A. crassicauda also had the highest levels of tyrosine and threonine. Only A. crassicauda venom contains a low proportion of proteins (14.80%) compared with those of H. schach (16.26%) and H. saulcyi (16.20%). Albumin content in the venoms was 11.7% (H. saulcyi), 5.4% (H. schach) and 4.4% (A. crassicauda). CONCLUSION Scorpions venoms have a variable toxicity and an interesting composition in amino acids and proteins. Work on the development of anti-venom is fundamental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Boghozian
- Department of Biochemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Habibollah Nazem
- Department of Biochemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Hossein Hejazi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Amr ZS, Abu Baker MA, Al-Saraireh M, Warrell DA. Scorpions and scorpion sting envenoming (scorpionism) in the Arab Countries of the Middle East. Toxicon 2020; 191:83-103. [PMID: 33387549 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The twelve Arab countries of the Middle East are inhabited by 117 species of scorpions of varying medical importance within six families. Scorpion stings are a very common occurrence throughout the region. Twenty-two scorpion species are considered to be dangerously venomous, causing potentially life threatening stings. Accessible literature in English and Arabic on scorpions, scorpion stings and available antivenoms was reviewed to document the scorpion fauna and scorpion stings in each country. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan report the highest numbers of stings and envenomings. Clinically, the most important toxins in Old World scorpion venoms are α-toxins that target voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels at neurotoxin binding site 3, causing sympathetic excitation and the endogenous release of catecholamines that is responsible for transient, but life-threatening myocardial damage. Most victims of scorpion stings suffer severe local pain, but a few, especially children, develop systemic envenoming which, in the case of most Middle Eastern buthid species, such as Androctonus and Leiurus species, is dominated by the cardiovascular and respiratory consequences of hypercatecholinaemic myocarditis. Other syndromes include paralysis (Parabuthus leiosoma), coagulopathy (Nebo hierichonticus and Hemiscorpius species), and local tissue damage, haemolysis and acute kidney injury (H. lepturus). Early antivenom treatment is recommended but its value remains controversial. However, intensive care, with the ancillary use of vasoactive drugs such as prazosin and dobutamine, has proved effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuhair S Amr
- Biology Department, Jordan University for Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
| | | | | | - David A Warrell
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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KACHEL H. Scorpion Fauna and Scorpionism in Zakho Province of Northern Iraq. COMMAGENE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.31594/commagene.710923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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