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Xu H, Mastenbroek J, Krikke NTB, El-Asal S, Mutlaq R, Casewell NR, Slagboom J, Kool J. Nanofractionation Analytics for Comparing MALDI-MS and ESI-MS Data of Viperidae Snake Venom Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:370. [PMID: 39195780 PMCID: PMC11360109 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16080370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, it is estimated that there are 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenoming caused by snakebites. Snake venom is a complex mixture of protein toxins, lipids, small molecules, and salts, with the proteins typically responsible for causing pathology in snakebite victims. For their chemical characterization and identification, analytical methods are required. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-LC-ESI-MS) is a widely used technique due to its ease of use, sensitivity, and ability to be directly coupled after LC separation. This method allows for the efficient separation of complex mixtures and sensitive detection of analytes. On the other hand, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is also sometimes used, and though it typically requires additional sample preparation steps, it offers desirable suitability for the analysis of larger biomolecules. In this study, seven medically important viperid snake venoms were separated into their respective venom toxins and measured by ESI-MS. In parallel, using nanofractionation analytics, post-column high-resolution fractionation was used to collect the eluting toxins for further processing for MALDI-MS analysis. Our comparative results showed that the deconvoluted snake venom toxin masses were observed with good sensitivity from both ESI-MS and MALDI-MS approaches and presented overlap in the toxin masses recovered (between 25% and 57%, depending on the venom analyzed). The mass range of the toxins detected in high abundance was between 4 and 28 kDa. In total, 39 masses were found in both the ESI-MS and/or MALDI-MS analyses, with most being between 5 and 9 kDa (46%), 13 and 15 kDa (38%), and 24 and 28 kDa (13%) in size. Next to the post-column MS analyses, additional coagulation bioassaying was performed to demonstrate the parallel post-column assessment of venom activity in the workflow. Most nanofractionated venoms exhibited anticoagulant activity, with three venoms additionally exhibiting toxins with clear procoagulant activity (Bothrops asper, Crotalus atrox, and Daboia russelii) observed post-column. The results of this study highlight the complementarity of ESI-MS and MALDI-MS approaches for characterizing snake venom toxins and provide a complementary overview of defined toxin masses found in a diversity of viper snake venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jesse Mastenbroek
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natascha T. B. Krikke
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan El-Asal
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rama Mutlaq
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Julien Slagboom
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Abiola J, Berg AM, Aiyelaagbe O, Adeyi A, König S. Dabsylated Bradykinin Is Cleaved by Snake Venom Proteases from Echis ocellatus. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1027. [PMID: 38790989 PMCID: PMC11118064 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The vasoactive peptide bradykinin (BK) is an important member of the renin-angiotensin system. Its discovery is tightly interwoven with snake venom research, because it was first detected in plasma following the addition of viper venom. While the fact that venoms liberate BK from a serum globulin fraction is well described, its destruction by the venom has largely gone unnoticed. Here, BK was found to be cleaved by snake venom metalloproteinases in the venom of Echis ocellatus, one of the deadliest snakes, which degraded its dabsylated form (DBK) in a few minutes after Pro7 (RPPGFSP↓FR). This is a common cleavage site for several mammalian proteases such as ACE, but is not typical for matrix metalloproteinases. Residual protease activity < 5% after addition of EDTA indicated that DBK is also cleaved by serine proteases to a minor extent. Mass spectrometry-based protein analysis provided spectral proof for several peptides of zinc metalloproteinase-disintegrin-like Eoc1, disintegrin EO4A, and three serine proteases in the venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Abiola
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University of Münster, Röntgenstr. 21, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.A.)
- Organic Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria
| | - Anna Maria Berg
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University of Münster, Röntgenstr. 21, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.A.)
| | - Olapeju Aiyelaagbe
- Organic Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria
| | - Akindele Adeyi
- Animal Physiology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria
| | - Simone König
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University of Münster, Röntgenstr. 21, 48149 Münster, Germany; (J.A.)
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Chippaux JP, Ntone R, Benhammou D, Madec Y, Noël G, Perilhou A, Karl F, Amta P, Sanchez M, Matchim L, Clauteaux P, Eteki L, Ndifon M, Boum Y, Nkwescheu AS, Taieb F. Real life condition evaluation of Inoserp PAN-AFRICA antivenom effectiveness in Cameroon. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011707. [PMID: 37939111 PMCID: PMC10659212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snakebites is a serious public health issue but remains a neglected tropical disease. Data on antivenom effectiveness are urgently needed in Africa. We assessed effectiveness of Inoserp PAN-AFRICA (IPA), the recommended antivenom available in Cameroon. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We enrolled 447 patients presenting with snakebite in 14 health facilities across Cameroon. At presentation, cytotoxicity, coagulation troubles and neurotoxicity were graded. We administered two to four vials of antivenom to patients based on hemotoxic or neurotoxic signs. We renewed antivenom administration to patients with persistence of bleedings or neurotoxicity 2 hours after each injection. We defined early improvement as a reduction of the grade of envenomation symptoms 2 hours after first injection. Medium-term effectiveness was investigated looking at disappearance of symptoms during hospitalization. After hospital discharge, a home visit was planned to assess long-term outcomes. Between October 2019 and May 2021, we enrolled 447 (93.7%), including 72% from the savannah regions. The median [IQR] age was 25 [14-40]. Envenomation was diagnosed in 369 (82.6%) participants. The antivenom was administered to 356 patients (96.5%) of whom 256 (71.9%) received one administration. Among these patients, cytotoxic symptoms were observed in 336 (94.4%) participants, coagulation disorders in 234 (65.7%) participants and neurotoxicity in 23 (6.5%) participants. Two hours after the first administration of antivenom, we observed a decrease in coagulation disorders or neurotoxicity in 75.2% and 39.1% of patients, respectively. Complete cessation of bleedings and neurotoxicity occurred in 96% and 93% of patients within 24 hours, respectively. Sequelae have been observed in 9 (3%) patients at the home visit 15 days after hospital admission and 11 (3%) died including one before antivenom injection. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We confirmed good effectiveness of the IPA and highlighted the rapid improvement in bleeding or neurotoxicity after the first administration. Sequential administrations of low doses of antivenom, rigorously assessed at short intervals for an eventual renewal, can preserve patient safety and save antivenom. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03326492.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Chippaux
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche pour le développement, MERIT, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche Translationnelle, Paris, France
| | | | - David Benhammou
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology unit, Paris, France
| | - Yoann Madec
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology unit, Paris, France
| | - Gaëlle Noël
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche Translationnelle, Paris, France
| | - Anais Perilhou
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche Translationnelle, Paris, France
| | - Fai Karl
- Epicentre Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Marie Sanchez
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Data management core facility, Paris, France
| | | | - Pedro Clauteaux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche Translationnelle, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Yap Boum
- Epicentre Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Sørensen CV, Almeida JR, Bohn MF, Rivera-de-Torre E, Schoffelen S, Voldborg BG, Ljungars A, Vaiyapuri S, Laustsen AH. Discovery of a human monoclonal antibody that cross-neutralizes venom phospholipase A 2s from three different snake genera. Toxicon 2023; 234:107307. [PMID: 37783315 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the considerable global impact of snakebite envenoming, available treatments remain suboptimal. Here, we report the discovery of a broadly-neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, using a phage display-based cross-panning strategy, capable of reducing the cytotoxic effects of venom phospholipase A2s from three different snake genera from different continents. This highlights the potential of utilizing monoclonal antibodies to develop more effective, safer, and globally accessible polyvalent antivenoms that can be widely used to treat snakebite envenoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer V Sørensen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - José R Almeida
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6UB, United Kingdom
| | - Markus-Frederik Bohn
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sanne Schoffelen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bjørn G Voldborg
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sakthivel Vaiyapuri
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6UB, United Kingdom.
| | - Andreas H Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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5
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Bittenbinder MA, Capinha L, Da Costa Pereira D, Slagboom J, van de Velde B, Casewell NR, Jennings P, Kool J, Vonk FJ. Development of a high-throughput in vitro screening method for the assessment of cell-damaging activities of snake venoms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011564. [PMID: 37590328 PMCID: PMC10465002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a globally important public health issue that has devastating consequences on human health and well-being, with annual mortality rates between 81,000 and 138,000. Snake venoms may cause different pathological effects by altering normal physiological processes such as nervous transfer and blood coagulation. In addition, snake venoms can cause severe (local) tissue damage that may result in life-long morbidities, with current estimates pointing towards an additional 450,000 individuals that suffer from permanent disabilities such as amputations, contractions and blindness. Despite such high morbidity rates, research to date has been mainly focusing on neurotoxic and haemotoxic effects of snake venoms and considerably less on venom-induced tissue damage. The molecular mechanisms underlaying this pathology include membrane disruption and extracellular matrix degradation. This research describes methods used to study the (molecular) mechanisms underlaying venom-induced cell- and tissue damage. A selection of cellular bioassays and fluorescent microscopy were used to study cell-damaging activities of snake venoms in multi-well plates, using both crude and fractionated venoms. A panel of 10 representative medically relevant snake species was used, which cover a large part of the geographical regions most heavily affected by snakebite. The study comprises both morphological data as well as quantitative data on cell metabolism and viability, which were measured over time. Based on this data, a distinction could be made in the ways by which viper and elapid venoms exert their effects on cells. We further made an effort to characterise the bioactive compounds causing these effects, using a combination of liquid chromatography methods followed by bioassaying and protein identification using proteomics. The outcomes of this study might prove valuable for better understanding venom-induced cell- and tissue-damaging pathologies and could be used in the process of developing and improving snakebite treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matyas A. Bittenbinder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liliana Capinha
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Da Costa Pereira
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Slagboom
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas van de Velde
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Jennings
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Freek J. Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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6
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Heptinstall TC, Strickland JL, Rosales-Garcia RA, Rautsaw RM, Simpson CL, Nystrom GS, Ellsworth SA, Hogan MP, Borja M, Fernandes Campos P, Grazziotin FG, Rokyta DR, Junqueira-de-Azevedo ILM, Parkinson CL. Venom phenotype conservation suggests integrated specialization in a lizard-eating snake. Toxicon 2023; 229:107135. [PMID: 37146732 PMCID: PMC11000244 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Biological specialization reduces the size of niche space while increasing efficiency in the use of available resources. Specialization often leads to phenotypic changes via natural selection aligning with niche space constraints. Commonly observed changes are in size, shape, behavior, and traits associated with feeding. One often selected trait for dietary specialization is venom, which, in snakes, often shows variation dependent on diet across and within species. The Neotropical Blunt-headed Treesnake (Imantodes cenchoa) is a highly specialized, rear-fanged, arboreal, lizard hunter that displays a long thin body, enlarged eyes, and a large Duvernoy's gland. However, toxin characterization of I. cenchoa has never been completed. Here, we use RNA-seq and mass spectrometry to assemble, annotate, and analyze the venom gland transcriptomes of four I. cenchoa from across their range. We find a lack of significant venom variation at the sequence and expression levels, suggesting venom conservation across the species. We propose this conservation provides evidence of a specialized venom repertoire, adapted to maximize efficiency of capturing and processing lizards. Importantly, this study provides the most complete venom gland transcriptomes of I. cenchoa and evidence of venom specialization in a rear-fanged snake, giving insight into selective pressures of venom across all snake species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason L Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA; Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA
| | | | - Rhett M Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Cassandra L Simpson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Gunnar S Nystrom
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Schyler A Ellsworth
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Michael P Hogan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Miguel Borja
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universdad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35070, Gómez Palacio, Dgo., Mexico
| | | | - Felipe G Grazziotin
- Laboratório Especial de Colecões Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Darin R Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | | | - Christopher L Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA; Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
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7
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Wachtel E, Bittenbinder MA, van de Velde B, Slagboom J, de Monts de Savasse A, Alonso LL, Casewell NR, Vonk FJ, Kool J. Application of an Extracellular Matrix-Mimicking Fluorescent Polymer for the Detection of Proteolytic Venom Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15040294. [PMID: 37104232 PMCID: PMC10143632 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040294] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The cytotoxicity caused by snake venoms is a serious medical problem that greatly contributes to the morbidity observed in snakebite patients. The cytotoxic components found in snake venoms belong to a variety of toxin classes and may cause cytotoxic effects by targeting a range of molecular structures, including cellular membranes, the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cytoskeleton. Here, we present a high-throughput assay (384-well plate) that monitors ECM degradation by snake venom toxins via the application of fluorescent versions of model ECM substrates, specifically gelatin and collagen type I. Both crude venoms and fractionated toxins of a selection of medically relevant viperid and elapid species, separated via size-exclusion chromatography, were studied using the self-quenching, fluorescently labelled ECM-polymer substrates. The viperid venoms showed significantly higher proteolytic degradation when compared to elapid venoms, although the venoms with higher snake venom metalloproteinase content did not necessarily exhibit stronger substrate degradation than those with a lower one. Gelatin was generally more readily cleaved than collagen type I. In the viperid venoms, which were subjected to fractionation by SEC, two (B. jararaca and C. rhodostoma, respectively) or three (E. ocellatus) active proteases were identified. Therefore, the assay allows the study of proteolytic activity towards the ECM in vitro for crude and fractionated venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Wachtel
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matyas A Bittenbinder
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bas van de Velde
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Slagboom
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Axel de Monts de Savasse
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Luis L Alonso
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Freek J Vonk
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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Comparative venom toxin analyses of Nigerian viperidae and elapidae snakes. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
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9
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Nguyen GTT, O'Brien C, Wouters Y, Seneci L, Gallissà-Calzado A, Campos-Pinto I, Ahmadi S, Laustsen AH, Ljungars A. High-throughput proteomics and in vitro functional characterization of the 26 medically most important elapids and vipers from sub-Saharan Africa. Gigascience 2022; 11:giac121. [PMID: 36509548 PMCID: PMC9744630 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Venomous snakes are important parts of the ecosystem, and their behavior and evolution have been shaped by their surrounding environments over the eons. This is reflected in their venoms, which are typically highly adapted for their biological niche, including their diet and defense mechanisms for deterring predators. Sub-Saharan Africa is rich in venomous snake species, of which many are dangerous to humans due to the high toxicity of their venoms and their ability to effectively deliver large amounts of venom into their victims via their bite. In this study, the venoms of 26 of sub-Saharan Africa's medically most relevant elapid and viper species were subjected to parallelized toxicovenomics analysis. The analysis included venom proteomics and in vitro functional characterization of whole venom toxicities, enabling a robust comparison of venom profiles between species. The data presented here corroborate previous studies and provide biochemical details for the clinical manifestations observed in envenomings by the 26 snake species. Moreover, two new venom proteomes (Naja anchietae and Echis leucogaster) are presented here for the first time. Combined, the presented data can help shine light on snake venom evolutionary trends and possibly be used to further improve or develop novel antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giang Thi Tuyet Nguyen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Carol O'Brien
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yessica Wouters
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lorenzo Seneci
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alex Gallissà-Calzado
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Isabel Campos-Pinto
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shirin Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas H Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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10
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Arguedas M, Umaña D, Moscoso E, García A, Pereira C, Sánchez A, Durán G, Cordero D, Sánchez A, Segura Á, Vargas M, Herrera M, Villalta M, Gómez A, Salas C, Díaz C, María Gutiérrez J, León G. Comparison of adjuvant emulsions for their safety and ability to enhance the antibody response in horses immunized with African snake venoms. Vaccine X 2022; 12:100233. [PMID: 36337837 PMCID: PMC9634357 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Adjuvant emulsions are widely used to enhance the antibody response in animals used as immunoglobulin source to produce snake antivenoms. We tested the performance of four commercial emulsion adjuvants (Montanide, Freund, Carbigen, and Emulsigen-D) and an experimental adjuvant (QH-769) in the antibody response of horses towards venoms of the African snakes Bitis arietans, Echis ocellatus, Dendroaspis polylepis and Naja nigricollis. Montanide, Freund and Carbigen adjuvants generated the highest immune response but induced moderate/severe local lesions at the site of injection. In contrast, Emulsigen-D and QH-769 adjuvants generated the lowest immune response and low incidence of local lesions. No evidence of systemic alterations was observed in the horses immunized with any of the adjuvants. It is suggested that the use of Montanide or Freund-based emulsions in the first immunization steps, followed by the use of Emulsigen-D, QH-769 or similar adjuvants in the following injections, could result in a satisfactory immune response against snake venoms, while not inducing serious local deleterious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Arguedas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Deibid Umaña
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Edwin Moscoso
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Armando García
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carolina Pereira
- Escuela de Zootecnia, Facultad de Ciencias Agroalimentarias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Andrés Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Gina Durán
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Daniel Cordero
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Adriana Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Álvaro Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mariángela Vargas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - María Herrera
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mauren Villalta
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Catalina Salas
- Escuela de Zootecnia, Facultad de Ciencias Agroalimentarias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Cecilia Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Corresponding author at: Guillermo León, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica.
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11
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Offor BC, Muller B, Piater LA. A Review of the Proteomic Profiling of African Viperidae and Elapidae Snake Venoms and Their Antivenom Neutralisation. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:723. [PMID: 36355973 PMCID: PMC9694588 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that results from the injection of snake venom of a venomous snake into animals and humans. In Africa (mainly in sub-Saharan Africa), over 100,000 envenomings and over 10,000 deaths per annum from snakebite have been reported. Difficulties in snakebite prevention and antivenom treatment are believed to result from a lack of epidemiological data and underestimated figures on snakebite envenoming-related morbidity and mortality. There are species- and genus-specific variations associated with snake venoms in Africa and across the globe. These variations contribute massively to diverse differences in venom toxicity and pathogenicity that can undermine the efficacy of adopted antivenom therapies used in the treatment of snakebite envenoming. There is a need to profile all snake venom proteins of medically important venomous snakes endemic to Africa. This is anticipated to help in the development of safer and more effective antivenoms for the treatment of snakebite envenoming within the continent. In this review, the proteomes of 34 snake venoms from the most medically important snakes in Africa, namely the Viperidae and Elipdae, were extracted from the literature. The toxin families were grouped into dominant, secondary, minor, and others based on the abundance of the protein families in the venom proteomes. The Viperidae venom proteome was dominated by snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs-41%), snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs-16%), and phospholipase A2 (PLA2-17%) protein families, while three-finger toxins (3FTxs-66%) and PLA2s (16%) dominated those of the Elapidae. We further review the neutralisation of these snake venoms by selected antivenoms widely used within the African continent. The profiling of African snake venom proteomes will aid in the development of effective antivenom against snakebite envenoming and, additionally, could possibly reveal therapeutic applications of snake venom proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict C. Offor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Beric Muller
- South Africa Venom Suppliers CC, Louis Trichardt 0920, South Africa
| | - Lizelle A. Piater
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
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12
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Sofyantoro F, Yudha DS, Lischer K, Nuringtyas TR, Putri WA, Kusuma WA, Purwestri YA, Swasono RT. Bibliometric Analysis of Literature in Snake Venom-Related Research Worldwide (1933-2022). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2058. [PMID: 36009648 PMCID: PMC9405337 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162058] [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] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake envenomation is a severe economic and health concern affecting countries worldwide. Snake venom carries a wide variety of small peptides and proteins with various immunological and pharmacological properties. A few key research areas related to snake venom, including its applications in treating cancer and eradicating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, have been gaining significant attention in recent years. The goal of the current study was to analyze the global profile of literature in snake venom research. This study presents a bibliometric review of snake venom-related research documents indexed in the Scopus database between 1933 and 2022. The overall number of documents published on a global scale was 2999, with an average annual production of 34 documents. Brazil produced the highest number of documents (n = 729), followed by the United States (n = 548), Australia (n = 240), and Costa Rica (n = 235). Since 1963, the number of publications has been steadily increasing globally. At a worldwide level, antivenom, proteomics, and transcriptomics are growing hot issues for research in this field. The current research provides a unique overview of snake venom research at global level from 1933 through 2022, and it may be beneficial in guiding future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fajar Sofyantoro
- Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Donan Satria Yudha
- Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Kenny Lischer
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia, Jakarta 16424, Indonesia
| | - Tri Rini Nuringtyas
- Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
- Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | | | - Wisnu Ananta Kusuma
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
| | - Yekti Asih Purwestri
- Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
- Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Respati Tri Swasono
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
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13
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Gómez A, Sánchez A, Durán G, Cordero D, Segura Á, Vargas M, Solano D, Herrera M, Chaves-Araya S, Villalta M, Sánchez M, Arguedas M, Díaz C, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Intrageneric cross-reactivity of monospecific rabbit antisera against venoms of the medically most important Bitis spp. and Echis spp. African snakes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010643. [PMID: 35960772 PMCID: PMC9374258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snakebite envenomation exerts a heavy toll in sub-Saharan Africa. The design and production of effective polyspecific antivenoms for this region demand a better understanding of the immunological characteristics of the different venoms from the most medically important snakes, to select the most appropriate venom combinations for generating antivenoms of wide neutralizing scope. Bitis spp. and Echis spp. represent the most important viperid snake genera in Africa. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Eight rabbit-derived monospecific antisera were raised against the venoms of four species of Bitis spp. and four species of Echis spp. The effects of immunization in the rabbits were assessed, as well as the development of antibody titers, as judged by immunochemical assays and neutralization of lethal, hemorrhagic, and in vitro coagulant effects. At the end of immunizations, local and pulmonary hemorrhage, together with slight increments in the plasma activity of creatine kinase (CK), were observed owing to the action of hemorrhagic and myotoxic venom components. Immunologic analyses revealed a considerable extent of cross-reactivity of monospecific antisera against heterologous venoms within each genus, although some antisera provided a more extensive cross-reactivity than others. The venoms that generated antisera with the broadest coverage were those of Bitis gabonica and B. rhinoceros within Bitis spp. and Echis leucogaster within Echis spp. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The methodology followed in this study provides a rational basis for the selection of the best combination of venoms for generating antivenoms of high cross-reactivity against viperid venoms in sub-Saharan Africa. Results suggest that the venoms of B. gabonica, B. rhinoceros, and E. leucogaster generate antisera with the broadest cross-reactivity within their genera. These experimental results in rabbits need to be translated to large animals used in antivenom production to assess whether these predictions are reproduced in horses or sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Andrés Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Gina Durán
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Daniel Cordero
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Álvaro Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mariángela Vargas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Daniela Solano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - María Herrera
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Stephanie Chaves-Araya
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mauren Villalta
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Melvin Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mauricio Arguedas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Cecilia Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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14
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Virus-like particles displaying conserved toxin epitopes stimulate polyspecific, murine antibody responses capable of snake venom recognition. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11328. [PMID: 35790745 PMCID: PMC9256628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13376-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivenom is currently the first-choice treatment for snakebite envenoming. However, only a low proportion of antivenom immunoglobulins are specific to venom toxins, resulting in poor dose efficacy and potency. We sought to investigate whether linear venom epitopes displayed on virus like particles can stimulate an antibody response capable of recognising venom toxins from diverse medically important species. Bioinformatically-designed epitopes, corresponding to predicted conserved regions of group I phospholipase A2 and three finger toxins, were engineered for display on the surface of hepatitis B core antigen virus like particles and used to immunise female CD1 mice over a 14 weeks. Antibody responses to all venom epitope virus like particles were detectable by ELISA by the end of the immunisation period, although total antibody and epitope specific antibody titres were variable against the different epitope immunogens. Immunoblots using pooled sera demonstrated recognition of various venom components in a diverse panel of six elapid venoms, representing three continents and four genera. Insufficient antibody yields precluded a thorough assessment of the neutralising ability of the generated antibodies, however we were able to test polyclonal anti-PLA2 IgG from three animals against the PLA2 activity of Naja nigricollis venom, all of which showed no neutralising ability. This study demonstrates proof-of-principle that virus like particles engineered to display conserved toxin linear epitopes can elicit specific antibody responses in mice which are able to recognise a geographically broad range of elapid venoms.
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15
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Mender MM, Bolton F, Berry C, Young M. Antivenom: An immunotherapy for the treatment of snakebite envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 129:435-477. [PMID: 35305724 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming (SBE) leads to significant morbidity and mortality, resulting in over 90,000 deaths and approximately 400,000 amputations annually. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) alone, SBE accounts for over 30,000 deaths per annum. Since 2017, SBE has been classified as a priority Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The major species responsible for mortality from SBE within SSA are from the Bitis, Dendroaspis, Echis and Naja genera. Pharmacologically active toxins such as metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, 3-finger toxins, kunitz-type toxins, and phospholipase A2s are the primary snake venom components. These toxins induce cytotoxicity, coagulopathy, hemorrhage, and neurotoxicity in envenomed victims. Antivenom is currently the only available venom-specific treatment for SBE and contains purified equine or ovine polyclonal antibodies, collected from donor animals repeatedly immunized with low doses of adjuvanted venom. The resulting plasma or serum contains a high titre of specific antibodies, which can then be collected and stored until required. The purified antibodies are either whole IgG, monovalent fragment antibody (Fab) or divalent fragment antibody F(ab')2. Despite pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences, all three are effective in the treatment of SBE. No antivenom is without adverse reactions but, the level of their impact and severity varies from benign early adverse reactions to the rarely occurring fatal anaphylactic shock. However, the major side effects are largely reversible with immediate administration of adrenaline and corticosteroids. There are 16 different antivenoms marketed within SSA, but the efficacy and safety profiles are only published for less than 50% of these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mender M Mender
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Department of Research and Development, MicroPharm Ltd, Newcastle Emlyn, United Kingdom.
| | - Fiona Bolton
- Department of Research and Development, MicroPharm Ltd, Newcastle Emlyn, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Berry
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Young
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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16
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Nakamoto M, Escalante T, Gutiérrez JM, Shea KJ. A Biomimetic of Endogenous Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases: Inhibition Mechanism and Contribution of Composition, Polymer Size, and Shape to the Inhibitory Effect. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:5663-5670. [PMID: 34181420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A biomimetic of endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) was engineered by introducing three binding elements to a synthetic tetrapolymer. We evaluated the contribution of composition, size, and shape of the TIMP-mimicking polymers to the inhibition of BaP1, a P-I class snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP). Inhibition was achieved when the size of the linear polymer (LP) was comparable to or greater than that of the enzyme, indicating the efficacy requires binding to a significant portion of the enzyme surface in the vicinity of the active site. The efficacy of a low cross-linked polymer hydrogel nanoparticle (NP) of substantially greater molecular weight was comparable to that of the LPs despite differences in size and shape, an important finding for in vivo applications. The abiotic TIMP was effective against two classes of SVMPs in whole snake venom. The results can serve as a design principle for biomimetic polymer inhibitors of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Nakamoto
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Teresa Escalante
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - José M Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Kenneth J Shea
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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17
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Zhao HY, Wen L, Miao YF, Du Y, Sun Y, Yin Y, Lin CX, Lin LH, Ji X, Gao JF. Venom-gland transcriptomic, venomic, and antivenomic profiles of the spine-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis curtus) from the South China Sea. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:520. [PMID: 34238212 PMCID: PMC8268360 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07824-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A comprehensive evaluation of the -omic profiles of venom is important for understanding the potential function and evolution of snake venom. Here, we conducted an integrated multi-omics-analysis to unveil the venom-transcriptomic and venomic profiles in a same group of spine-bellied sea snakes (Hydrophis curtus) from the South China Sea, where the snake is a widespread species and might generate regionally-specific venom potentially harmful to human activities. The capacity of two heterologous antivenoms to immunocapture the H. curtus venom was determined for an in-depth evaluation of their rationality in treatment of H. curtus envenomation. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis by maximum likelihood was used to detect the adaptive molecular evolution of full-length toxin-coding unigenes. Results A total of 90,909,384 pairs of clean reads were generated via Illumina sequencing from a pooled cDNA library of six specimens, and yielding 148,121 unigenes through de novo assembly. Sequence similarity searching harvested 63,845 valid annotations, including 63,789 non-toxin-coding and 56 toxin-coding unigenes belonging to 22 protein families. Three protein families, three-finger toxins (3-FTx), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), and cysteine-rich secretory protein, were detected in the venom proteome. 3-FTx (27.15% in the transcriptome/41.94% in the proteome) and PLA2 (59.71%/49.36%) were identified as the most abundant families in the venom-gland transcriptome and venom proteome. In addition, 24 unigenes from 11 protein families were shown to have experienced positive selection in their evolutionary history, whereas four were relatively conserved throughout evolution. Commercial Naja atra antivenom exhibited a stronger capacity than Bungarus multicinctus antivenom to immunocapture H. curtus venom components, especially short neurotoxins, with the capacity of both antivenoms to immunocapture short neurotoxins being weaker than that for PLA2s. Conclusions Our study clarified the venom-gland transcriptomic and venomic profiles along with the within-group divergence of a H. curtus population from the South China Sea. Adaptive evolution of most venom components driven by natural selection appeared to occur rapidly during evolutionary history. Notably, the utility of commercial N. atra and B. multicinctus antivenoms against H. curtus toxins was not comprehensive; thus, the development of species-specific antivenom is urgently needed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07824-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yan Zhao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Wen
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu-Feng Miao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu Du
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yin Yin
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chi-Xian Lin
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China
| | - Long-Hui Lin
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China. .,College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jian-Fang Gao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
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18
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Damm M, Hempel BF, Süssmuth RD. Old World Vipers-A Review about Snake Venom Proteomics of Viperinae and Their Variations. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13060427. [PMID: 34204565 PMCID: PMC8235416 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13060427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution, snake venoms have frightened but also fascinated humanity and nowadays they constitute potential resources for drug development, therapeutics and antivenoms. The continuous progress of mass spectrometry techniques and latest advances in proteomics workflows enabled toxinologists to decipher venoms by modern omics technologies, so-called ‘venomics’. A tremendous upsurge reporting on snake venom proteomes could be observed. Within this review we focus on the highly venomous and widely distributed subfamily of Viperinae (Serpentes: Viperidae). A detailed public literature database search was performed (2003–2020) and we extensively reviewed all compositional venom studies of the so-called Old-World Vipers. In total, 54 studies resulted in 89 venom proteomes. The Viperinae venoms are dominated by four major, four secondary, six minor and several rare toxin families and peptides, respectively. The multitude of different venomics approaches complicates the comparison of venom composition datasets and therefore we differentiated between non-quantitative and three groups of quantitative workflows. The resulting direct comparisons within these groups show remarkable differences on the intra- and interspecies level across genera with a focus on regional differences. In summary, the present compilation is the first comprehensive up-to-date database on Viperinae venom proteomes and differentiating between analytical methods and workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Damm
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, (BCRT), 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Roderich D. Süssmuth
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)30-314-24205
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19
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Patra A, Mukherjee AK. Assessment of snakebite burdens, clinical features of envenomation, and strategies to improve snakebite management in Vietnam. Acta Trop 2021; 216:105833. [PMID: 33485869 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The sheer paucity of scientific documentation of herpetofauna in Vietnam and the rudimentary healthcare response to snakebite have stimulated this review. Over six decades of data culled from public data bases and search engines, have been used to assess snakebite burdens, clinical features of envenomation, and strategies for snakebite management in Vietnam. In addition, biochemical and proteomic analyses to decipher venom composition, rapid analytical techniques to be used for clinical diagnosis of snakebite in Vietnam have been discussed in detail. The assessment of efficacy, safety, and quality of commercial antivenom produced in Vietnam and improvement of antivenom production to meet the national requirement has been critically examined. It is apparent that snake bite incidence in Vietnam is exacerbated by mismatch in demand and supply of antivenom therapy, insufficient medical facilities, preference for traditional healers and poor management of clinical records. The impediments arising from geographical and species-specific variation in venom composition can be overcome by the 'Omics approach', and scientific documentation of pathophysiological manifestations post envenomation. The development of next generation of therapeutics, encouraging clinical research, novel approaches and social awareness against snakebite and its treatments have been suggested to significantly reduce the snakebite mortality and morbidity in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparup Patra
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India.
| | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India; Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Vigyan Path Garchuk, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam 781035, India.
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20
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Youngman NJ, Chowdhury A, Zdenek CN, Coster K, Sundman E, Braun R, Fry BG. Utilising venom activity to infer dietary composition of the Kenyan horned viper (Bitis worthingtoni). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 240:108921. [PMID: 33122136 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2020.108921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bitis are well known for being some of the most commonly encountered and medically important snake species in all of Africa. While the majority of species possess potently anticoagulant venom, only B. worthingtoni is known to possess procoagulant venom. Although known to be the basal species within the genus, B. worthingtoni is an almost completely unstudied species with even basic dietary information lacking. This study investigated various aspects of the unique procoagulant effects of B. worthingtoni venom. Coagulation assays determined the primary procoagulant effect to be driven by Factor X activating snake venom metalloprotease toxins. In addition to acting upon the mammalian blood clotting cascade, B. worthingtoni venom was also shown to clot amphibian plasma. As previous studies have shown differences in clotting factors between amphibian and mammalian plasmas, individual enzymes in snake venoms acting on plasma clotting factors can be taxon-selective. As venoms evolve under purifying selection pressures, this suggests that the procoagulant snake venom metalloprotease toxins present in B. worthingtoni have likely been retained from a recent common ancestor shared with the related amphibian-feeding Proatheris superciliaris, and that both amphibians and mammals represent a substantial proportion of B. worthingtoni current diet. Thus, taxon-specific actions of venoms may have utility in inferring dietary composition for rare or difficult to study species. An important caveat is that to validate this hypothesis field studies investigating the dietary ecology of B. worthingtoni must be conducted, as well as further investigations of its venom composition to reconstruct the molecular evolutionary history of the toxins present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Youngman
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Abhinandan Chowdhury
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Eric Sundman
- Universeum, Södra Vägen 50, 412 54 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ralph Braun
- Serpentarium Calden, Birkenweg 11, 34379 Calden, Germany
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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21
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Albulescu LO, Xie C, Ainsworth S, Alsolaiss J, Crittenden E, Dawson CA, Softley R, Bartlett KE, Harrison RA, Kool J, Casewell NR. A therapeutic combination of two small molecule toxin inhibitors provides broad preclinical efficacy against viper snakebite. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6094. [PMID: 33323937 PMCID: PMC7738508 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19981-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite is a medical emergency causing high mortality and morbidity in rural tropical communities that typically experience delayed access to unaffordable therapeutics. Viperid snakes are responsible for the majority of envenomings, but extensive interspecific variation in venom composition dictates that different antivenom treatments are used in different parts of the world, resulting in clinical and financial snakebite management challenges. Here, we show that a number of repurposed Phase 2-approved small molecules are capable of broadly neutralizing distinct viper venom bioactivities in vitro by inhibiting different enzymatic toxin families. Furthermore, using murine in vivo models of envenoming, we demonstrate that a single dose of a rationally-selected dual inhibitor combination consisting of marimastat and varespladib prevents murine lethality caused by venom from the most medically-important vipers of Africa, South Asia and Central America. Our findings support the translation of combinations of repurposed small molecule-based toxin inhibitors as broad-spectrum therapeutics for snakebite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura-Oana Albulescu
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chunfang Xie
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jaffer Alsolaiss
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Edouard Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Charlotte A Dawson
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Rowan Softley
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Keirah E Bartlett
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Robert A Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK.
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, L3 5QA, Liverpool, UK.
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22
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Tchaou BA, de Tové KMS, N’Vènonfon CFT, Mfin PK, Aguemon AR, Chobli M, Chippaux JP. Acute kidney failure following severe viper envenomation: clinical, biological and ultrasonographic aspects. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2020; 26:e20200059. [PMID: 33335542 PMCID: PMC7724935 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of snakebite envenomation, which is still little known in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to describe the clinical, biological and ultrasonographic aspects of AKI following severe snakebite envenomation managed in the intensive care unit. METHOD A prospective observational survey was performed in Benin over a period of 18 months. All patients suffering severe snakebite envenomation (SBE) were included. The diagnosis of AKI was made using the KDIGO criteria. Kidney ultrasound exam was performed in all patients to assess internal bleeding and morphological and structural abnormalities of the kidneys. RESULTS Fifty-one cases of severe SBE were included. All patients presented inflammatory syndrome and showed abnormal WBCT whereas bleeding was found in 46 of them (90%). The median time to hospital presentation was three days. The majority of patients were male (M/F sex ratio = 1.55) and the median age was 26. Sixteen patients (31%) showed AKI according to the KDIGO criteria. Severe AKI (KDIGO stage 2 and 3) was observed in three patients, including one stage 2 and two stage 3. Kidney ultrasound revealed three cases of kidney capsular hematoma (6%), two cases of kidney hypertrophy (3%), three cases of kidney injury (4%), two stage 1 KDIGO and one stage 2 KDIGO. Only one patient benefited from hemodialysis. All patients showing AKI recovered without sequels. The median duration of hospital stays was four days. Seven patients died (14%) including four among the 16 AKI patients. Antivenom has been administered to 41 patients (80%). The comparison between patients without and with AKI did not show any significant difference except gender (p = 10-2). CONCLUSION AKI is a common complication of severe snakebite envenomation. Resulting from inflammatory and hemorrhagic disorders, AKI may prove to be a short-term life-threatening factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaise Adelin Tchaou
- Department of Anesthesia-Resuscitation and Emergency, Borgou-Alibori University Hospital Center, Parakou, Bénin
| | - Kofi-Mensa Savi de Tové
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Borgou-Alibori University Hospital Center, Parakou, Bénin
| | | | - Patrick Kouomboua Mfin
- Department of Anesthesia-Resuscitation and Emergency, Borgou-Alibori University Hospital Center, Parakou, Bénin
| | - Abdou-Rahman Aguemon
- Department of Anesthesia-Resuscitation and Emergency, Borgou-Alibori University Hospital Center, Parakou, Bénin
| | - Martin Chobli
- Department of Anesthesia-Resuscitation and Emergency, Borgou-Alibori University Hospital Center, Parakou, Bénin
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23
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Abd El-Aziz TM, Soares AG, Stockand JD. Advances in venomics: Modern separation techniques and mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1160:122352. [PMID: 32971366 PMCID: PMC8174749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Snake venoms are complex chemical mixtures of biologically active proteins and non-protein components. Toxins have a wide range of targets and effects to include ion channels and membrane receptors, and platelet aggregation and platelet plug formation. Toxins target these effectors and effects at high affinity and selectivity. From a pharmacological perspective, snake venom compounds are a valuable resource for drug discovery and development. However, a major challenge to drug discovery using snake venoms is isolating and analyzing the bioactive proteins and peptides in these complex mixtures. Getting molecular information from complex mixtures such as snake venoms requires proteomic analyses, generally combined with transcriptomic analyses of venom glands. The present review summarizes current knowledge and highlights important recent advances in venomics with special emphasis on contemporary separation techniques and bioinformatics that have begun to elaborate the complexity of snake venoms. Several analytical techniques such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, RP-HPLC, size exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, MALDI-TOF-MS, and LC-ESI-QTOF-MS have been employed in this regard. The improvement of separation approaches such as multidimensional-HPLC, 2D-electrophoresis coupled to soft-ionization (MALDI and ESI) mass spectrometry has been critical to obtain an accurate picture of the startling complexity of venoms. In the case of bioinformatics, a variety of software tools such as PEAKS also has been used successfully. Such information gleaned from venomics is important to both predicting and resolving the biological activity of the active components of venoms, which in turn is key for the development of new drugs based on these venom components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA; Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia 61519, Egypt.
| | - Antonio G Soares
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA
| | - James D Stockand
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA
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24
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Jenkins TP, Laustsen AH. Cost of Manufacturing for Recombinant Snakebite Antivenoms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:703. [PMID: 32766215 PMCID: PMC7381290 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people across the globe. It has been suggested that recombinant antivenoms based on mixtures of human monoclonal antibodies, which target key toxins of medically important snake venom, could present a promising avenue toward the reduction of morbidity and mortality of envenomated patients. However, since snakebite envenoming is a disease of poverty, it is pivotal that next-generation therapies are affordable to those most in need; this warrants analysis of the cost dynamics of recombinant antivenom manufacture. Therefore, we present, for the first time, a bottom-up analysis of the cost dynamics surrounding the production of future recombinant antivenoms based on available industry data. We unravel the potential impact that venom volume, abundance of medically relevant toxins in a venom, and the molecular weight of these toxins may have on the final product cost. Furthermore, we assess the roles that antibody molar mass, manufacturing and purification strategies, formulation, antibody efficacy, and potential cross-reactivity play in the complex cost dynamics of recombinant antivenom manufacture. Notably, according to our calculations, it appears that such next-generation antivenoms based on cocktails of monoclonal immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) could be manufacturable at a comparable or lower cost to current plasma-derived antivenoms, which are priced at USD 13-1120 per treatment. We found that monovalent recombinant antivenoms based on IgGs could be manufactured for USD 20-225 per treatment, while more complex polyvalent recombinant antivenoms based on IgGs could be manufactured for USD 48-1354 per treatment. Finally, we investigated the prospective cost of manufacturing for recombinant antivenoms based on alternative protein scaffolds, such as DARPins and nanobodies, and highlight the potential utility of such scaffolds in the context of low-cost manufacturing. In conclusion, the development of recombinant antivenoms not only holds a promise for improving therapeutic parameters, such as safety and efficacy, but could possibly also lead to a more competetive cost of manufacture of antivenom products for patients worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Patrick Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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25
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Patra A, Mukherjee AK. Proteomic Analysis of Sri Lanka Echis carinatus Venom: Immunological Cross-Reactivity and Enzyme Neutralization Potency of Indian Polyantivenom. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:3022-3032. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aparup Patra
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India
| | - Ashis K. Mukherjee
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India
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26
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Slagboom J, Mladić M, Xie C, Kazandjian TD, Vonk F, Somsen GW, Casewell NR, Kool J. High throughput screening and identification of coagulopathic snake venom proteins and peptides using nanofractionation and proteomics approaches. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007802. [PMID: 32236099 PMCID: PMC7153897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that results in a variety of systemic and local pathologies in envenomed victims and is responsible for around 138,000 deaths every year. Many snake venoms cause severe coagulopathy that makes victims vulnerable to suffering life-threating haemorrhage. The mechanisms of action of coagulopathic snake venom toxins are diverse and can result in both anticoagulant and procoagulant effects. However, because snake venoms consist of a mixture of numerous protein and peptide components, high throughput characterizations of specific target bioactives is challenging. In this study, we applied a combination of analytical and pharmacological methods to identify snake venom toxins from a wide diversity of snake species that perturb coagulation. To do so, we used a high-throughput screening approach consisting of a miniaturised plasma coagulation assay in combination with a venom nanofractionation approach. Twenty snake venoms were first separated using reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and a post-column split allowed a small fraction to be analyzed with mass spectrometry, while the larger fraction was collected and dispensed onto 384-well plates. After fraction collection, any solvent present in the wells was removed by means of freeze-drying, after which it was possible to perform a plasma coagulation assay in order to detect coagulopathic activity. Our results demonstrate that many snake venoms simultaneously contain both procoagulant and anticoagulant bioactives that contribute to coagulopathy. In-depth identification analysis from seven medically-important venoms, via mass spectrometry and nanoLC-MS/MS, revealed that phospholipase A2 toxins are frequently identified in anticoagulant venom fractions, while serine protease and metalloproteinase toxins are often associated with procoagulant bioactivities. The nanofractionation and proteomics approach applied herein seems likely to be a valuable tool for the rational development of next-generation snakebite treatments by facilitating the rapid identification and fractionation of coagulopathic toxins, thereby enabling specific targeting of these toxins by new therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Slagboom
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marija Mladić
- Animal Sciences and Health, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Chunfang Xie
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Taline D. Kazandjian
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Freek Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Govert W. Somsen
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules Medicines and Systems, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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27
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Nakamoto M, Zhao D, Benice OR, Lee SH, Shea KJ. Abiotic Mimic of Endogenous Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases: Engineering Synthetic Polymer Nanoparticles for Use as a Broad-Spectrum Metalloproteinase Inhibitor. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:2338-2345. [PMID: 31918547 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b11481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe a process for engineering a synthetic polymer nanoparticle (NP) that functions as an effective, broad-spectrum metalloproteinase inhibitor. Inhibition is achieved by incorporating three functional elements in the NP: a group that interacts with the catalytic zinc ion, functionality that enhances affinity to the substrate-binding pocket, and fine-tuning of the chemical composition of the polymer to strengthen NP affinity for the enzyme surface. The approach is validated by synthesis of a NP that sequesters and inhibits the proteolytic activity of snake venom metalloproteinases from five clinically relevant species of snakes. The mechanism of action of the NP mimics that of endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. The strategy provides a general design principle for synthesizing abiotic polymer inhibitors of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Nakamoto
- Department of Chemistry , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
| | - Di Zhao
- Department of Chemistry , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
| | - Olivia Rose Benice
- Department of Chemistry , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
| | - Shih-Hui Lee
- Department of Chemistry , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
| | - Kenneth J Shea
- Department of Chemistry , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
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28
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Leonardi A, Sajevic T, Pungerčar J, Križaj I. Comprehensive Study of the Proteome and Transcriptome of the Venom of the Most Venomous European Viper: Discovery of a New Subclass of Ancestral Snake Venom Metalloproteinase Precursor-Derived Proteins. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:2287-2309. [PMID: 31017792 PMCID: PMC6727599 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The
nose-horned viper, its nominotypical subspecies Vipera
ammodytes ammodytes (Vaa), in particular,
is, medically, one of the most relevant snakes in Europe. The local
and systemic clinical manifestations of poisoning by the venom of
this snake are the result of the pathophysiological effects inflicted
by enzymatic and nonenzymatic venom components acting, most prominently,
on the blood, cardiovascular, and nerve systems. This venom is a very
complex mixture of pharmacologically active proteins and peptides.
To help improve the current antivenom therapy toward higher specificity
and efficiency and to assist drug discovery, we have constructed,
by combining transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, the most comprehensive
library yet of the Vaa venom proteins and peptides.
Sequence analysis of the venom gland cDNA library has revealed the
presence of messages encoding 12 types of polypeptide precursors.
The most abundant are those for metalloproteinase inhibitors (MPis),
bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), and natriuretic peptides
(NPs) (all three on a single precursor), snake C-type lectin-like
proteins (snaclecs), serine proteases (SVSPs), P-II and P-III metalloproteinases
(SVMPs), secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s),
and disintegrins (Dis). These constitute >88% of the venom transcriptome.
At the protein level, 57 venom proteins belonging to 16 different
protein families have been identified and, with SVSPs, sPLA2s, snaclecs, and SVMPs, comprise ∼80% of all venom proteins.
Peptides detected in the venom include NPs, BPPs, and inhibitors of
SVSPs and SVMPs. Of particular interest, a transcript coding for a
protein similar to P-III SVMPs but lacking the MP domain was also
found at the protein level in the venom. The existence of such proteins,
also supported by finding similar venom gland transcripts in related
snake species, has been demonstrated for the first time, justifying
the proposal of a new P-IIIe subclass of ancestral SVMP precursor-derived
proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrijana Leonardi
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences , Jožef Stefan Institute , Jamova cesta 39 , SI-1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Tamara Sajevic
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences , Jožef Stefan Institute , Jamova cesta 39 , SI-1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Jože Pungerčar
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences , Jožef Stefan Institute , Jamova cesta 39 , SI-1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia
| | - Igor Križaj
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences , Jožef Stefan Institute , Jamova cesta 39 , SI-1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia
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29
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Coimbra FCP, Dobson J, Zdenek CN, Op den Brouw B, Hamilton B, Debono J, Masci P, Frank N, Ge L, Kwok HF, Fry BG. Does size matter? Venom proteomic and functional comparison between night adder species (Viperidae: Causus) with short and long venom glands. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 211:7-14. [PMID: 29758383 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Night adders (Causus species within the Viperidae family) are amphibian specialists and a common source of snakebite in Africa. Some species are unique in that they have the longest venom glands of any viper, extending approximately 10% of the body length. Despite their potential medical importance and evolutionary novelty, their venom has received almost no research attention. In this study, venoms from a short-glanded species (C. lichtensteinii) and from a long-glanded species (C. rhombeatus) were compared using a series of proteomic and bioactivity testing techniques to investigate and compare the toxin composition and functioning of the venoms of these two species. Both C. rhombeatus and C. lichtensteinii were similar in overall venom composition and inhibition of blood coagulation through non-clotting proteolytic cleavage of fibrinogen. While the 1D gel profiles were very similar to each other in the toxin types present, 2D gel analyses revealed isoformic differences within each toxin classes. This variation was congruent with differential efficacy of South African Institute for Medical Research snake polyvalent antivenom, with C. lichtensteinii unaffected at the dose tested while C. rhombeatus was moderately but significantly neutralized. Despite the variation within toxin classes, the similarity in overall venom biochemistry suggests that the selection pressure for the evolution of long glands served to increase venom yield in order to subjugate proportionally large anurans as a unique form of niche partitioning, and is not linked to significant changes in venom function. These results not only contribute to the body of venom evolution knowledge but also highlight the limited clinical management outcomes for Causus envenomations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco C P Coimbra
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - James Dobson
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bianca Op den Brouw
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Brett Hamilton
- Centre for Advanced Imaging & Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jordan Debono
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul Masci
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Lilin Ge
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing 215400, China
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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30
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Li B, Lyu P, Xi X, Ge L, Mahadevappa R, Shaw C, Kwok HF. Triggering of cancer cell cycle arrest by a novel scorpion venom-derived peptide-Gonearrestide. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:4460-4473. [PMID: 29993185 PMCID: PMC6111814 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a novel scorpion venom-derived peptide named Gonearrestide was identified in an in-house constructed scorpion venom library through a combination of high-throughput NGS transcriptome and MS/MS proteome platform. In total, 238 novel peptides were discovered from two scorpion species; and 22 peptides were selected for further study after a battery of functional prediction analysis. Following a series of bioinformatics analysis alongside with in vitro biological functional screenings, Gonearrestide was found to be a highly potent anticancer peptide which acts on a broad spectrum of human cancer cells while causing few if any observed cytotoxic effects on epithelial cells and erythrocytes. We further investigated the precise anticancer mechanism of Gonearrestide by focusing on its effects on the colorectal cancer cell line, HCT116. NGS RNA sequencing was employed to obtain full gene expression profiles in HCT116 cells, cultured in the presence and absence of Gonearrestide, to dissect signalling pathway differences. Taken together the in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo validation studies, it was proven that Gonearrestide could inhibit the growth of primary colon cancer cells and solid tumours by triggering cell cycle arrest in G1 phase through inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4) and up-regulate the expression of cell cycle regulators/inhibitors-cyclin D3, p27, and p21. Furthermore, prediction of signalling pathways and potential binding sites used by Gonearrestide are also presented in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, Macao
| | - Peng Lyu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, Macao
| | - Xinping Xi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, Macao.,School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Lilin Ge
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, Macao.,School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Functional Substance of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Qixia District, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Chris Shaw
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, Macao
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31
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Ainsworth S, Slagboom J, Alomran N, Pla D, Alhamdi Y, King SI, Bolton FMS, Gutiérrez JM, Vonk FJ, Toh CH, Calvete JJ, Kool J, Harrison RA, Casewell NR. The paraspecific neutralisation of snake venom induced coagulopathy by antivenoms. Commun Biol 2018; 1:34. [PMID: 30271920 PMCID: PMC6123674 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0039-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Snake envenoming causes several potentially lethal pathologies. The specific pathology is dictated by the toxin composition of venom, which varies by species, geography and ontogeny. This variation severely restricts the paraspecific efficacy of antivenoms used to treat snakebite victims. With a view to devising pathology-specific snakebite treatments, we assessed the procoagulant activity of 57 snake venoms and investigated the efficacy of various antivenoms. We find that procoagulant venoms act differentially on key steps of the coagulation cascade, and that certain monospecific antivenoms work in a previously unrecognised paraspecific manner to neutralise this activity, despite conventional assumptions of congener-restricted efficacy. Moreover, we demonstrate that the metal chelator EDTA is also capable of neutralising venom-induced lethality in vivo. This study illustrates the exciting potential of developing new, broad-spectrum, toxin-targeting antivenoms capable of treating key snakebite pathologies, and advocates a thorough re-examination of enzyme inhibiting compounds as alternative therapies for treating snakebite victims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Ainsworth
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Julien Slagboom
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands
| | - Nessrin Alomran
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Davinia Pla
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Yasir Alhamdi
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Sarah I King
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Fiona M S Bolton
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Freek J Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cheng-Hock Toh
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
- Roald Dahl Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081 LA, The Netherlands
| | - Robert A Harrison
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
- Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
- Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
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32
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Patra A, Kalita B, Chanda A, Mukherjee AK. Proteomics and antivenomics of Echis carinatus carinatus venom: Correlation with pharmacological properties and pathophysiology of envenomation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17119. [PMID: 29215036 PMCID: PMC5719401 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17227-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteome composition of Echis carinatus carinatus venom (ECV) from India was studied for the first time by tandem mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 90, 47, and 22 distinct enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins belonging to 15, 10, and 6 snake venom protein families were identified in ECV by searching the ESI-LC-MS/MS data against non-redundant protein databases of Viperidae (taxid 8689), Echis (taxid 8699) and Echis carinatus (taxid 40353), respectively. However, analysis of MS/MS data against the Transcriptome Shotgun Assembly sequences (87 entries) of conger E. coloratus identified only 14 proteins in ECV. Snake venom metalloproteases and snaclecs, the most abundant enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins, respectively in ECV account for defibrinogenation and the strong in vitro pro-coagulant activity. Further, glutaminyl cyclase, aspartic protease, aminopeptidase, phospholipase B, vascular endothelial growth factor, and nerve growth factor were reported for the first time in ECV. The proteome composition of ECV was well correlated with its biochemical and pharmacological properties and clinical manifestations observed in Echis envenomed patients. Neutralization of enzymes and pharmacological properties of ECV, and immuno-cross-reactivity studies unequivocally point to the poor recognition of <20 kDa ECV proteins, such as PLA2, subunits of snaclec, and disintegrin by commercial polyvalent antivenom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparup Patra
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Bhargab Kalita
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Abhishek Chanda
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Microbial Biotechnology and Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
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Ainsworth S, Petras D, Engmark M, Süssmuth RD, Whiteley G, Albulescu LO, Kazandjian TD, Wagstaff SC, Rowley P, Wüster W, Dorrestein PC, Arias AS, Gutiérrez JM, Harrison RA, Casewell NR, Calvete JJ. The medical threat of mamba envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa revealed by genus-wide analysis of venom composition, toxicity and antivenomics profiling of available antivenoms. J Proteomics 2017; 172:173-189. [PMID: 28843532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mambas (genus Dendroaspis) are among the most feared of the medically important elapid snakes found in sub-Saharan Africa, but many facets of their biology, including the diversity of venom composition, remain relatively understudied. Here, we present a reconstruction of mamba phylogeny, alongside genus-wide venom gland transcriptomic and high-resolution top-down venomic analyses. Whereas the green mambas, D. viridis, D. angusticeps, D. j. jamesoni and D. j. kaimosae, express 3FTx-predominant venoms, black mamba (D. polylepis) venom is dominated by dendrotoxins I and K. The divergent terrestrial ecology of D. polylepis compared to the arboreal niche occupied by all other mambas makes it plausible that this major difference in venom composition is due to dietary variation. The pattern of intrageneric venom variability across Dendroaspis represented a valuable opportunity to investigate, in a genus-wide context, the variant toxicity of the venom, and the degree of paraspecific cross-reactivity between antivenoms and mamba venoms. To this end, the immunological profiles of the five mamba venoms were assessed against a panel of commercial antivenoms generated for the sub-Saharan Africa market. This study provides a genus-wide overview of which available antivenoms may be more efficacious in neutralising human envenomings caused by mambas, irrespective of the species responsible. The information gathered in this study lays the foundations for rationalising the notably different potency and pharmacological profiles of Dendroaspis venoms at locus resolution. This understanding will allow selection and design of toxin immunogens with a view to generating a safer and more efficacious pan-specific antivenom against any mamba envenomation. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE The mambas (genus Dendroaspis) comprise five especially notorious medically important venomous snakes endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Their highly potent venoms comprise a high diversity of pharmacologically active peptides, including extremely rapid-acting neurotoxins. Previous studies on mamba venoms have focused on the biochemical and pharmacological characterisation of their most relevant toxins to rationalize the common neurological and neuromuscular symptoms of envenomings caused by these species, but there has been little work on overall venom composition or comparisons between them. Only very recently an overview of the composition of the venom of two Dendroaspis species, D. angusticeps and D. polylepis, has been unveiled through venomics approaches. Here we present the first genus-wide transcriptomic-proteomic analysis of mamba venom composition. The transcriptomic analyses described in this paper have contributed 29 (D. polylepis), 23 (D. angusticeps), 40 (D. viridis), 25 (D. j. jamesoni) and 21 (D. j. kaimosae), novel full-length toxin sequences to the non-redundant Dendroaspis sequence database. The mamba genus-wide venomic analysis demonstrated that major D. polylepis venom components are Kunitz-fold family toxins. This feature is unique in relation to the relatively conserved three-finger toxin (3FTx)-dominated venom compositions of the green mambas. Venom variation was interpreted in the context of dietary variation due to the divergent terrestrial ecology of D. polylepis compared to the arboreal niche occupied by all other mambas. Additionally, the degree of cross-reactivity conservation of mamba venoms was assessed by antivenomics against a panel of commercial antivenoms generated for the sub-Saharan Africa market. This study provides a genus-wide overview to infer which available antivenoms may be capable of neutralising human envenomings caused by mambas, irrespective of the species responsible. The information gathered in this study lays the foundations for rationalising the pharmacological profiles of mamba venoms at locus resolution. This understanding will contribute to the generation of a safer and more efficacious pan-Dendroaspis therapeutic antivenom against any mamba envenomation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Ainsworth
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Petras
- University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Straße des 17.Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mikael Engmark
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Roderich D Süssmuth
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Straße des 17.Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gareth Whiteley
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Laura-Oana Albulescu
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Taline D Kazandjian
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Simon C Wagstaff
- Bioinformatics Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Rowley
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom
| | - Pieter C Dorrestein
- University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ana Silvia Arias
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José M Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Robert A Harrison
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom.
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
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Selection To Increase Expression, Not Sequence Diversity, Precedes Gene Family Origin and Expansion in Rattlesnake Venom. Genetics 2017; 206:1569-1580. [PMID: 28476866 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.202655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene duplication is the primary mechanism leading to new genes and phenotypic novelty, but the proximate evolutionary processes underlying gene family origin, maintenance, and expansion are poorly understood. Although sub- and neofunctionalization provide clear long-term advantages, selection does not act with foresight, and unless a redundant gene copy provides an immediate fitness advantage, the copy will most likely be lost. Many models for the evolution of genes immediately following duplication have been proposed, but the robustness and applicability of these models is unclear because of the lack of data at the population level. We used qPCR, protein expression data, genome sequencing, and hybrid enrichment to test three competing models that differ in whether selection favoring the spread of duplicates acts primarily on expression level or sequence diversity for specific toxin-encoding loci in the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). We sampled 178 individuals and identified significant inter- and intrapopulation variation in copy number, demonstrated that copy number was significantly and positively correlated with protein expression, and found little to no sequence variation across paralogs in all populations. Collectively, these results demonstrate that selection for increased expression, not sequence diversity, was the proximate evolutionary process underlying gene family origin and expansion, providing data needed to resolve the debate over which evolutionary processes govern the fates of gene copies immediately following duplication.
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Arias AS, Rucavado A, Gutiérrez JM. Peptidomimetic hydroxamate metalloproteinase inhibitors abrogate local and systemic toxicity induced by Echis ocellatus (saw-scaled) snake venom. Toxicon 2017; 132:40-49. [PMID: 28400263 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability of two peptidomimetic hydroxamate metalloproteinase inhibitors, Batimastat and Marimastat, to abrogate toxic and proteinase activities of the venom of Echis ocellatus from Cameroon and Ghana was assessed. Since this venom largely relies for its toxicity on the action of zinc-dependent metalloproteinases (SVMPs), the hypothesis was raised that toxicity could be largely eliminated by using SVMP inhibitors. Both hydroxamate molecules inhibited local and pulmonary hemorrhagic, in vitro coagulant, defibrinogenating, and proteinase activities of the venoms in conditions in which venom and inhibitors were incubated prior to the test. In addition, the inhibitors prolonged the time of death of mice receiving 4 LD50s of venom by the intravenous route. Lower values of IC50 were observed for in vitro and local hemorrhagic activities than for systemic effects. When experiments were performed in conditions that simulated the actual circumstances of snakebite, i.e. by administering the inhibitor after envenoming, Batimastat completely abrogated local hemorrhage if injected immediately after venom. Moreover, it was also effective at inhibiting lethality and defibrinogenation when venom and inhibitor were injected by the intraperitoneal route. Results suggest that these, and possibly other, metalloproteinase inhibitors may become an effective adjunct therapy in envenomings by E. ocellatus when administered at the anatomic site of venom injection rapidly after the bite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Silvia Arias
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Alexandra Rucavado
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
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Xu N, Zhao HY, Yin Y, Shen SS, Shan LL, Chen CX, Zhang YX, Gao JF, Ji X. Combined venomics, antivenomics and venom gland transcriptome analysis of the monocoled cobra ( Naja kaouthia ) from China. J Proteomics 2017; 159:19-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Venomics: integrative venom proteomics and beyond*. Biochem J 2017; 474:611-634. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Venoms are integrated phenotypes that evolved independently in, and are used for predatory and defensive purposes by, a wide phylogenetic range of organisms. The same principles that contribute to the evolutionary success of venoms, contribute to making the study of venoms of great interest in such diverse fields as evolutionary ecology and biotechnology. Evolution is profoundly contingent, and nature also reinvents itself continuosly. Changes in a complex phenotypic trait, such as venom, reflect the influences of prior evolutionary history, chance events, and selection. Reconstructing the natural history of venoms, particularly those of snakes, which will be dealt with in more detail in this review, requires the integration of different levels of knowledge into a meaningful and comprehensive evolutionary framework for separating stochastic changes from adaptive evolution. The application of omics technologies and other disciplines have contributed to a qualitative and quantitative advance in the road map towards this goal. In this review we will make a foray into the world of animal venoms, discuss synergies and complementarities of the different approaches used in their study, and identify current bottlenecks that prevent inferring the evolutionary mechanisms and ecological constraints that molded snake venoms to their present-day variability landscape.
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Pla D, Sanz L, Whiteley G, Wagstaff SC, Harrison RA, Casewell NR, Calvete JJ. What killed Karl Patterson Schmidt? Combined venom gland transcriptomic, venomic and antivenomic analysis of the South African green tree snake (the boomslang), Dispholidus typus. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:814-823. [PMID: 28130154 PMCID: PMC5335903 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Non-front-fanged colubroid snakes comprise about two-thirds of extant ophidian species. The medical significance of the majority of these snakes is unknown, but at least five species have caused life-threatening or fatal human envenomings. However, the venoms of only a small number of species have been explored. Methods A combined venomic and venom gland transcriptomic approach was employed to characterise of venom of Dispholidus typus (boomslang), the snake that caused the tragic death of Professor Karl Patterson Schmidt. The ability of CroFab™ antivenom to immunocapture boomslang venom proteins was investigated using antivenomics. Results Transcriptomic-assisted proteomic analysis identified venom proteins belonging to seven protein families: three-finger toxin (3FTx); phospholipase A2 (PLA2); cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP); snake venom (SV) serine proteinase (SP); C-type lectin-like (CTL); SV metalloproteinases (SVMPs); and disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich (DC) proteolytic fragments. CroFab™ antivenom efficiently immunodepleted some boomslang SVMPs. Conclusions The present work is the first to address the overall proteomic profile of D. typus venom. This study allowed us to correlate the toxin composition with the toxic activities of the venom. The antivenomic analysis suggested that the antivenom available at the time of the unfortunate accident could have exhibited at least some immunoreactivity against the boomslang SVMPs responsible for the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome that caused K.P. Schmidt's fatal outcome. General significance This study may stimulate further research on other non-front-fanged colubroid snake venoms capable of causing life-threatening envenomings to humans, which in turn should contribute to prevent fatal human accidents, such as that unfortunately suffered by K.P. Schmidt. The venom proteome of Dispholidus typus (boomslang) is reported. Transcriptomic-assisted proteomic analysis identified venom proteins belonging to seven protein families. Boomslang venom proteome is dominated (75%) by snake venom PIII-metalloproteinases (PIII-SVMPs). CroFab™ antivenom efficiently immunodepleted some boomslang PIII-SVMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davinia Pla
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Libia Sanz
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gareth Whiteley
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Simon C Wagstaff
- Bioinformatics Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Harrison
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain.
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Estevao-Costa MI, Gontijo SS, Correia BL, Yarleque A, Vivas-Ruiz D, Rodrigues E, Chávez-Olortegui C, Oliveira LS, Sanchez EF. Neutralization of toxicological activities of medically-relevant Bothrops snake venoms and relevant toxins by two polyvalent bothropic antivenoms produced in Peru and Brazil. Toxicon 2016; 122:67-77. [PMID: 27641748 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected public pathology, affecting especially rural communities or isolated areas of tropical and subtropical Latin American countries. The parenteral administration of antivenom is the mainstay and the only validated treatment of snake bite envenoming. Here, we assess the efficacy of polyspecific anti-Bothrops serum (α-BS) produced in the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS, Peru) and at the Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED, Brazil), to neutralize the main toxic activities induced by five medically-relevant venoms of: Bothrops atrox, B. barnetti, and B. pictus from Peru, and the Brazilian B. jararaca and B. leucurus, all of them inhabiting different geographical locations. Protein electrophoretic patterns of these venoms showed significant differences in composition, number and intensity of bands. Another goal was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lyophilized α-BS developed at INS to neutralize the detrimental effects of these venoms using in vivo and in vitro assays. The availability of lyophilized α-BS has relevant significance in its distribution to distant rural communities where the access to antivenom in health facilities is more difficult. Despite the fact that different antigen mixtures were used for immunization during antivenom production, our data showed high toxin-neutralizing activity of α-BS raised against Bothrops venoms. Moreover, the antivenom cross-reacted even against venoms not included in the immunization mixture. Furthermore, we have evaluated the efficacy of both α-BS to neutralize key toxic compounds belonging to the predominant protein families of Bothrops snakes. Most significantly, both α-BS cross-specifically neutralized the main toxicological activities e.g. lethality and hemorrhage induced by these venoms. Thus, our data indicate that both α-BS are equally effective to treat snake bite victims inflicted by Bothrops snakes particularly B. atrox, responsible for the largest numbers of human envenomations in the Amazon regions of some South American countries including Peru and Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria I Estevao-Costa
- Research and Development Center, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Silea S Gontijo
- Research and Development Center, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Barbara L Correia
- Research and Development Center, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Armando Yarleque
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Dan Vivas-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Edith Rodrigues
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Carlos Chávez-Olortegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Luciana S Oliveira
- Research and Development Center, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Eladio F Sanchez
- Research and Development Center, Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
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Campos PF, Andrade-Silva D, Zelanis A, Paes Leme AF, Rocha MMT, Menezes MC, Serrano SMT, Junqueira-de-Azevedo IDLM. Trends in the Evolution of Snake Toxins Underscored by an Integrative Omics Approach to Profile the Venom of the Colubrid Phalotris mertensi. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:2266-87. [PMID: 27412610 PMCID: PMC5010889 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Only few studies on snake venoms were dedicated to deeply characterize the toxin secretion of animals from the Colubridae family, despite the fact that they represent the majority of snake diversity. As a consequence, some evolutionary trends observed in venom proteins that underpinned the evolutionary histories of snake toxins were based on data from a minor parcel of the clade. Here, we investigated the proteins of the totally unknown venom from Phalotris mertensi (Dipsadinae subfamily), in order to obtain a detailed profile of its toxins and to appreciate evolutionary tendencies occurring in colubrid venoms. By means of integrated omics and functional approaches, including RNAseq, Sanger sequencing, high-resolution proteomics, recombinant protein production, and enzymatic tests, we verified an active toxic secretion containing up to 21 types of proteins. A high content of Kunitz-type proteins and C-type lectins were observed, although several enzymatic components such as metalloproteinases and an L-amino acid oxidase were also present in the venom. Interestingly, an arguable venom component of other species was demonstrated as a true venom protein and named svLIPA (snake venom acid lipase). This finding indicates the importance of checking the actual protein occurrence across species before rejecting genes suggested to code for toxins, which are relevant for the discussion about the early evolution of reptile venoms. Moreover, trends in the evolution of some toxin classes, such as simplification of metalloproteinases and rearrangements of Kunitz and Wap domains, parallel similar phenomena observed in other venomous snake families and provide a broader picture of toxin evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pollyanna Fernandes Campos
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Débora Andrade-Silva
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Zelanis
- Departamento de Ciência E Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São José Dos Campos, Brazil
| | | | | | - Milene Cristina Menezes
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Solange M T Serrano
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
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Debono J, Cochran C, Kuruppu S, Nouwens A, Rajapakse NW, Kawasaki M, Wood K, Dobson J, Baumann K, Jouiaei M, Jackson TNW, Koludarov I, Low D, Ali SA, Smith AI, Barnes A, Fry BG. Canopy Venom: Proteomic Comparison among New World Arboreal Pit-Viper Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8070210. [PMID: 27399777 PMCID: PMC4963843 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8070210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Central and South American pitvipers, belonging to the genera Bothrops and Bothriechis, have independently evolved arboreal tendencies. Little is known regarding the composition and activity of their venoms. In order to close this knowledge gap, venom proteomics and toxin activity of species of Bothriechis, and Bothrops (including Bothriopsis) were investigated through established analytical methods. A combination of proteomics and bioactivity techniques was used to demonstrate a similar diversification of venom composition between large and small species within Bothriechis and Bothriopsis. Increasing our understanding of the evolution of complex venom cocktails may facilitate future biodiscoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Debono
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Chip Cochran
- Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
| | - Sanjaya Kuruppu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Amanda Nouwens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Niwanthi W Rajapakse
- Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Minami Kawasaki
- Aquatic Animal Health, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia.
| | - Kelly Wood
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - James Dobson
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Kate Baumann
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Mahdokht Jouiaei
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Timothy N W Jackson
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Ivan Koludarov
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Dolyce Low
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Syed A Ali
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
| | - A Ian Smith
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Andrew Barnes
- Aquatic Animal Health, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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42
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Calvete JJ, Arias AS, Rodríguez Y, Quesada-Bernat S, Sánchez LV, Chippaux JP, Pla D, Gutiérrez JM. Preclinical evaluation of three polyspecific antivenoms against the venom of Echis ocellatus: Neutralization of toxic activities and antivenomics. Toxicon 2016; 119:280-8. [PMID: 27377229 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming has a heavy burden in the public health in sub-Saharan Africa. The viperid species Echis ocellatus (carpet viper or saw-scaled viper) is the medically most important snake in the savannahs of western sub-Saharan Africa. Several antivenoms are being distributed and used in this region for the treatment of envenomings by E. ocellatus, but the preclinical efficacy of some of these antivenoms has not been assessed. The present study evaluated the preclinical efficacy against E. ocellatus venom of three polyspecific antivenoms: (a) Snake Venom Antiserum (Pan Africa), manufactured by Premium Serums and Vaccines (India); (b) Snake Venom Antiserum (Africa), manufactured by VINS Bioproducts (India); and (c) Antivipmyn(®) Africa, manufactured by Instituto Bioclon (Mexico). Antivenomics analysis revealed the ability of the three antivenoms to immunocapture the majority of components of the venoms of E. ocellatus from Cameroon, Nigeria and Mali, although their maximal immunocapturing capability varied. Bioclon and Premium Serums antivenoms were effective in the neutralization of lethal, hemorrhagic and in vitro coagulant activities of the venom of E. ocellatus from Cameroon, albeit with different potencies. VINS antivenom neutralized hemorrhagic activity of this venom, but failed to neutralize lethality at the highest antivenom dose tested, and had a low neutralizing efficacy against in vitro coagulant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ana Silvia Arias
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Yania Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sarai Quesada-Bernat
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Laura V Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Jean Philippe Chippaux
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR MERIT "Mother and Child Facing Tropical Diseases", Cotonou, Benin; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Avenue de l'Observatoire, Paris, France
| | - Davinia Pla
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain.
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
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Modahl CM, Mackessy SP. Full-Length Venom Protein cDNA Sequences from Venom-Derived mRNA: Exploring Compositional Variation and Adaptive Multigene Evolution. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004587. [PMID: 27280639 PMCID: PMC4900637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Envenomation of humans by snakes is a complex and continuously evolving medical emergency, and treatment is made that much more difficult by the diverse biochemical composition of many venoms. Venomous snakes and their venoms also provide models for the study of molecular evolutionary processes leading to adaptation and genotype-phenotype relationships. To compare venom complexity and protein sequences, venom gland transcriptomes are assembled, which usually requires the sacrifice of snakes for tissue. However, toxin transcripts are also present in venoms, offering the possibility of obtaining cDNA sequences directly from venom. This study provides evidence that unknown full-length venom protein transcripts can be obtained from the venoms of multiple species from all major venomous snake families. These unknown venom protein cDNAs are obtained by the use of primers designed from conserved signal peptide sequences within each venom protein superfamily. This technique was used to assemble a partial venom gland transcriptome for the Middle American Rattlesnake (Crotalus simus tzabcan) by amplifying sequences for phospholipases A2, serine proteases, C-lectins, and metalloproteinases from within venom. Phospholipase A2 sequences were also recovered from the venoms of several rattlesnakes and an elapid snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus), and three-finger toxin sequences were recovered from multiple rear-fanged snake species, demonstrating that the three major clades of advanced snakes (Elapidae, Viperidae, Colubridae) have stable mRNA present in their venoms. These cDNA sequences from venom were then used to explore potential activities derived from protein sequence similarities and evolutionary histories within these large multigene superfamilies. Venom-derived sequences can also be used to aid in characterizing venoms that lack proteomic profiles and identify sequence characteristics indicating specific envenomation profiles. This approach, requiring only venom, provides access to cDNA sequences in the absence of living specimens, even from commercial venom sources, to evaluate important regional differences in venom composition and to study snake venom protein evolution. This work demonstrates that full-length venom protein messenger RNAs are present in secreted venoms and can be used to acquire full-length protein sequences of toxins from both front-fanged (Elapidae, Viperidae) and rear-fanged (Colubridae) snake venoms, eliminating the need to use venom glands. Full-length transcripts were obtained from venom samples that were fresh, newly lyophilized, old, field desiccated or commercially prepared, representing a significant advance over previous attempts which produced only partial sequence transcripts. Transcripts for all major venom protein families (metalloproteinases, serine proteases, C-type lectins, phospholipases A2 and three-finger toxins) responsible for clinically significant snakebite symptoms were obtained from venoms. These sequences aid in the identification and characterization of venom proteome profiles, allowing for the identification of peptide sequences, specific isoforms, and novel venom proteins. The application of this technique will help to provide venom protein sequences for many snake species, including understudied rear-fanged snakes. Venom protein transcripts offer important insights into potential snakebite envenomation profiles and the molecular evolution of venom protein multigene families. By requiring only venom to obtain venom protein cDNAs, the approach detailed here will provide access to cDNA-based protein sequences from commercial and other venom sources, facilitating study of snake venom protein composition and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra M. Modahl
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Stephen P. Mackessy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Shan LL, Gao JF, Zhang YX, Shen SS, He Y, Wang J, Ma XM, Ji X. Proteomic characterization and comparison of venoms from two elapid snakes (Bungarus multicinctus and Naja atra) from China. J Proteomics 2016; 138:83-94. [PMID: 26924299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bungarus multicinctus (many-banded krait) and Naja atra (Chinese cobra) are widely distributed and medically important venomous snakes in China; however, their venom proteomic profiles have not been fully compared. Here, we fractionated crude venoms and analyzed them using a combination of proteomic techniques. Three-finger toxins (3-FTx) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) were most abundant in both species, respectively accounting for 32.6% and 66.4% of total B. multicinctus venom, and 84.3% and 12.2% of total N. atra venom. Venoms from these two species contained one common protein family and six less abundant species-specific protein families. The proteomic profiles of B. multicinctus and N. atra venoms and analysis of toxicological activity in mice suggested that 3-FTx and PLA2 are the major contributors to clinical symptoms caused by envenomation. The venoms differed in enzymatic activity, likely the result of inter-specific variation in the amount of related venom components. Antivenomics assessment revealed that a small number of venom components (3-FTxs and PLA2s in B. multicinctus, and 3-FTxs in N. atra) could not be immunocaptured completely, suggesting that we should pay attention to enhancing the immune response of these components in designing commercial antivenoms for B. multicinctus and N. atra. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE The proteomic profiles of venoms from two medically important snake species - B. multicinctus and N. atra - have been explored. Quantitative and qualitative differences are evident in both venoms when proteomic profiles and transcriptomic results are compared; this is a reminder that combined approaches are needed to explore the precise composition of snake venom. Two protein families (3-FTx and PLA2) of high abundance in these snake venoms are major players in the biochemical and pharmacological effects of envenomation. Elucidation of the proteomic profiles of these snake venoms is helpful in understanding composition-function relationships and will facilitate the clinical application of antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Lin Shan
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yan-Xia Zhang
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shan-Shan Shen
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying He
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Mei Ma
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China.
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45
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Brasili D, Watly J, Simonovsky E, Guerrini R, Barbosa NA, Wieczorek R, Remelli M, Kozlowski H, Miller Y. The unusual metal ion binding ability of histidyl tags and their mutated derivatives. Dalton Trans 2016; 45:5629-39. [DOI: 10.1039/c5dt04747a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Peptides that consist of repeated sequences of alternating histidines and alanines strongly bind Cu(ii) and form α-helical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Brasili
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- I-44121 Ferrara
- Italy
| | - Joanna Watly
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Eyal Simonovsky
- Department of Chemistry
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer-Sheva 84105
- Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- I-44121 Ferrara
- Italy
| | - Nuno A. Barbosa
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Robert Wieczorek
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of Ferrara
- I-44121 Ferrara
- Italy
| | - Henryk Kozlowski
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer-Sheva 84105
- Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
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46
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Sánchez LV, Pla D, Herrera M, Chippaux JP, Calvete JJ, Gutiérrez JM. Evaluation of the preclinical efficacy of four antivenoms, distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, to neutralize the venom of the carpet viper, Echis ocellatus, from Mali, Cameroon, and Nigeria. Toxicon 2015; 106:97-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Post-transcriptional Mechanisms Contribute Little to Phenotypic Variation in Snake Venoms. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:2375-82. [PMID: 26358130 PMCID: PMC4632057 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.020578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Protein expression is a major link in the genotype–phenotype relationship, and processes affecting protein abundances, such as rates of transcription and translation, could contribute to phenotypic evolution if they generate heritable variation. Recent work has suggested that mRNA abundances do not accurately predict final protein abundances, which would imply that post-transcriptional regulatory processes contribute significantly to phenotypes. Post-transcriptional processes also appear to buffer changes in transcriptional patterns as species diverge, suggesting that the transcriptional changes have little or no effect on the phenotypes undergoing study. We tested for concordance between mRNA and protein expression levels in snake venoms by means of mRNA-seq and quantitative mass spectrometry for 11 snakes representing 10 species, six genera, and three families. In contrast to most previous work, we found high correlations between venom gland transcriptomes and venom proteomes for 10 of our 11 comparisons. We tested for protein-level buffering of transcriptional changes during species divergence by comparing the difference between transcript abundance and protein abundance for three pairs of species and one intraspecific pair. We found no evidence for buffering during divergence of our three species pairs but did find evidence for protein-level buffering for our single intraspecific comparison, suggesting that buffering, if present, was a transient phenomenon in venom divergence. Our results demonstrated that post-transcriptional mechanisms did not contribute significantly to phenotypic evolution in venoms and suggest a more prominent and direct role for cis-regulatory evolution in phenotypic variation, particularly for snake venoms.
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48
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Abdel-Aty AM, Wahby AF. Purification and characterization of five snake venom metalloproteinases from Egyptian Echis pyramidum pyramidum venom. J Toxicol Sci 2015; 39:523-36. [PMID: 25056777 DOI: 10.2131/jts.39.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
New five P-III snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs): EpyB2 (62 kDa), EpyB3 (62+23 kDa), EpyB4 (60 kDa), EpyB5 (67 kDa) and EpyB6 (66 kDa) of the most dangerous viper, Echis pyramidum pyramidum (Epy), were purified and characterized in a set of biochemical assays. The SVMPs were purified by applying a protocol of two successive chromatographic steps. Three purified SVMPs "EpyB2, EpyB4, and EpyB5" have hemorrhagic activity with MHDs, 7 μg, 7.6 μg and 15 μg, respectively; furthermore, they have high preference towards fibronectin, collagen, gelatin, fibrin and hemoglobin substrates compared with non-hemorrhagic SVMPs (EpyB3 and EpyB6). All the purified SVMPs showed remarkable thermal and pH stability, inhibited by metalloproteinase inhibitors and Zn(2+), Mn(2+), Ni(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), and Hg(2+). The purified SVMPs act as α-fibrinogenases, prothrombin activators and procoagulants. In conclusion, Epy venom has multiple SVMPs that are responsible for hemorrhagic events and thus represent a significant health hazard for victims of envenomation, however, they may be useful for treating diseases involving abnormal blood clot formation.
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49
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Interrogating the Venom of the Viperid Snake Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii by a Combined Approach of Electrospray and MALDI Mass Spectrometry. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0092091. [PMID: 25955844 PMCID: PMC4425365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The complete sequence characterization of snake venom proteins by mass spectrometry is rather challenging due to the presence of multiple isoforms from different protein families. In the present study, we investigated the tryptic digest of the venom of the viperid snake Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii by a combined approach of liquid chromatography coupled to either electrospray (online) or MALDI (offline) mass spectrometry. These different ionization techniques proved to be complementary allowing the identification a great variety of isoforms of diverse snake venom protein families, as evidenced by the detection of the corresponding unique peptides. For example, ten out of eleven predicted isoforms of serine proteinases of the venom of S. c. edwardsii were distinguished using this approach. Moreover, snake venom protein families not encountered in a previous transcriptome study of the venom gland of this snake were identified. In essence, our results support the notion that complementary ionization techniques of mass spectrometry allow for the detection of even subtle sequence differences of snake venom proteins, which is fundamental for future structure-function relationship and possible drug design studies.
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50
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Petras D, Heiss P, Süssmuth RD, Calvete JJ. Venom Proteomics of Indonesian King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah: Integrating Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches. J Proteome Res 2015; 14:2539-56. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Petras
- Institut
für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße
10, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Heiss
- Institut
für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße
10, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Roderich D. Süssmuth
- Institut
für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße
10, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Juan J. Calvete
- Laboratorio
de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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