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Pruksaphon K, Yuvaniyama J, Ratanabanangkoon K. Immunogenicity of snake α-neurotoxins and the CD4 T cell epitopes. Toxicon 2022; 214:136-144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Miersch S, de la Rosa G, Friis R, Ledsgaard L, Boddum K, Laustsen AH, Sidhu SS. Synthetic antibodies block receptor binding and current-inhibiting effects of α-cobratoxin from Naja kaouthia. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4296. [PMID: 35481650 PMCID: PMC8994502 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4296] [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: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Each year, thousands of people fall victim to envenomings caused by cobras. These incidents often result in death due to paralysis caused by α-neurotoxins from the three-finger toxin (3FTx) family, which are abundant in elapid venoms. Due to their small size, 3FTxs are among the snake toxins that are most poorly neutralized by current antivenoms, which are based on polyclonal antibodies of equine or ovine origin. While antivenoms have saved countless lives since their development in the late 18th century, an opportunity now exists to improve snakebite envenoming therapy via the application of new biotechnological methods, particularly by developing monoclonal antibodies against poorly neutralized α-neurotoxins. Here, we describe the use of phage-displayed synthetic antibody libraries and the development and characterization of six synthetic antibodies built on a human IgG framework and developed against α-cobratoxin - the most abundant long-chain α-neurotoxin from Naja kaouthia venom. The synthetic antibodies exhibited sub-nanomolar affinities to α-cobratoxin and neutralized the curare-mimetic effect of the toxin in vitro. These results demonstrate that phage display technology based on synthetic repertoires can be used to rapidly develop human antibodies with drug-grade potencies as inhibitors of venom toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Miersch
- The Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | - Rasmus Friis
- Department of Biotechnology and BiomedicineTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Line Ledsgaard
- Department of Biotechnology and BiomedicineTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
| | | | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and BiomedicineTechnical University of DenmarkKongens LyngbyDenmark
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Alomran N, Alsolaiss J, Albulescu LO, Crittenden E, Harrison RA, Ainsworth S, Casewell NR. Pathology-specific experimental antivenoms for haemotoxic snakebite: The impact of immunogen diversity on the in vitro cross-reactivity and in vivo neutralisation of geographically diverse snake venoms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009659. [PMID: 34407084 PMCID: PMC8423360 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that causes high global rates of mortality and morbidity. Although snakebite can cause a variety of pathologies in victims, haemotoxic effects are particularly common and are typically characterised by haemorrhage and/or venom-induced consumption coagulopathy. Antivenoms are the mainstay therapeutic for treating the toxic effects of snakebite, but despite saving thousands of lives annually, these therapies are associated with limited cross-snake species efficacy due to venom variation, which ultimately restricts their therapeutic utility to particular geographical regions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study we explored the feasibility of generating globally effective pathology-specific antivenoms to counteract the haemotoxic signs of snakebite envenoming. Two different immunogen mixtures, consisting of seven and twelve haemotoxic venoms sourced from geographically diverse and/or medically important snakes, were used to raise ovine polyclonal antibodies, prior to characterisation of their immunological binding characteristics and in vitro neutralisation profiles against each of the venoms. Despite variability of the immunogen mixtures, both experimental antivenoms exhibited broadly comparable in vitro venom binding and neutralisation profiles against the individual venom immunogens in immunological and functional assays. However, in vivo assessments using a murine preclinical model of antivenom efficacy revealed substantial differences in venom neutralisation. The experimental antivenom generated from the seven venom immunogen mixture outperformed the comparator, by providing protective effects against venom lethality caused by seven of the eight geographically diverse venoms tested, including three distinct venoms that were not used as immunogens to generate this antivenom. These findings suggest that a core set of venom immunogens may be sufficient to stimulate antibodies capable of broadly neutralising a geographically diverse array of haemotoxic snake venoms, and that adding additional venom immunogens may impact negatively on the dose efficacy of the resulting antivenom. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Although selection of appropriate immunogens that encapsulate venom toxin diversity without diluting antivenom potency remains challenging and further optimisation is required, the findings from this pilot study suggest that the generation of pathology-specific antivenoms with global utility is likely to feasible, thereby highlighting their promise as future modular treatments for the world's tropical snakebite victims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nessrin Alomran
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jaffer Alsolaiss
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Laura-Oana Albulescu
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Edouard Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A. Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Senji Laxme RR, Attarde S, Khochare S, Suranse V, Martin G, Casewell NR, Whitaker R, Sunagar K. Biogeographical venom variation in the Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja) underscores the pressing need for pan-India efficacious snakebite therapy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009150. [PMID: 33600405 PMCID: PMC7924803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Snake venom composition is dictated by various ecological and environmental factors, and can exhibit dramatic variation across geographically disparate populations of the same species. This molecular diversity can undermine the efficacy of snakebite treatments, as antivenoms produced against venom from one population may fail to neutralise others. India is the world’s snakebite hotspot, with 58,000 fatalities and 140,000 morbidities occurring annually. Spectacled cobra (Naja naja) and Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) are known to cause the majority of these envenomations, in part due to their near country-wide distributions. However, the impact of differing ecologies and environment on their venom compositions has not been comprehensively studied. Methods Here, we used a multi-disciplinary approach consisting of venom proteomics, biochemical and pharmacological analyses, and in vivo research to comparatively analyse N. naja venoms across a broad region (>6000 km; seven populations) covering India’s six distinct biogeographical zones. Findings By generating the most comprehensive pan-Indian proteomic and toxicity profiles to date, we unveil considerable differences in the composition, pharmacological effects and potencies of geographically-distinct venoms from this species and, through the use of immunological assays and preclinical experiments, demonstrate alarming repercussions on antivenom therapy. We find that commercially-available antivenom fails to effectively neutralise envenomations by the pan-Indian populations of N. naja, including a complete lack of neutralisation against the desert Naja population. Conclusion Our findings highlight the significant influence of ecology and environment on snake venom composition and potency, and stress the pressing need to innovate pan-India effective antivenoms to safeguard the lives, limbs and livelihoods of the country’s 200,000 annual snakebite victims. Annually, India is burdened by the highest number of snake envenomations across the globe, with over 58,000 fatalities and three times the number of morbidities, predominantly affecting the rural agrarian communities. The spectacled cobra (Naja naja) and Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) are responsible for the vast majority of envenomations in the country, in part, due to their near country-wide distributions. In this study, we unveil the astounding differences in venom composition of N. naja from six different biogeographical zones across the country (>6000 km). We provide a comprehensive account of their disparate venom proteomic profiles, biochemical and pharmacological effects, and the associated potencies. Our study uncovers alarming differences in the efficacy of the marketed polyvalent antivenoms in neutralising these venoms, thereby, emphasising the pressing need to develop dose-efficacious and pan-India effective antivenoms for the treatment of snakebites in the country. This study also highlights the significant influence of ecology and diverse environments on the venom variability, insinuating the necessity for innovating cost-effective and pan-India efficacious solutions to safeguard the lives, limbs and livelihoods of India’s two hundred thousand annual snakebite victims.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. R. Senji Laxme
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Saurabh Attarde
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Suyog Khochare
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Vivek Suranse
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Gerard Martin
- The Liana Trust, Survey #1418/1419 Rathnapuri, Hunsur, Karnataka, India
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Romulus Whitaker
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre for Herpetology, Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- * E-mail:
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Archundia IG, de la Rosa G, Olvera F, Calderón A, Benard-Valle M, Alagón A, Corzo G. Assessment of neutralization of Micrurus venoms with a blend of anti-Micrurus tener and anti-ScNtx antibodies. Vaccine 2021; 39:1000-1006. [PMID: 33423840 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Micrurus venoms contain two main groups of toxic protein components: short-chain α-neurotoxins (SNtx) and phospholipases type A2 (PLA2). In North America, generally, the Micrurus venoms have low abundance of SNtx compared to that of PLA2s; however, both are highly toxic to mammals, and consequently both can play a major role in the envenomation processes. Concerning the commercial horse-derived antivenoms against Micrurus from the North America region, they contain a relatively large amount of antibodies against PLA2s, and a low content of antibodies against short chain α-neurotoxins. This is mainly due to the lower relative abundance of SNtxs, and also to its poor immunogenicity due to their size and nature. Hence, Micrurus antivenoms made in North America usually present low neutralizing capacity towards Micrurus venoms whose lethality depend largely on short chain α-neurotoxins, such as South American Micrurus species. METHODS Horses were hyperimmunized with either the venom of M. tener (PLA2-predominant) or a recombinant short-chain consensus α-neurotoxin (ScNtx). Then, the combination of the two monospecific horse antibodies (anti-M. tener and anti-ScNtx) was used to test their efficacy against eleven Micrurus venoms. RESULTS The blend of anti-M. tener and anti-ScNtx antibodies had a better capacity to neutralize the lethality of diverse species from North, Central and South American Micrurus venoms. The antibodies combination neutralized both the ScNtx and ten out of eleven Micrurus venom tested, and particularly, it neutralized the venoms of M. distans and M. laticollaris that were neither neutralized by monospecific anti-M. tener nor anti-ScNtx. CONCLUSIONS These results provide a proof-of-principle for using recombinant immunogens to enrich poor or even non-neutralizing antisera against elapid venoms containing short chain α-neurotoxins to develop antivenoms with higher effectiveness and broader neutralizing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving G Archundia
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología - UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Guillermo de la Rosa
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S3E1, Canada.
| | - Felipe Olvera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología - UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Arlene Calderón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología - UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Melisa Benard-Valle
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología - UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología - UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología - UNAM, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico.
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Deka A, Gogoi A, Das D, Purkayastha J, Doley R. Proteomics of Naja kaouthia venom from North East India and assessment of Indian polyvalent antivenom by third generation antivenomics. J Proteomics 2019; 207:103463. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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de la Rosa G, Olvera F, Archundia IG, Lomonte B, Alagón A, Corzo G. Horse immunization with short-chain consensus α-neurotoxin generates antibodies against broad spectrum of elapid venomous species. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3642. [PMID: 31409779 PMCID: PMC6692343 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11639-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivenoms are fundamental in the therapy for snakebites. In elapid venoms, there are toxins, e.g. short-chain α-neurotoxins, which are quite abundant, highly toxic, and consequently play a major role in envenomation processes. The core problem is that such α-neurotoxins are weakly immunogenic, and many current elapid antivenoms show low reactivity towards them. We have previously developed a recombinant consensus short-chain α-neurotoxin (ScNtx) based on sequences from the most lethal elapid venoms from America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Here we report that an antivenom generated by immunizing horses with ScNtx can successfully neutralize the lethality of pure recombinant and native short-chain α-neurotoxins, as well as whole neurotoxic elapid venoms from diverse genera such as Micrurus, Dendroaspis, Naja, Walterinnesia, Ophiophagus and Hydrophis. These results provide a proof-of-principle for using recombinant proteins with rationally designed consensus sequences as universal immunogens for developing next-generation antivenoms with higher effectiveness and broader neutralizing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo de la Rosa
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico.
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S3E1, Canada.
| | - Felipe Olvera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico
| | - Irving G Archundia
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México - UNAM, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca Morelos, 61500, Mexico.
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Kryukova EV, Egorova NS, Kudryavtsev DS, Lebedev DS, Spirova EN, Zhmak MN, Garifulina AI, Kasheverov IE, Utkin YN, Tsetlin VI. From Synthetic Fragments of Endogenous Three-Finger Proteins to Potential Drugs. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:748. [PMID: 31333465 PMCID: PMC6616073 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The proteins of the Ly6 family have a three-finger folding as snake venom α-neurotoxins, targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), and some of them, like mammalian secreted Ly6/uPAR protein (SLURP1) and membrane-attached Ly-6/neurotoxin (Lynx1), also interact with distinct nAChR subtypes. We believed that synthetic fragments of these endogenous proteins might open new ways for drug design because nAChRs are well-known targets for developing analgesics and drugs against neurodegenerative diseases. Since interaction with nAChRs was earlier shown for synthetic fragments of the α-neurotoxin central loop II, we synthesized a 15-membered fragment of human Lynx1, its form with two Cys residues added at the N- and C-termini and forming a disulfide, as well as similar forms of human SLURP1, SLURP2, and of Drosophila sleepless protein (SSS). The IC50 values measured in competition with radioiodinated α-bungarotoxin for binding to the membrane-bound Torpedo californica nAChR were 4.9 and 7.4 µM for Lynx1 and SSS fragments, but over 300 µM for SLURP1 or SLURP2 fragments. The affinity of these compounds for the α7 nAChR in the rat pituitary tumor-derived cell line GH4C1 was different: 13.1 and 147 µM for SSS and Lynx1 fragments, respectively. In competition for the ligand-binding domain of the α9 nAChR subunit, SSS and Lynx1 fragments had IC50 values of about 40 µM, which correlates with the value found for the latter with the rat α9α10 nAChR expressed in the Xenopus oocytes. Thus, the activity of these synthetic peptides against muscle-type and α9α10 nAChRs indicates that they may be useful in design of novel myorelaxants and analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Kryukova
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia S Egorova
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis S Kudryavtsev
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry S Lebedev
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N Spirova
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim N Zhmak
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra I Garifulina
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor E Kasheverov
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri N Utkin
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor I Tsetlin
- Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,PhysBio of MEPhI, Moscow, Russia
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Comparative analysis of Naja kaouthia venom from North-East India and Bangladesh and its cross reactivity with Indian polyvalent antivenoms. Toxicon 2019; 164:31-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Madrigal M, Alape-Girón A, Barboza-Arguedas E, Aguilar-Ulloa W, Flores-Díaz M. Identification of B cell recognized linear epitopes in a snake venom serine proteinase from the central American bushmaster Lachesis stenophrys. Toxicon 2017; 140:72-82. [PMID: 29111117 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Snake venom serine proteinases are toxins that perturb hemostasis acting on proteins from the blood coagulation cascade, the fibrinolytic or the kallikrein-kinin system. Despite the relevance of these enzymes in envenomations by viper bites, the characterization of the antibody response to these toxins at the molecular level has not been previously addressed. In this work surface-located B cell recognized linear epitopes from a Lachesis stenophrys venom serine proteinase (UniProt accession number Q072L7) were predicted using an artificial neuronal network at the ABCpred server, the corresponding peptides were synthesized and their immunoreactivity was analyzed against a panel of experimental and therapeutic antivenoms. A molecular model of the L. stenophrys enzyme was built using as a template the structure of the D. acutus Dav-PA serine proteinase (Q9I8X1), which displays the highest degree of sequence similarity to the L. stenophrys enzyme among proteins of known 3D structure, and the surface-located epitopes were identified in the protein model using iCn3D. A total of 13 peptides corresponding to the surface exposed predicted epitopes from L. stenophrys serine proteinase were synthesized and, their reactivity with a rabbit antiserum against the recombinant enzyme and a panel of antivenoms was evaluated by a capture ELISA. Some of the epitopes recognized by monospecific and polyspecific antivenoms comprise sequences overlapping motifs conserved in viper venom serine proteinases. The identification and characterization of relevant epitopes recognized by B cells in snake venom toxins may provide valuable information for the preparation of immunogens that help in the production of improved therapeutic antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Madrigal
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - A Alape-Girón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - E Barboza-Arguedas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - W Aguilar-Ulloa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - M Flores-Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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de Oliveira LA, Ferreira RS, Barraviera B, de Carvalho FCT, de Barros LC, Dos Santos LD, Pimenta DC. Crotalus durissus terrificus crotapotin naturally displays preferred positions for amino acid substitutions. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2017; 23:46. [PMID: 29209361 PMCID: PMC5704381 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-017-0136-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Classically, Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) venom can be described, according to chromatographic criteria, as a simple venom, composed of four major toxins, namely: gyroxin, crotamine, crotoxin and convulxin. Crotoxin is a non-covalent heterodimeric neurotoxin constituted of two subunits: an active phospholipase A2 and a chaperone protein, termed crotapotin. This molecule is composed of three peptide chains connected by seven disulfide bridges. Naturally occurring variants/isoforms of either crotoxin or crotapotin itself have already been reported. Methods The crude Cdt venom was separated by using RP-HPLC and the toxins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Crotapotin was purified, reduced and alkylated in order to separate the peptide chains that were further analyzed by mass spectrometry and de novo peptide sequencing. Results The RP-HPLC profile of the isolated crotapotin chains already indicated that the α chain would present isoforms, which was corroborated by the MS and tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Conclusion It was possible to observe that the Cdt crotapotin displays a preferred amino acid substitution pattern present in the α chain, at positions 31 and 40. Moreover, substitutions could also be observed in β and γ chains (one for each). The combinations of these four different peptides, with the already described chains, would produce ten different crotapotins, which is compatible to our previous observations for the Cdt venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laudicéia Alves de Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Rui Seabra Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Benedito Barraviera
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Curtolo de Barros
- Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Lucilene Delazari Dos Santos
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Daniel Carvalho Pimenta
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, SP CEP 05503-900 Brazil
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