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Thakur S, Giri S, Lalremsanga HT, Doley R. Indian green pit vipers: A lesser-known snake group of north-east India. Toxicon 2024; 242:107689. [PMID: 38531479 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Green pit vipers are one of the most widely distributed group of venomous snakes in south-east Asia. In Indian, green pit vipers are found in the Northern and North-eastern states spreading across eastern and central India and one of the lesser studied venoms. High morphological similarity among them has been a long-established challenge for species identification, however, a total of six species of Indian green pit viper belonging to genus Trimeresurus, Popeia and Viridovipera has been reported from North-east India. Biochemical and biological studies have revealed that venom exhibits substantial variation in protein expression level along with functional variability. The symptoms of envenomation are painful swelling at bite site, bleeding, necrosis along with systemic toxicity such as prolonged coagulopathy. Clinical data of green pit viper envenomated patients from Demow community health centre, Assam advocated against the use of Indian polyvalent antivenom pressing the need for a suitable antivenom for the treatment of green pit viper envenomation. To design effective and specific antivenom for green pit vipers, unveiling the proteome profile of these snakes is needed. In this study, a comparative venomic of green pit vipers of Northern and North-eastern India, their clinical manifestation as well as treatment protocol has been reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Thakur
- Molecular Toxinology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, India
| | - Surajit Giri
- Demow Government Community Health Centre, Raichai, Konwar Dihingia Gaon, Sivasagar, Assam, India
| | - H T Lalremsanga
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India
| | - Robin Doley
- Molecular Toxinology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, India.
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Thakur S, Blotra A, Vasudevan K, Malhotra A, Lalremsanga HT, Santra V, Doley R. Proteome Decomplexation of Trimeresurus erythrurus Venom from Mizoram, India. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:215-225. [PMID: 36516484 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Green pit vipers are the largest group of venomous vipers in tropical and subtropical Asia, which are responsible for most of the bite cases across this region. Among the green pit vipers of the Indian subcontinent, Trimeresurus erythrurus is the most prevalent; however, limited knowledge is available about its venomics. Proteome decomplexation of T. erythrurus venom using mass spectrometry revealed a blend of 53 different proteins/peptides belonging to 10 snake venom protein families. Phospholipase A2 and snake venom serine proteases were found to be the major enzymatic families, and Snaclec was the major nonenzymatic family in this venom. These protein families might be responsible for consumptive coagulopathy in victims. Along with these, snake venom metalloproteases, l-amino acid oxidases, disintegrins, and cysteine-rich secretory proteins were also found, which might be responsible for inducing painful edema, tissue necrosis, blistering, and defibrination in patients. Protein belonging to C-type lectins, C-type natriuretic peptides, and glutaminyl-peptide cyclotransfreases were also observed as trace proteins. The crude venom shows platelet aggregation in the absence of any agonist, suggesting their role in alterations in platelet functions. This study is the first proteomic analysis of T. erythrurus venom, contributing an overview of different snake venom proteins/peptides responsible for various pathophysiological disorders obtained in patients. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD038311.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Thakur
- Molecular Toxinology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, Napaam784028, India
| | - Avni Blotra
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad500048, India
| | - Karthikeyan Vasudevan
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad500048, India
| | - Anita Malhotra
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, BangorLL57 2UW, Gwynedd, U.K
| | - Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl796004, Mizoram, India
| | - Vishal Santra
- Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal712407, India.,Captive and Field Herpetology, 13 Hirfron, AngleseyLL65 1YU, Wales, U.K.,Gujarat Forest Department, Consultant - Snake Research Institute, Dharampur, Valsad, Gujarat396050, India
| | - Robin Doley
- Molecular Toxinology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, Napaam784028, India
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Thakur S, Malhotra A, Giri S, Lalremsenga HT, Bharti OK, Santra V, Martin G, Doley R. Venom of several Indian green pit vipers: Comparison of biochemical activities and cross-reactivity with antivenoms. Toxicon 2022; 210:66-77. [PMID: 35217025 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Green pit vipers, a name that can refer to several unrelated species, comprise a large group of venomous snakes found across the humid areas of tropical and sub-tropical Asia, and are responsible for most of the bite cases across this region. In India, green pit vipers belonging to several genera are prevalent in the northern and north-eastern hilly region, unrelated to species present in the peninsular region. In the present study, crude venom of representative species of green pit vipers present in the north and north-eastern hilly region of India (Trimeresurus erythrurus, T. septentrionalis, Viridovipera medoensis, and Popiea popieorum) were characterized to elucidate venom composition and venom variation. Profiling of crude venoms using SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC methods revealed quantitative differences among the species. Further, in vitro biochemical assays reveal variable levels of phospholipase activity, coagulation activity, thrombin-like activity, fibrinogenolytic and haemolytic activity. This correlates with the pseudo-procoagulant effects on the haemostatic system of victims, which causes consumptive coagulopathy, frequently observed in patients bitten by green pit vipers. The immunoreactivity of Indian polyvalent antivenom and Thai green pit viper antivenom towards crude venoms were also evaluated by western blotting and inhibition of biochemical activities. The results exhibited poor efficacy of Indian polyvalent antivenom in neutralizing the venom toxins of crude venoms; however, Thai green pit viper antivenin (raised against the venom of Trimeresurus allbolabris, not present in India) showed higher immunoreactivity towards congeneric venoms tested. Analysis of green pit viper bite patients records from a community health centre in Assam, India, further revealed the inability of Indian polyvalent antivenom to reverse the extended coagulopathy featured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Thakur
- Molecular Toxinology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, 784028, India
| | - Anita Malhotra
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Surajit Giri
- Demow Government Community Health Centre, Raichai, KonwarDihingia Gaon, Sivasagar, Assam, India
| | - H T Lalremsenga
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India
| | - Omesh K Bharti
- State Institute of Health & Family Welfare Parimahal, Shimla, HP, India
| | - Vishal Santra
- Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal, 712407, India; Captive and Field Herpetology, 13 Hirfron, Anglesey, LL65 1YU, Wales, UK
| | - Gerard Martin
- The Liana Trust, Survey #1418/1419, Rathnapuri, Hunsur, Karnataka, India
| | - Robin Doley
- Molecular Toxinology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam, 784028, India.
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