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Guadarrama-Martínez A, Neri-Castro E, Boyer L, Alagón A. Variability in antivenom neutralization of Mexican viperid snake venoms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012152. [PMID: 38717980 PMCID: PMC11078402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Each year, 3,800 cases of snakebite envenomation are reported in Mexico, resulting in 35 fatalities. The only scientifically validated treatment for snakebites in Mexico is the use of antivenoms. Currently, two antivenoms are available in the market, with one in the developmental phase. These antivenoms, produced in horses, consist of F(ab')2 fragments generated using venoms from various species as immunogens. While previous studies primarily focused on neutralizing the venom of the Crotalus species, our study aims to assess the neutralization capacity of different antivenom batches against pit vipers from various genera in Mexico. METHODOLOGY We conducted various biological and biochemical tests to characterize the venoms. Additionally, we performed neutralization tests using all three antivenoms to evaluate their effectiveness against lethal activity and their ability to neutralize proteolytic and fibrinogenolytic activities. RESULTS Our results reveal significant differences in protein content and neutralizing capacity among different antivenoms and even between different batches of the same product. Notably, the venom of Crotalus atrox is poorly neutralized by all evaluated batches despite being the primary cause of envenomation in the country's northern region. Furthermore, even at the highest tested concentrations, no antivenom could neutralize the lethality of Metlapilcoatlus nummifer and Porthidium yucatanicum venoms. These findings highlight crucial areas for improving existing antivenoms and developing new products. CONCLUSION Our research reveals variations in protein content and neutralizing potency among antivenoms, emphasizing the need for consistency in venom characteristics as immunogens. While Birmex neutralizes more LD50 per vial, Antivipmyn excels in specific neutralization. The inability of antivenoms to neutralize certain venoms, especially M. nummifer and P. yucatanicum, highlights crucial improvement opportunities, given the medical significance of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alid Guadarrama-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, México
| | - Leslie Boyer
- Department of Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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2
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Phan P, Deshwal A, McMahon TA, Slikas M, Andrews E, Becker B, Kumar TKS. A Review of Rattlesnake Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 16:2. [PMID: 38276526 PMCID: PMC10818703 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16010002] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Venom components are invaluable in biomedical research owing to their specificity and potency. Many of these components exist in two genera of rattlesnakes, Crotalus and Sistrurus, with high toxicity and proteolytic activity variation. This review focuses on venom components within rattlesnakes, and offers a comparison and itemized list of factors dictating venom composition, as well as presenting their known characteristics, activities, and significant applications in biosciences. There are 64 families and subfamilies of proteins present in Crotalus and Sistrurus venom. Snake venom serine proteases (SVSP), snake venom metalloproteases (SVMP), and phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are the standard components in Crotalus and Sistrurus venom. Through this review, we highlight gaps in the knowledge of rattlesnake venom; there needs to be more information on the venom composition of three Crotalus species and one Sistrurus subspecies. We discuss the activity and importance of both major and minor components in biomedical research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuc Phan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA;
| | - Anant Deshwal
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA; (T.A.M.); (M.S.); (E.A.)
| | - Tyler Anthony McMahon
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA; (T.A.M.); (M.S.); (E.A.)
| | - Matthew Slikas
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA; (T.A.M.); (M.S.); (E.A.)
| | - Elodie Andrews
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625, USA; (T.A.M.); (M.S.); (E.A.)
| | - Brian Becker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA;
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Romo E, Torres M, Martin-Solano S. Current situation of snakebites envenomation in the Neotropics: Biotechnology, a versatile tool in the production of antivenoms. BIONATURA 2022. [DOI: 10.21931/rb/2022.07.04.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people around the world with a great impact on health and the economy. Unfortunately, public health programs do not include this kind of disease as a priority in their social programs. Cases of snakebite envenomations in the Neotropics are inaccurate due to inadequate disease management from medical records to the choice of treatments. Victims of snakebite envenomation are primarily found in impoverished agricultural areas where remote conditions limit the availability of antivenom. Antivenom serum is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment used up to date. However, it has several disadvantages in terms of safety and effectiveness. This review provides a comprehensive insight dealing with the current epidemiological status of snakebites in the Neotropics and technologies employed in antivenom production. Also, modern biotechnological tools such as transcriptomic, proteomic, immunogenic, high-density peptide microarray and epitope mapping are highlighted for producing new-generation antivenom sera. These results allow us to propose strategic solutions in the Public Health Sector for managing this disease.
Keywords: antivenom, biotechnology, neglected tropical disease, omics, recombinant antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Romo
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador
| | - Marbel Torres
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Humana (GISAH), Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Immunology and Virology Laboratory, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Center, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas, ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador
| | - Sarah Martin-Solano
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Humana (GISAH), Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública, Universidad Central del Ecuador
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4
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Becerra-López JL, Cruz-Elizalde R, Ramírez-Bautista A, Magno-Benítez I, Ballesteros-Barrera C, Alvarado-Díaz J, Bryson Jr RW, Hernández-Salinas U, Díaz-Marín CA, Berriozabal-Islas C, Fraire-Galindo K, Tello-Ruiz J, Czaja A, Torres-Delgado MG. Does size matter? An analysis of the niche width and vulnerability to climate change of fourteen species of the genus Crotalus from North America. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13154. [PMID: 35402099 PMCID: PMC8992643 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The niche comprises the set of abiotic and biotic environmental conditions in which a species can live. Consequently, those species that present broader niches are expected to be more tolerant to changes in climatic variations than those species that present reduced niches. In this study, we estimate the amplitude of the climatic niche of fourteen species of rattlesnakes of the genus Crotalus to evaluate whether those species that present broader niches are less susceptible to the loss of climatically suitable zones due to the projected climate change for the time period 2021-2040. Our results suggest that for the species under study, the breadth of the niche is not a factor that determines their vulnerability to climatic variations. However, 71.4% of the species will experience increasingly inadequate habitat conditions, mainly due to the increase in temperature and the contribution that this variable has in the creation of climatically suitable zones for most of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Luis Becerra-López
- Laboratorio de Cambio Climático y Conservación de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Raciel Cruz-Elizalde
- Laboratorio de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Aurelio Ramírez-Bautista
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Itzel Magno-Benítez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Claudia Ballesteros-Barrera
- Unidad Iztapalapa, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Javier Alvarado-Díaz
- Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
| | | | | | - César A. Díaz-Marín
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Christian Berriozabal-Islas
- Universidad Tecnológica de la Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla No. 5, Fraccionamiento Los Héroes, Tizayuca, Hidalgo, México,Universidad de Quintana Roo, Departamento de Administración turística, Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Karen Fraire-Galindo
- Laboratorio de Cambio Climático y Conservación de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Juan Tello-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Cambio Climático y Conservación de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alexander Czaja
- Laboratorio de Cambio Climático y Conservación de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - María Guadalupe Torres-Delgado
- Laboratorio de Cambio Climático y Conservación de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
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5
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Gómez A, Solano G, Chang-Castillo A, Chacón D, Corrales G, Segura Á, Estrada R, León G. Intraspecific variability of the Central American rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) venom and its usefulness to obtain a representative standard venom. Toxicon 2021; 202:20-26. [PMID: 34562491 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.006] [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: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Snake venoms are mixtures of proteins whose physicochemical features confer them toxicity and immunogenicity. Animals (e.g., horses or sheep) immunized with snake venoms produce antibodies towards the venom proteins. Since these antibodies can neutralize the venom toxicity, they have been used to formulate snake antivenoms. The efficacy of the antivenoms is widely accepted, and standard venoms are expected to be representative of the snake's population that inhabit in the region where the antivenom is intended to be used. The representativeness of a single venom collected from a Crotalus simus snake, and its usefulness as standard venom to produce an antivenom is evaluated. The use of an "average venom" might be as representative of the population intended to be used, as the standard venom composed by many venom samples. Variations in the relative abundance concentration of crotoxin in the C. simus leads to different clinical manifestations, as well as differences in the neutralization efficacy of the antivenoms. A monovalent anti-Cs antivenom was produced from a single venom C. simus specimen, and its efficacy in neutralizing the lethal activity of 30 C. simus snakes was tested. Despite the variations in the relative abundance content of crotoxin found in the proteomes, the monovalent anti-Cs antivenom was successful in neutralize the toxicity caused by the variations on the venom composition of three different snake population used. Interestingly, it seems that the sex is not a key factor in the lethality of the venoms tested. The concept of representative venom mixtures for immunization should be revised for the case of C. simus on the populations found in Costa Rica, since it might use as less as one representative individual whose venom covers the mainly toxic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Gabriela Solano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Arturo Chang-Castillo
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Danilo Chacón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Greivin Corrales
- 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
| | - Ricardo Estrada
- 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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6
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Seneci L, Zdenek CN, Chowdhury A, Rodrigues CFB, Neri-Castro E, Bénard-Valle M, Alagón A, Fry BG. A Clot Twist: Extreme Variation in Coagulotoxicity Mechanisms in Mexican Neotropical Rattlesnake Venoms. Front Immunol 2021; 12:612846. [PMID: 33815366 PMCID: PMC8011430 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.612846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rattlesnakes are a diverse clade of pit vipers (snake family Viperidae, subfamily Crotalinae) that consists of numerous medically significant species. We used validated in vitro assays measuring venom-induced clotting time and strength of any clots formed in human plasma and fibrinogen to assess the coagulotoxic activity of the four medically relevant Mexican rattlesnake species Crotalus culminatus, C. mictlantecuhtli, C. molossus, and C. tzabcan. We report the first evidence of true procoagulant activity by Neotropical rattlesnake venom in Crotalus culminatus. This species presented a strong ontogenetic coagulotoxicity dichotomy: neonates were strongly procoagulant via Factor X activation, whereas adults were pseudo-procoagulant in that they converted fibrinogen into weak, unstable fibrin clots that rapidly broke down, thereby likely contributing to net anticoagulation through fibrinogen depletion. The other species did not activate clotting factors or display an ontogenetic dichotomy, but depleted fibrinogen levels by cleaving fibrinogen either in a destructive (non-clotting) manner or via a pseudo-procoagulant mechanism. We also assessed the neutralization of these venoms by available antivenom and enzyme-inhibitors to provide knowledge for the design of evidence-based treatment strategies for envenomated patients. One of the most frequently used Mexican antivenoms (Bioclon Antivipmyn®) failed to neutralize the potent procoagulant toxic action of neonate C. culminatus venom, highlighting limitations in snakebite treatment for this species. However, the metalloprotease inhibitor Prinomastat substantially thwarted the procoagulant venom activity, while 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) was much less effective. These results confirm that venom-induced Factor X activation (a procoagulant action) is driven by metalloproteases, while also suggesting Prinomastat as a more promising potential adjunct treatment than DMPS for this species (with the caveat that in vivo studies are necessary to confirm this potential clinical use). Conversely, the serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF) inhibited the direct fibrinogen cleaving actions of C. mictlantecuhtli venom, thereby revealing that the pseudo-procoagulant action is driven by kallikrein-type serine proteases. Thus, this differential ontogenetic variation in coagulotoxicity patterns poses intriguing questions. Our results underscore the need for further research into Mexican rattlesnake venom activity, and also highlights potential limitations of current antivenom treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Seneci
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Abhinandan Chowdhury
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Caroline F B Rodrigues
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Melisa Bénard-Valle
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Chowdhury A, Zdenek CN, Dobson JS, Bourke LA, Soria R, Fry BG. Clinical implications of differential procoagulant toxicity of the palearctic viperid genus Macrovipera, and the relative neutralization efficacy of antivenoms and enzyme inhibitors. Toxicol Lett 2021; 340:77-88. [PMID: 33412251 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Species within the viperid genus Macrovipera are some of the most dangerous snakes in the Eurasian region, injecting copious amounts of potent venom. Despite their medical importance, the pathophysiological actions of their venoms have been neglected. Particularly poorly known are the coagulotoxic effects and thus the underlying mechanisms of lethal coagulopathy. In order to fill this knowledge gap, we ascertained the effects of venom upon human plasma for Macrovipera lebetina cernovi, M. l. lebetina, M. l. obtusa, M. l. turanica, and M. schweizeri using diverse coagulation analysing protocols. All five were extremely potent in their ability to promote clotting but varied in their relative activation of Factor X, being equipotent in this study to the venom of the better studied, and lethal, species Daboia russelii. The Insoserp European viper antivenom was shown to be highly effective against all the Macrovipera venoms, but performed poorly against the D. russelii venom. Reciprocally, while Daboia antivenoms performed well against D. russelii venom, they failed against Macrovipera venom. Thus despite the two genera sharing a venom phenotype (Factor X activation) driven by the same toxin type (P-IIId snake venom metalloproteases), the surface biochemistries of the toxins differed significantly enough to impede antivenom cross- neutralization. The differences in venom biochemistry were reflected in coagulation co-factor dependence. While both genera were absolutely dependent upon calcium for the activation of Factor X, dependence upon phospholipid varied. The Macrovipera venoms had low levels of dependence upon phospholipid while the Daboia venom was three times more dependent upon phospholipid for the activation of Factor X. This suggests that the sites on the molecular surface responsible for phospholipid dependence, are the same differential sites that prevent inter-genera antivenom cross- neutralization. Due to cold-chain requirements, antivenoms may not be stocked in rural settings where the need is at the greatest. Thus we tested the efficacy of enzyme inhibitor Prinomastat as a field-deployable treatment to stabilise patients while being transported to antivenom stocks, and showed that it was extremely effective in blocking the Factor X activating pathophysiological actions. Marimastat however was less effective. These results thus not only shed light on the coagulopathic mechanisms of Macrovipera venoms, but also provide data critical for evidence-based design of snakebite management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinandan Chowdhury
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - James S Dobson
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Lachlan A Bourke
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Raul Soria
- Inosan Biopharma, S.A. Arbea Campus Empresarial, Edificio 2, Planta 2, Carretera Fuencarral a Alcobendas, Km 3.8, 28108, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Toxin Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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8
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Tasima LJ, Hatakeyama DM, Serino-Silva C, Rodrigues CFB, de Lima EOV, Sant'Anna SS, Grego KF, de Morais-Zani K, Sanz L, Calvete JJ, Tanaka-Azevedo AM. Comparative proteomic profiling and functional characterization of venom pooled from captive Crotalus durissus terrificus specimens and the Brazilian crotalic reference venom. Toxicon 2020; 185:26-35. [PMID: 32634448 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus spp has a wide geographic distribution in Brazil. Although responsible for only a low proportion of ophidian accidents, it is considered one of the most medically important species of venomous snakes due to the high mortality rate (1.87%). Snake venom is a complex phenotype commonly subjected to individual intraspecific, ontogenetic and geographic variability. Compositional differences in pooled venom used in the immunization process may impact the efficacy of the antivenom. In order to assure standardized high-quality antivenom, the potency of each Brazilian crotalic antivenom batch is determined against the 'Brazilian Crotalic Reference Venom' (BCRV). BCRV is produced by Instituto Butantan using venom obtained from the first milking of recently wild-caught C. d. terrificus specimens brought to the Institute. The decrease in the number of snake donations experienced in recent years can become a threat to the production of future batches of BCRV. To evaluate the feasibility of using venom from long-term captive animals in the formulation of BCRV, we have compared the proteomic, biochemical and biological profiles of C. d. terrificus venom pooled from captive specimens (CVP- captive venom pool) and BCRV. Electrophoretic and venomics analyses revealed a very similar venom composition profile, but also certain differences in toxins abundance, with some low abundant protein families found only in BCRV. Enzymatic (L-amino acid oxidase, phospholipase A2 and proteolytic) and biological (myotoxic and coagulant) activities showed higher values in CVP than in BCRV. CVP also possessed slightly higher lethal effect, although the Instituto Butantan crotalic antivenom showed equivalent potency neutralizing BCRV and CVP. Our results strongly suggest that venom from long-term captive C. d. terrificus might be a valid alternative to generate an immunization mixture of equivalent quality to the currently in use reference venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia J Tasima
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas-Instituto Butantan, Universidade de São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Daniela M Hatakeyama
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas-Instituto Butantan, Universidade de São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Caroline Serino-Silva
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas-Instituto Butantan, Universidade de São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Caroline F B Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas-Instituto Butantan, Universidade de São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Eduardo O V de Lima
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Sávio S Sant'Anna
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Kathleen F Grego
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Karen de Morais-Zani
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas-Instituto Butantan, Universidade de São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil
| | - Libia Sanz
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Instituto de Biomedicina, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Instituto de Biomedicina, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Anita M Tanaka-Azevedo
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas-Instituto Butantan, Universidade de São Paulo, 05503-000, Brazil.
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