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Qiu XC, Wang JZ, Xia ZY, Jiang ZW, Zeng Y, Wang N, Li PP, Shi JS. A new mountain pitviper of the genus Ovophis Burger in Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1981 (Serpentes, Viperidae) from Yunnan, China. Zookeys 2024; 1203:173-187. [PMID: 38855786 PMCID: PMC11161677 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1203.119218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparison, a new species of mountain pitviper, Ovophisjenkinsi sp. nov., is described. The new species was collected in Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China. It can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following characters: (1) internasals in contact or separated by one small scale; (2) second supralabial entire and bordering the loreal pit; (3) dorsal scales in 23 (25)-21 (23, 25)-19 (17, 21) rows; (4) 134-142 ventrals; (5) 40-52 pairs of subcaudals; (6) third supralabial larger than fourth in all examined specimens of Ovophisjenkinsi sp. nov.; (7) deep orange-brown or dark brownish-grey markings on dorsal head surface; (8) background color of dorsal surface deep orange-brown or dark brownish-grey; (9) both sides of dorsum display dark brown trapezoidal patches; (10) scattered small white spots on dorsal surface of tail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Chun Qiu
- Institute of Herpetology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110034, ChinaShenyang Normal UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Jin-Ze Wang
- Institute of Herpetology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110034, ChinaShenyang Normal UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Zu-Yao Xia
- Department of Evolution, Ecology & Biodiversity, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAUniversity of CaliforniaDavisUnited States of America
| | - Zhong-Wen Jiang
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yan Zeng
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Nan Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Pi-Peng Li
- Institute of Herpetology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110034, ChinaShenyang Normal UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Jing-Song Shi
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, ChinaInstitute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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2
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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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3
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Chuang PC, Chen JW, Chan YY, Tse TC, Chiang YW, Tsai TS. In vitro immunoreactivity and in vivo neutralization of Trimeresurus gracilis venom with antivenoms targeting four pit viper species. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012070. [PMID: 38527073 PMCID: PMC10994551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012070] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a significant global health issue that requires specific antivenom treatments. In Taiwan, available antivenoms target a variety of snakes, but none specifically target Trimeresurus gracilis, an endemic and protected species found in the high mountain areas of Taiwan. This study evaluated the effectiveness of existing antivenoms against T. gracilis venom, focusing on a bivalent antivenom developed for Trimeresurus stejnegeri and Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (TsPmAV), as well as monovalent antivenoms for Deinagkistrodon acutus (DaAV) and Gloydius brevicaudus (GbAV). Our research involved in vivo toxicity testing in mice and in vitro immunobinding experiments using (chaotropic) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, comparing venoms from four pit viper species (T. gracilis, T. stejnegeri, P. mucrosquamatus, and D. acutus) with three types of antivenoms. These findings indicate that TsPmAV partially neutralized T. gracilis venom, marginally surpassing the efficacy of DaAV. In vitro tests revealed that GbAV displayed higher binding capacities toward T. gracilis venom than TsPmAV or DaAV. Comparisons of electrophoretic profiles also reveal that T. gracilis venom has fewer snake venom C-type lectin like proteins than D. acutus, and has more P-I snake venom metalloproteases or fewer phospholipase A2 than G. brevicaudus, T. stejnegeri, or P. mucrosquamatus. This study highlights the need for antivenoms that specifically target T. gracilis, as current treatments using TsPmAV show limited effectiveness in neutralizing local effects in patients. These findings provide crucial insights into clinical treatment protocols and contribute to the understanding of the evolutionary adaptation of snake venom, aiding in the development of more effective antivenoms for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Chun Chuang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Wei Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
| | - Yuen-Ying Chan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Tsz-Chun Tse
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wei Chiang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tein-Shun Tsai
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
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4
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Chan KO, Mulcahy DG, Anuar S. The Artefactual Branch Effect and Phylogenetic Conflict: Species Delimitation with Gene Flow in Mangrove Pit Vipers (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus-erythrurus Complex). Syst Biol 2023; 72:1209-1219. [PMID: 37478480 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syad043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mangrove pit vipers of the Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus-erythrurus complex are the only species of viper known to naturally inhabit mangroves. Despite serving integral ecological functions in mangrove ecosystems, the evolutionary history, distribution, and species boundaries of mangrove pit vipers remain poorly understood, partly due to overlapping distributions, confusing phenotypic variations, and the lack of focused studies. Here, we present the first genomic study on mangrove pit vipers and introduce a robust hypothesis-driven species delimitation framework that considers gene flow and phylogenetic uncertainty in conjunction with a novel application of a new class of speciation-based delimitation model implemented through the program Delineate. Our results showed that gene flow produced phylogenetic conflict in our focal species and substantiates the artefactual branch effect where highly admixed populations appear as divergent nonmonophyletic lineages arranged in a stepwise manner at the basal position of clades. Despite the confounding effects of gene flow, we were able to obtain unequivocal support for the recognition of a new species based on the intersection and congruence of multiple lines of evidence. This study demonstrates that an integrative hypothesis-driven approach predicated on the consideration of multiple plausible evolutionary histories, population structure/differentiation, gene flow, and the implementation of a speciation-based delimitation model can effectively delimit species in the presence of gene flow and phylogenetic conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Onn Chan
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Daniel G Mulcahy
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Shahrul Anuar
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
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5
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Chan KO, Anuar S, Sankar A, Law IT, Law IS, Shivaram R, Christian C, Mulcahy DG, Malhotra A. A new species of pit-viper from the Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions in Myanmar (Viperidae, Trimeresurus). Zookeys 2023; 1186:221-234. [PMID: 38312859 PMCID: PMC10836646 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1186.110422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In a genomic study by Chan and colleagues, pit-vipers of the Trimeresuruserythrurus-purpureomaculatus complex from the Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions in Myanmar were demonstrated to be a distinct species based on robust population genetic and species delimitation analyses. Here, we provide morphological characterizations and a formal description of those populations as a new species. The new species, Trimeresurusayeyarwadyensissp. nov., is most closely related to T.erythrurus and T.purpureomaculatus and shares morphological characteristics with both of those species. Some specimens of T.ayeyarwadyensissp. nov. have green dorsal coloration and no distinct dorsal blotches (a trait shared with T.erythrurus but not T.purpureomaculatus), while others have dark dorsal blotches (a trait shared with T.purpureomaculatus but not T.erythrurus). The distinct evolutionary trajectory of the new species, coupled with the lack of obvious morphological differentiation, represents a classic example of the cryptic nature of species commonly found in the Trimeresurus group of Asian pit-vipers and underscores the need for data-rich analyses to verify species' boundaries more broadly within this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Onn Chan
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377 Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Shahrul Anuar
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Ananthanarayanan Sankar
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ingg Thong Law
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ing Sind Law
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rasu Shivaram
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, 117377 Singapore, Singapore
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ching Christian
- Herpetological Society of Singapore, 12J Sime Road, 288296 Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, 117558 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel G Mulcahy
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Anita Malhotra
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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6
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Vogel G, Nguyen TVAN, David P. A new green pitviper of the Trimeresurus albolabris complex (Reptilia, Serpentes, Viperidae) from central and southern Myanmar. Zootaxa 2023; 5357:515-554. [PMID: 38220633 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5357.4.3] [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: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
In the frame of our investigations on the systematics of the complex of species of Trimeresurus albolabris, we came across specimens from Myanmar variously referred to as Trimeresurus albolabris Gray, 1842 or T. septentrionalis Kramer, 1977 in the literature. We describe a new species of green pitviper of the genus Trimeresurus Lacpde, 1804 from central and southern Myanmar based on molecular analyses drawn from previously published phylogenies and new morphological data. This new species, Trimeresurus uetzi sp. nov., is broadly similar to both Trimeresurus albolabris and T. septentrionalis, but it differs from these latter species by a series of morphological characters such as presence of white pre- and postocular streaks in male, iris copper in male or green gold in female, more ventral plates, and a much shorter hemipenis. We compare this new species with Trimeresurus albolabris as currently defined and other species of this complex. We also emphasize the need for additional integrated studies on Trimeresurus albolabris sensu lato populations distributed in southern Indochina and Sundaland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Vogel
- Society for South East Asian Herpetology; Im Sand-3; Heidelberg; Germany.
| | - Tan VAN Nguyen
- Institute for Research and Training in Medicine; Biology and Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam; College of Medicine and Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; 120 Hoang Minh Thao; Lien Chieu; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam.
| | - Patrick David
- Institut de Systmatique; volution et Biodiversit (ISYEB); Musum National dHistoire Naturelle; Sorbonne Universit; cole Pratique des Hautes tudes; Universit des Antilles; CNRS; CP 30; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75005 Paris; France.
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7
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Tan CH, Tan KY, Tan NH. De Novo Assembly of Venom Gland Transcriptome of Tropidolaemus wagleri (Temple Pit Viper, Malaysia) and Insights into the Origin of Its Major Toxin, Waglerin. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:585. [PMID: 37756011 PMCID: PMC10537322 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090585] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The venom proteome of Temple Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) is unique among pit vipers, characterized by a high abundance of a neurotoxic peptide, waglerin. To further explore the genetic diversity of its toxins, the present study de novo assembled the venom gland transcriptome of T. wagleri from west Malaysia. Among the 15 toxin gene families discovered, gene annotation and expression analysis reveal the dominating trend of bradykinin-potentiating peptide/angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-C-type natriuretic peptide (BPP/ACEI-CNP, 76.19% of all-toxin transcription) in the transcriptome, followed by P-III snake venom metalloproteases (13.91%) and other toxins. The transcript TwBNP01 of BPP/ACEI-CNP represents a large precursor gene (209 amino acid residues) containing the coding region for waglerin (24 residues). TwBNP01 shows substantial sequence variations from the corresponding genes of its sister species, Tropidolaemus subannulatus of northern Philippines, and other viperid species which diversely code for proline-rich small peptides such as bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs). The waglerin/waglerin-like peptides, BPPs and azemiopsin are proline-rich, evolving de novo from multiple highly diverged propeptide regions within the orthologous BPP/ACEI-CNP genes. Neofunctionalization of the peptides results in phylogenetic constraints consistent with a phenotypic dichotomy, where Tropidolaemus spp. and Azemiops feae convergently evolve a neurotoxic trait while vasoactive BPPs evolve only in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choo Hock Tan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Kae Yi Tan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (K.Y.T.); (N.H.T.)
| | - Nget Hong Tan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (K.Y.T.); (N.H.T.)
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8
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Qamruddin RM, Safferi RS, Mohamed@Ismail Z, Salleh MS, Abd Hamid MNH, Frederic Ng VER, Goh WC, Ismail AK. Frequency, geographical distribution and outcomes of pit viper bites in Malaysia consulted to Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) from 2017 to 2020. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011569. [PMID: 37585486 PMCID: PMC10461839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011569] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Not all pit viper species are present in every state of Malaysia and their distribution varies according to altitude. There is limited information on pit viper bite incidence and its geographical distribution. This was a cross-sectional study of confirmed pit viper bite cases referred to Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) from January 2017 to December 2020. Data was collected following the approval of institutional research ethics committee. Universal sampling methods were used. Confirmed pit viper bite cases in each state, geographical location and the antivenom used were reported. A total of 523 confirmed pit viper bite injuries occurred over the 4-year study period. The majority were Malaysians, male and young adults. Most were non-occupational related (83.9%) and involved the upper limbs (46.8%). The commonest pit viper species involved was Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus (23.7%). Green pit viper antivenom (GPAV) was the most frequent antivenom used (n = 51) with the majority of patients requiring only one dose (3 vials). This study provides a better appreciation of indigenous pit viper species distribution for each state and reflects the requirement of appropriate antivenom to be stocked in each state or district hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruth Sabrina Safferi
- Emergency and Trauma Department, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | | | - Mohd Shukruddeen Salleh
- Emergency and Trauma Department, Hospital Sultan Ismail Petra, Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | | | - Vera Effa Rezar Frederic Ng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wan Chee Goh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Khaldun Ismail
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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9
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Tse TC, Tsai IH, Chan YY, Tsai TS. Venom Proteomics of Trimeresurus gracilis, a Taiwan-Endemic Pitviper, and Comparison of Its Venom Proteome and VEGF and CRISP Sequences with Those of the Most Related Species. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:408. [PMID: 37505677 PMCID: PMC10467061 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070408] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Trimeresurus gracilis is an endemic alpine pitviper in Taiwan with controversial phylogeny, and its venom proteome remains unknown. In this study, we conducted a proteomic analysis of T. gracilis venom using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and identified 155 toxin proteoforms that belong to 13 viperid venom toxin families. By searching the sequences of trypsin-digested peptides of the separated HPLC fractions against the NCBI database, T. gracilis venom was found to contain 40.3% metalloproteases (SVMPs), 15.3% serine proteases, 6.6% phospholipases A2, 5.0% L-amino acid oxidase, 4.6% Cys-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), 3.2% disintegrins, 2.9% vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), 1.9% C-type lectin-like proteins, and 20.2% of minor toxins, nontoxins, and unidentified peptides or compounds. Sixteen of these proteoforms matched the toxins whose full amino-acid sequences have been deduced from T. gracilis venom gland cDNA sequences. The hemorrhagic venom of T. gracilis appears to be especially rich in PI-class SVMPs and lacks basic phospholipase A2. We also cloned and sequenced the cDNAs encoding two CRISP and three VEGF variants from T. gracilis venom glands. Sequence alignments and comparison revealed that the PI-SVMP, kallikrein-like proteases, CRISPs, and VEGF-F of T. gracilis and Ovophis okinavensis are structurally most similar, consistent with their close phylogenetic relationship. However, the expression levels of some of their toxins were rather different, possibly due to their distinct ecological and prey conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz-Chun Tse
- Institute of Wildlife Conservation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912301, Taiwan;
| | - Inn-Ho Tsai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan;
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106319, Taiwan
| | - Yuen-Ying Chan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912301, Taiwan;
| | - Tein-Shun Tsai
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912301, Taiwan;
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10
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Carrasco PA, Koch C, Grazziotin FG, Venegas PJ, Chaparro JC, Scrocchi GJ, Salazar-Valenzuela D, Leynaud GC, Mattoni CI. Total-evidence phylogeny and evolutionary morphology of New World pitvipers (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae). Cladistics 2023; 39:71-100. [PMID: 36701490 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Crotalines (pitvipers) in the Americas are distributed from southern Canada to southern Argentina, and are represented by 13 genera and 163 species that constitute a monophyletic group. Their phylogenetic relationships have been assessed mostly based on DNA sequences, while morphological data have scarcely been used for phylogenetic inquiry. We present a total-evidence phylogeny of New World pitvipers, the most taxon/character comprehensive phylogeny to date. Our analysis includes all genera, morphological data from external morphology, cranial osteology and hemipenial morphology, and DNA sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genes. We performed analyses with parsimony as an optimality criterion, using different schemes for character weighting. We evaluated the contribution of the different sources of characters to the phylogeny through analyses of reduced datasets and calculation of weighted homoplasy and retention indexes. We performed a morphological character analysis to identify synapomorphies for the main clades. In terms of biogeography, our results support a single colonization event of the Americas by pitvipers, and a cladogenetic event into a Neotropical clade and a North American/Neotropical clade. The results also shed light on the previously unstable position of some taxa, although they could not sufficiently resolve the position of Bothrops lojanus, which may lead to the paraphyly of either Bothrops or Bothrocophias. The morphological character analyses demonstrated that an important phylogenetic signal is contained in characters related to head scalation, the jaws and the dorsum of the skull, and allowed us to detect morphological convergences in external morphology associated with arboreality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola A Carrasco
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Centro de Zoología Aplicada, Rondeau 798, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA-CONICET), Rondeau, 798, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
| | - Claudia Koch
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change/Zoologisches Forschungsinstitute und Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Felipe G Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pablo J Venegas
- Instituto Peruano de Herpetología, Salazar Bondy 136, Santiago de Surco 15038, Lima, Peru.,Rainforest Partnership, 4005 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX, 78751, USA
| | - Juan C Chaparro
- Museo de Biodiversidad del Perú, Urbanización Mariscal Gamarra A-61, Zona 2, Cusco, Peru.,Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Paraninfo Universitario (Plaza de Armas s/n), Cusco, Peru
| | - Gustavo J Scrocchi
- UEL-CONICET and Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - David Salazar-Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb) e Ingeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, EC170301, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Gerardo C Leynaud
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Centro de Zoología Aplicada, Rondeau 798, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA-CONICET), Rondeau, 798, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
| | - Camilo I Mattoni
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Centro de Zoología Aplicada, Rondeau 798, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA-CONICET), Rondeau, 798, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina
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11
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Wu YH, Hou SB, Yuan ZY, Jiang K, Huang RY, Wang K, Liu Q, Yu ZB, Zhao HP, Zhang BL, Chen JM, Wang LJ, Stuart BL, Chambers EA, Wang YF, Gao W, Zou DH, Yan F, Zhao GG, Fu ZX, Wang SN, Jiang M, Zhang L, Ren JL, Wu YY, Zhang LY, Yang DC, Jin JQ, Yin TT, Li JT, Zhao WG, Murphy RW, Huang S, Guo P, Zhang YP, Che J. DNA barcoding of Chinese snakes reveals hidden diversity and conservation needs. Mol Ecol Resour 2023. [PMID: 36924341 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13784] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
DNA barcoding has greatly facilitated studies of taxonomy, biodiversity, biological conservation, and ecology. Here, we establish a reliable DNA barcoding library for Chinese snakes, unveiling hidden diversity with implications for taxonomy, and provide a standardized tool for conservation management. Our comprehensive study includes 1638 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from Chinese snakes that correspond to 17 families, 65 genera, 228 named species (80.6% of named species) and 36 candidate species. A barcode gap analysis reveals gaps, where all nearest neighbour distances exceed maximum intraspecific distances, in 217 named species and all candidate species. Three species-delimitation methods (ABGD, sGMYC, and sPTP) recover 320 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 192 OTUs correspond to named and candidate species. Twenty-eight other named species share OTUs, such as Azemiops feae and A. kharini, Gloydius halys, G. shedaoensis, and G. intermedius, and Bungarus multicinctus and B. candidus, representing inconsistencies most probably caused by imperfect taxonomy, recent and rapid speciation, weak taxonomic signal, introgressive hybridization, and/or inadequate phylogenetic signal. In contrast, 43 species and candidate species assign to two or more OTUs due to having large intraspecific distances. If most OTUs detected in this study reflect valid species, including the 36 candidate species, then 30% more species would exist than are currently recognized. Several OTU divergences associate with known biogeographic barriers, such as the Taiwan Strait. In addition to facilitating future studies, this reliable and relatively comprehensive reference database will play an important role in the future monitoring, conservation, and management of Chinese snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-He Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Shao-Bing Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650204, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Ke Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Ru-Yi Huang
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Qin Liu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forest and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, Sichuan, 644007, China
| | - Zhong-Bin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Hai-Peng Zhao
- School of Life Science, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475001, China
| | - Bao-Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Jin-Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Li-Jun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, Hainan, 571158, China
| | - Bryan L Stuart
- Section of Research & Collections, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, USA
| | - E Anne Chambers
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA
| | - Yu-Fan Wang
- Zhejiang Forest Resource Monitoring Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310020, China
| | - Wei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Da-Hu Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
- College of Science, Tibet University, Lhasa, Tibet, 850000, China
| | - Fang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Gui-Gang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Zhong-Xiong Fu
- Yunnan Senye Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 666100, China
| | - Shao-Neng Wang
- Bureau of Guangxi Mao'er Mountain Nature Reserve, Guilin, Guangxi, 541316, China
| | - Ming Jiang
- Gongshan Bureau of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Gongshan, Yunnan, 650224, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510260, China
| | - Jin-Long Ren
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Ya-Yong Wu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forest and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, Sichuan, 644007, China
| | - Lu-Yang Zhang
- Beijing Mountains & Seas Eco Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing, 101100, China
| | - Dian-Cheng Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, China
| | - Jie-Qiong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Jia-Tang Li
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Wen-Ge Zhao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150025, China
| | - Robert W Murphy
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
- Reptilia Zoo and Education Centre, Vaughn, Ontario, L4K 2N6, Canada
| | - Song Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, China
| | - Peng Guo
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forest and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, Sichuan, 644007, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Jing Che
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
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12
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Tsai TS, Tsai IH. Full sequencing and comparison of five venom metalloproteases of Trimeresurus gracilis: The PI-enzyme is most similar to okinalysin but the PIII-enzyme is most similar to Crotalus venom enzymes. Toxicon 2023; 225:107053. [PMID: 36758773 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107053] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The cDNAs encoding the Zn+2-metalloproteases (SVMPs) of Trimeresurus gracilis (abbreviated as Tgc), a pitviper endemic to Taiwan, were cloned from venom glands and sequenced. The amino-acid sequences of five novel SVMPs, including one P-III, three P-II and one P-I class enzymes, were thus deduced and subjected to BLAST-analyses. The P-III enzyme (designated as Tgc-PIII) is structurally most similar to the PIII-SVMPs of New World pitvipers but not similar to the PIII-SVMP of Ovophis okinavensis. Sequence-similarity analysis of 22 homologous PIII-SVMPs reveal three major structural subtypes of the pitviper PIII-SVMPs, which possibly have different substrate specificities. In addition, Tgc-PIII and the PI-class SVMP (named Tgc-MP) were isolated from the venom and verified by mass spectrometry. All the three deduced sequences of PII-SVMPs (Tgc-PIIs) contain an abnormal Zn+2-binding-site in their catalytic-domain, and an identical "long-disintegrin" domain. The predicted 85-residues disintegrin, gracilisin, bears high similarities to some long-disintegrins of the New-World pitvipers and salmosin3. By BLAST search and comparison, Tgc-MP is 96% similar to okinalysin, the hemorrhagic PI-SVMP of O. okinavensis, rather than any other PI-SVMPs in the databanks. Our results confirm the fast evolution of Tgc-SVMPs as well as their structural similarities to different SVMP-classes of the New-World pitvipers and of O. okinavensis, respectively. The implications of our findings are discussed along with our previous sequence comparisons of venom phospholipases A2 and ten venom serine proteases of Tgc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tein-Shun Tsai
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Inn-Ho Tsai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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13
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Mirza ZA, H. T. Lalremsanga EO, Bhosale H, Gowande G, Patel H, Idiatullina SS, Poyarkov NA. Systematics of Trimeresurus popeiorum Smith, 1937 with a revised molecular phylogeny of Asian pitvipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 sensu lato. EVOLUTIONARY SYSTEMATICS 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.7.97026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The pit viper snake genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 sensu lato, is a diverse group of nocturnal serpents comprising over 61 species. The genus is morphologically heterogeneous and has been divided into several subgenera. We present an updated phylogeny of Asian pitvipers and propose a revised classification. Additionally, we revise the taxonomy of T. popeiorum Smith, 1937 and propose taxonomic changes with support from molecular and morphological data. We restrict T. popeiorumsensu stricto to northeastern India, Bangladesh, southern China, and northern Myanmar; populations beyond these areas require further assessment. We also synonymize T. yingjiangensisChen et al., 2019 with T. popeiorum based on overlapping morphological characters, molecular data, and distribution. The findings shed new light on the taxonomy of T. popeiorum, warranting the need for assessing the population of T. popeiorum from southeast Asia.
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CHANDRAMOULI S. Snake fauna of the Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal—A review of species richness, taxonomy, distribution, natural history and conservation status. Zootaxa 2022; 5209:301-331. [PMID: 37045390 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.3.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The snake fauna of the Andaman archipelago was studied over a duration of four years across twenty islands. This paper presents information on the species richness and taxonomy of snakes of the Andaman archipelago along with observations on natural history and a review of their distribution records, including new, precise ones. Natural history observations for some of the recently re-evaluated species are presented herein for the first time. Field observations on snakes made during this study are supplemented with a compilation of data from specimen collections (n=34) examined in various museums. Based on this dataset and reliable, verified literature records, distribution maps are presented for all the snake species in the Andaman Islands. In addition, unsubstantiated old records of certain species that are shown to be ambiguous are removed from the updated checklist presented here, which consists of 23 species from 22 genera and eight families. Nine of these terrestrial (non-marine) species (56%) are endemic to the Andaman Islands. However, some of the non-endemic species are still in need of a proper molecular taxonomic assessment. The majority (70%) of species are of Least Concern, with 13% of the species being Data Deficient, 9% being Endangered, 5% of the species still in need of evaluation of their conservation status and 4% each being Near Threatened and Vulnerable.
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15
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Park D, Kim IH, Park IK, Grajal-Puche A, Park J. A comparison of gene organisations and phylogenetic relationships of all 22 squamate species listed in South Korea using complete mitochondrial DNA. Zookeys 2022; 1129:21-35. [PMID: 36761844 PMCID: PMC9836557 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1129.82981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies using complete mitochondrial genome data have the potential to increase our understanding on gene organisations and evolutionary species relationships. In this study, we compared complete mitochondrial genomes between all 22 squamate species listed in South Korea. In addition, we constructed Maximum Parsimony (MP), Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) phylogenetic trees using 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes. The mitochondrial genes for all six species in the suborder Sauria followed the same organisation as the sequenced Testudines (turtle) outgroup. In contrast, 16 snake species in the suborder Serpentes contained some gene organisational variations. For example, all snake species contained a second control region (CR2), while three species in the family Viperidae had a translocated tRNA-Pro gene region. In addition, the snake species, Elapheschrenckii, carried a tRNA-Pro pseudogene. We were also able to identify a translocation of a tRNA-Asn gene within the five tRNA (WANCY gene region) gene clusters for two true sea snake species in the subfamily Hydrophiinae. Our BI phylogenetic tree was also well fitted against currently known Korean squamate phylogenetic trees, where each family and genus unit forms monophyletic clades and the suborder Sauria is paraphyletic to the suborder Serpentes. Our results may form the basis for future northeast Asian squamate phylogenetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daesik Park
- Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of KoreaKangwon National UniversityChuncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Il-Hun Kim
- National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seochun, Republic of KoreaNational Marine Biodiversity Institute of KoreaSeochunRepublic of Korea
| | - Il-Kook Park
- Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of KoreaKangwon National UniversityChuncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Alejandro Grajal-Puche
- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USANorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffUnited States of America
| | - Jaejin Park
- Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of KoreaKangwon National UniversityChuncheonRepublic of Korea
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16
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Chan KO, Sind LI, Thong LI, Ananthanarayanan S, Rasu S, Aowphol A, Rujirawan A, Anuar S, Mulcahy D, Grismer JL, Grismer LL. Phylogeography of mangrove pit vipers (Viperidae,
Trimeresurus erythrurus‐purpureomaculatus
complex). ZOOL SCR 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kin Onn Chan
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Law Ing Sind
- Herpetological Society of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | | | - Sankar Ananthanarayanan
- Herpetological Society of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Shivaram Rasu
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Herpetological Society of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | - Anchalee Aowphol
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science Kasetsart University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Attapol Rujirawan
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science Kasetsart University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Shahrul Anuar
- School of Biological Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Penang Malaysia
| | - Daniel Mulcahy
- Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz‐Institut für Evolutions‐ und Biodiversitätsforschung Berlin Germany
| | - Jesse L. Grismer
- Department of Biology La Sierra University Riverside California USA
| | - L. Lee Grismer
- Department of Biology La Sierra University Riverside California USA
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17
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A new cryptic species of green pit viper of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 (Serpentes, Viperidae) from northeast India. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268402. [PMID: 35594256 PMCID: PMC9122190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A new cryptic species of green pit viper is described from northeast India, based on specimens collected from the state of Mizoram and Meghalaya. The new species is a member of the subgenus Viridovipera and is sister to Trimeresurus medoensis based on molecular data for mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, whereas resembles Trimeresurus gumprechti morphologically. A combination of characters helps delimit the new species from its congeners. Description of the new species highlights the need for dedicated surveys across northeast India to document its reptilian diversity, as this represents the third new species of the genus to be described in the past three years.
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Lee YS, Do MS, Kim W, Jeon HS, Lee SC, Jung JH, An J. Phylogenetic relationships between three Korean pit viper Gloydius (Serpentes: Crotalinae) species using mitochondrial DNA genes. Genes Genomics 2022; 44:517-526. [PMID: 35195889 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01222-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular phylogenetic studies of the Asian pit viper genus Gloydius have been widely published in Asia, but Korea population have not been conducted till date. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of three Gloydius species (G. saxatilis, G. brevicaudus, and G. ussuriensis) from Korea with other Gloydius species, based on Cytochrome b and ND4. METHODS We compared 160 samples representing the three species with those of 17 reference species and their phylogenetic status and genetic diversity were analyzed with concatenated sequences of two mitochondrial DNA. RESULTS Korean G. brevicaudus and G. saxatilis showed high haplotype diversity and relatively low and moderate nucleotide diversity, respectively. Although G. ussuriensis showed high genetic diversity, it was low in the Baengnyeong Island population. The phylogenetic tree represented two major lineages. One major lineage comprised G. ussuriensis, G. tsushimaensis, G. blomhoffii, and G. brevicaudus. The Chinese G. ussuriensis belonged to the same clade as the Korean G. ussuriensis and was closely related to the Baengnyeong Island population. Moreover, G. tsushimaensis was closely related to G. ussuriensis from southwestern Korean and Jeju Island populations. The other major lineage comprised the remaining 12 species and G. saxatilis. Korean G. saxatilis was closely related to G. saxatilis, G. shedanoensis, and G. intermedius from China. CONCLUSION The phylogenetic status of the Korean Gloydius species in comparison with the other Gloydius species was identified. We suggesting the conservation management unit for the Baengnyeong Island population, while the current conservation status of Korean G. saxatilis is suggested to be revised to a higher level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Sun Lee
- National Migratory Birds Center, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Seock Do
- Animal Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Hwangyeong-ro42, Seo-gu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanggyu Kim
- Animal Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Hwangyeong-ro42, Seo-gu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Sook Jeon
- Animal Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Hwangyeong-ro42, Seo-gu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Cheol Lee
- Department of Biology, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hwa Jung
- Honam National Institute of Biological Resources, Mokpo, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghwa An
- Animal Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Hwangyeong-ro42, Seo-gu, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea.
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Zhu F, Chen L, Guo P, Xu Y, Liu Q. Sexual Dimorphism and Geographic Variation of the White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) in China. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.41.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, 116 Baoshan Road, Guiyang 550001, Guizhou, CHINA
| | - Ling Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, 116 Baoshan Road, Guiyang 550001, Guizhou, CHINA
| | - Peng Guo
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forest and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644007, Sichuan, CHINA
| | - Yu Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, 116 Baoshan Road, Guiyang 550001, Guizhou, CHINA
| | - Qin Liu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forest and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin 644007, Sichuan, CHINA
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20
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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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Tsai TS, Wang YM, Tsai IH. Sequence determination and bioinformatic comparison of ten venom serine proteases of Trimeresurus gracilis, a Taiwanese endemic pitviper with controversial taxonomy. Toxicon 2021; 206:28-37. [PMID: 34929211 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.12.014] [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: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trimeresurus gracilis (Tgc) is endemic to Taiwan and shown to be closely related with Ovophis okinavensis by previous phylogenetic analyses, but their taxonomic status remain controversial. Here, we cloned and sequenced ten of its venom serine-proteases (designated as Tgc-vSPs). All the Tgc-vSPs conserve the catalytic triads, six appear to be kallikrein-like (KNs) and four are plasminogen-activator homologs (PAHs and PAs). They are studied under four structural categories: (1) highly similar Tgc-KN1, Tgc-KN2 and Tgc-KN3, with four predicted N-glycosylation sites; (2) Tgc-KN4, with a single N -glycosylation site; (3) Tgc-KN5 and Tgc-KN6, with two distinct N-glycosylation sites; (4) Tgc-PAH1/PAH2, TgcPA3, and Tgc-PA4, with two conserved N-glycosylation sites. Additionally, Tgc-KN1, Tgc-KN4 and Tgc-PAH1 were purified by reversed-phase HPLC and identified by peptide-mass-fingerprinting. Results of BLAST and sequence alignments reveal that Tgc-KN1∼3 and Tgc-KN6 are most like the vSPs of rattlesnakes, while the sequences of Tgc-KN4, KN5 and Tgc-PAH1/PAH2 match closely to the partial sequences of three O. okinavensis vSPs. Thus, our results reveal non-overlapping similarities of Tgc-vSPs to the O. okinavensis vSPs and vSPs of the New World pitvipers. In addition, molecular phylogenetic analyses of the plasminogen-activator like vSPs reveal separate evolution of two clusters of the enzymes with distinct functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tein-Shun Tsai
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ming Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Inn-Ho Tsai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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22
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Mallik AK, Srikanthan AN, Ganesh SR, Vijayakumar SP, Campbell PD, Malhotra A, Shanker K. Resolving pitfalls in pit viper systematics – A multi-criteria approach to species delimitation in pit vipers (Reptilia, Viperidae, Craspedocephalus) of Peninsular India reveals cryptic diversity. VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/vz.71.e66239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Asian pit vipers belonging to the genus Craspedocephalus are a complex group of vipers, distributed in South and Southeast Asia. Their taxonomy is unresolved in many lineages across their distributional range. Here, we reassess the taxonomy and systematics of pit vipers of the genus Craspedocephalus in Peninsular India based on extensive field sampling, in particular in the Western Ghats. We build and expand on the previous findings of genetic relatedness between the peninsular Indian lineages with the Sundaic clade (C. puniceus complex) with greater evidence, based on additional taxa sequenced herein. We reconstruct the phylogeny of the group using three mitochondrial genes and delineated lineages using coalescent species delimitation methods. We then used multiple criteria including genetic divergence and separation in morphological and geographic space to designate taxonomic units. Our work revealed the presence of a South Asian radiation of the clade Craspedocephalus, with a few Sundaic members. Our study reveals the systematic relationships of four Peninsular Indian species of Craspedocephalus, including Peltopelor macrolepis and C. strigatus, sequenced here for the first time, that are classified or confirmed as members of Craspedocephalus. Hence, we place the genus Peltopelor in the synonymy of Craspedocephalus. Using our multi-criteria approach, we delimit four new cryptic evolutionary lineages within the Western Ghats escarpment of Peninsular India. These cryptic lineages belong to the C. malabaricus, C. gramineus and C. macrolepis complexes and are geographically and/or ecologically (in terms of habitat association) distinct from their sister lineages across their distributional range, while others are separated in morphological space. Our new phylogenetic tree and delimitation analysis thus reveals the presence of multiple clades with several cryptic lineages separated by geographical barriers or habitat association.
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23
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Yong MY, Tan KY, Tan CH. Potential para-specific and geographical utility of Thai Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) Monovalent Antivenom: Neutralization of procoagulant and hemorrhagic activities of diverse Trimeresurus pit viper venoms. Toxicon 2021; 203:85-92. [PMID: 34600909 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Trimeresurus complex consists of diverse medically important venomous pit vipers that cause snakebite envenomation. Antivenoms, however, are in limited supply, and are specific to only two out of the many species across Asia. This study thus investigated the immunoreactivities of regional pit viper antivenoms toward selected Trimeresurus pit viper venoms, and examined the neutralization of their hemotoxic activities. Trimeresurus albolabris Monovalent Antivenom (TaMAV, Thailand) exhibited a higher immunoreactivity than Hemato Bivalent Antivenom (HBAV, raised against Trimeresurus stejnegeri and Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, Taiwan) and Gloydius brevicaudus Monovalent Antivenom (GbMAV, China), attributed to its monovalent nature and conserved antigens in the Trimeresurus pit viper venoms. The venoms showed moderate-to-strong in vitro procoagulant and in vivo hemorrhagic effects consistent with hemotoxic envenomation, except for the Sri Lankan Trimeresurus trigonocephalus venom which lacked hemorrhagic activity. TaMAV was able to differentially neutralize both in vitro and in vivo hemotoxic effects of the venoms, with the lowest efficacy shown against the procoagulant effect of T. trigonocephalus venom. The findings suggest that TaMAV is a potentially useful treatment for envenomation caused by hetero-specific Trimeresurus pit vipers, in particular those in Southeast Asia and East Asia. Clinical study is warranted to establish its spectrum of para-specific effectiveness, and dosages need be tailored to the different species in respective regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mun Yee Yong
- Venom Research and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kae Yi Tan
- Protein and Interactomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Choo Hock Tan
- Venom Research and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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24
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Okamoto T, Tsukamoto S, Kuro-O M, Kuriyama T, Motokawa M. Complex Historical Biogeography of the Eastern Japanese Skink, Plestiodon finitimus (Scincidae, Squamata), Revealed by Geographic Variation in Molecular and Morphological Characters. Zoolog Sci 2021; 38:148-161. [PMID: 33812354 DOI: 10.2108/zs200051] [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: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the geographic diversification of Plestiodon finitimus, which occurs in the central to northern parts of the Japanese Islands, based on a time-calibrated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny and external morphological characters. The mtDNA phylogeny suggests that P. finitimus diverged from its sister species Plestiodon japonicus in western Japan 2.82-4.63 million years ago (MYA), which can be explained by geographic isolation due to the spread of sedimentary basins in the Pliocene. The primary intraspecific divergence was that between P. finitimus lineages in central and northeastern Japan 1.58-2.76 MYA, which could have been caused by the upliftings of major mountain ranges. In the northeastern lineage, mtDNA and morphological characters suggest a geographic differentiation between sub-lineages of the northwestern Tohoku District (α) and other areas (β). Although the sub-lineage β occurs in a disjunct geographic range, consisting of Hokkaido and the central to south of Tohoku, these areas are bridged by populations with intermediate characteristics along the Pacific side of northern Tohoku. Overall, the geographic variation in P. finitimus in northern Japan can be explained by an initial allopatric divergence of the sub-lineages α and β at 0.71-1.39 MYA, a recent northward expansion of the sub-lineage β, and subsequent secondary introgressive hybridization between the sub-lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taku Okamoto
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan,
| | - Seita Tsukamoto
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.,Chuo 2-830-11 Buroke-do 201, Higashiyamato City, Tokyo 207-0015, Japan
| | - Masaki Kuro-O
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki City, Aomori 036-8561, Japan
| | - Takeo Kuriyama
- Institute of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Hyogo, Aogaki-cho, Tanba City, Hyogo 669-3842, Japan.,Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo, Aogaki-cho, Tanba City, Hyogo 669-3842, Japan
| | - Masaharu Motokawa
- The Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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25
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Diversity and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Caramoan Island Group, Maqueda Channel, Southern Luzon, Philippines. JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC BIODIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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26
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Fukuyama I, Vogel G, Matsui M, Eto K, Munir M, Hossman MY, Hamidy A, Nishikawa K. Systematics of Calliophis intestinalis with the Resurrection of Calliophis nigrotaeniatus (Elapidae, Serpentes). Zoolog Sci 2021; 37:586-594. [PMID: 33269875 DOI: 10.2108/zs200100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The red-bellied form of Calliophis intestinalis (Laurenti, 1768) sensu lato was originally reported from Pahang, west Malaysia. To determine the taxonomic status of this form, we examined the type specimens of Elaps sumatranus Lidth De Jeude, 1890, Calliophis intestinalis everetti (Boulenger, 1896), and Callophis furcatus var. nigrotaeniatus Peters, 1863. The results indicated that the red-bellied form of C. intestinalis should be named as Calliophis nigrotaeniatus comb. nov., whose valid species status was based on morphological and molecular analyses. We designate a lectotype and redescribe the species, which is genetically close to Calliophis bilineatus (Peters, 1881) from the Philippines, and is clearly distinguishable from other congeners by possessing a pair of gray or dark blue lateral stripes and by being bright red on the ventrum. Elaps sumatranus and C. i. everetti are relegated to subjective junior synonyms of C. nigrotaeniatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibuki Fukuyama
- Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Nihonmatsu, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan,
| | - Gernot Vogel
- Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology, Im Sand 3, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Masafumi Matsui
- Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Nihonmatsu, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Koshiro Eto
- Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History & Human History, Higashida 2-4-1, Yahatahigashi, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 805-0071, Japan
| | - Misbahul Munir
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Mohamad Yazid Hossman
- Research, Development and Innovation Division, Sarawak Forest Department, Kuching 93250, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Amir Hamidy
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong 16911, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Kanto Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Nihonmatsu, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.,Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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27
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Toxicity and cross-neutralization of snake venoms from two lesser-known arboreal pit vipers in Southeast Asia: Trimeresurus wiroti and Trimeresurus puniceus. Toxicon 2020; 185:91-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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28
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Proteomics and preclinical antivenom neutralization of the mangrove pit viper (Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus, Malaysia) and white-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris, Thailand) venoms. Acta Trop 2020; 209:105528. [PMID: 32442435 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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29
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Mirza ZA, Bhosale HS, Phansalkar PU, Sawant M, Gowande GG, Patel H. A new species of green pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 (Reptilia, Serpentes, Viperidae) from western Arunachal Pradesh, India. ZOOSYST EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/zse.96.48431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A new species of green pit vipers of the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède, 1804 is described from the lowlands of western Arunachal Pradesh state of India. The new species, Trimeresurus salazar, is a member of the subgenus Trimeresurus, a relationship deduced contingent on two mitochondrial genes, 16S and ND4, and recovered as sister to Trimeresurus septentrionalis Kramer, 1977. The new species differs from the latter in bearing an orange to reddish stripe running from the lower border of the eye to the posterior part of the head in males, higher number of pterygoid and dentary teeth, and a short, bilobed hemipenis. Description of the new species and T. arunachalensis Captain, Deepak, Pandit, Bhatt & Athreya, 2019 from northeastern India in a span of less than one year highlights the need for dedicated surveys to document biodiversity across northeastern India.
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30
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Li JN, Liang D, Wang YY, Guo P, Huang S, Zhang P. A large-scale systematic framework of Chinese snakes based on a unified multilocus marker system. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 148:106807. [PMID: 32268200 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Snakes are one of the most diverse groups of terrestrial vertebrates, with approximately 3500 extant species. A robust phylogeny and taxonomy of snakes is crucial for us to know, study and protect them. For a large group such as snakes, broad-scale phylogenetic reconstructions largely rely on data integration. Increasing the compatibility of the data from different researches is thus important, which can be facilitated by standardization of the loci used in systematic analyses. In this study, we proposed a unified multilocus marker system for snake systematics by conflating 5 mitochondrial markers, 19 vertebrate-universal nuclear protein coding (NPC) markers and 72 snake-specific noncoding intron markers. This marker system is an addition to the large squamate conserved locus set (SqCL) for studies preferring a medium-scale data set. We applied this marker system to over 440 snake samples and constructed the currently most comprehensive systematic framework of the snakes in China. Robust snake phylogenetic relationships were recovered at both deep and shallow evolutionary depths, demonstrating the usefulness of this multilocus marker system. Discordance was revealed by a parallel comparison between the snake tree based on the multilocus marker system and that based on only the mitochondrial loci, highlighting the necessity of using multiple types of markers to better understand the snake evolutionary histories. The divergence times of different snake groups were estimated with the nuclear data set. Our comprehensive snake tree not only confirms many important nodes inferred in previous studies but also contributes new insights into many snake phylogenetic relationships. Suggestions are made for the current Chinese snake taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Ni Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Guo
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
| | - Song Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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31
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Natusch DJ, Esquerré D, Lyons JA, Hamidy A, Lemmon AR, Moriarty Lemmon E, Riyanto A, Keogh JS, Donnellan S. Species delimitation and systematics of the green pythons (Morelia viridis complex) of melanesia and Australia. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 142:106640. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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32
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Debono J, Bos MHA, Do MS, Fry BG. Clinical implications of coagulotoxic variations in Mamushi (Viperidae: Gloydius) snake venoms. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 225:108567. [PMID: 31306806 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Snake bite is currently one of the most neglected tropical diseases affecting much of the developing world. Asian pit vipers are responsible for a considerable amount of envenomations annually and bites can cause a multitude of clinical complications resulting from coagulopathic and neuropathic effects. While intense research has been undertaken for some species of Asian pit viper, functional coagulopathic effects have been neglected for others. We investigated their effects upon the human clotting cascade using venoms of four species of Gloydius and Ovophis okinavensis, a species closely to Gloydius. All species of included within this investigation displayed varying fibrinogenolytic effects, resulting in a net anticoagulant outcome. Gloydius saxatilis and Gloydius ussuriensis displayed the most variable effects from differing localities, sampled from Russia and Korea. As this Gloydius investigation includes some geographical variation, notable results indicate key variations of these species that point to possible limitations in antivenom cross-reactivities, which may have implications for the clinical care of victims envenomed by these snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Debono
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Mettine H A Bos
- Division of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Einthoven Laboratory for Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Min Seock Do
- Animal Ecology Lab, Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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33
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Debono J, Bos MHA, Frank N, Fry B. Clinical implications of differential antivenom efficacy in neutralising coagulotoxicity produced by venoms from species within the arboreal viperid snake genus Trimeresurus. Toxicol Lett 2019; 316:35-48. [PMID: 31509773 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Snake envenomation globally is attributed to an ever-increasing human population encroaching into snake territories. Responsible for many bites in Asia is the widespread genus Trimeresurus. While bites lead to haemorrhage, only a few species have had their venoms examined in detail. We found that Trimeresurus venom causes haemorrhaging by cleaving fibrinogen in a pseudo-procoagulation manner to produce weak, unstable, short-lived fibrin clots ultimately resulting in an overall anticoagulant effect due to fibrinogen depletion. The monovalent antivenom 'Thai Red Cross Green Pit Viper antivenin', varied in efficacy ranging from excellent neutralisation of T. albolabris venom through to T. gumprechti and T. mcgregori being poorly neutralised and T. hageni being unrecognised by the antivenom. While the results showing excellent neutralisation of some non-T. albolabris venoms (such as T. flavomaculaturs, T. fucatus, and T. macrops) needs to be confirmed with in vivo tests, conversely the antivenom failure T. hageni, and the very poor results against T. gumprechti and T. mcgregori, despite being conducted in the ideal scenario of preincubation of antivenom:venom, indicates that the likelihood of clinically relevant cross-reactivity for these species is low (T. gumprechti and T. mcgregori) to non-existent (T. hageni). These same latter three species were also not inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor AEBSF, suggesting that the toxins leading to a coagulotoxic effect in these species are non-serine proteases while in contrast T. albolabris coagulotoxicity was completely impeded by AEBSF, and thus driven by kallikrein-type serine proteases. There was a conspicuous lack of phylogenetic pattern in venom variation, with the most potent venoms (T. albolabris and T. hageni) being distant to each other on the organismal tree, and with the three most divergent and poorly neutralised venoms (T. gumprechti, T. hageni, and T. mcgregori) were also not each others closest relatives. This reinforces the paradigm that the fundamental dynamic evolution of venom results in organismal phylogeny being a poor predictor of venom potency or antivenom efficacy. This study provides a robust investigation on the differential venom effects from a wide range of Trimeresurus species on coagulation, highlighting differential fibrinogenolytic effects, while also investigating the relative antivenom neutralisation capabilities of the widely available Thai Red Cross Green Pit Viper antivenom. These results therefore have immediate, real-world implications for patients envenomed by Trimeresurus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Debono
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mettine H A Bos
- Division of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Einthoven Laboratory for Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Bryan Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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34
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Reilly SB, Stubbs AL, Karin BR, Arida E, Iskandar DT, McGuire JA. Recent colonization and expansion through the Lesser Sundas by seven amphibian and reptile species. ZOOL SCR 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean B. Reilly
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley California USA
| | - Alexander L. Stubbs
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley California USA
| | - Benjamin R. Karin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley California USA
| | - Evy Arida
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Cibinong Indonesia
| | - Djoko T. Iskandar
- School of Life Sciences and Technology Institut Teknologi Bandung Bandung Indonesia
| | - Jimmy A. McGuire
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley California USA
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35
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Ozverel CS, Damm M, Hempel BF, Göçmen B, Sroka R, Süssmuth RD, Nalbantsoy A. Investigating the cytotoxic effects of the venom proteome of two species of the Viperidae family (Cerastes cerastes and Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus) from various habitats. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 220:20-30. [PMID: 30825636 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Animal secretions are of great interest in terms of drug development due to their complex protein and peptide composition. Especially, in the field of therapeutic medications such as anti-cancer drugs snake venoms receive attention. In this study, we address two Viperidae species from various habitats with a particular focus on the cytotoxic potential along with the decomplexation of the venom proteome: the horned desert viper (Cerastes cerastes), native to desert regions of North Africa and the mangrove pit viper (Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus), found in coastal forests of Southeast Asia. Initial cytotoxic screenings of the crude venoms revealed diverse activity, with the highest effect against SHSY5Y human glioblastoma carcinoma cells compared to other cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. In-depth cytotoxicity studies of SHSY5Y cells with purified venom fractions revealed heterodimeric disintegrins from C. cerastes venom, which exerted a high cytotoxic activity with IC50 values from 0.11 to 0.58 μM and a disintegrin-like effect on SHSY5Y morphology was observed due to cell detachment. Furthermore, two polyproline BPP-related peptides, one PLA2 and a peptide-rich fraction were determined for C. purpureomaculatus with moderate IC50 values between 3 and 51 μM. Additionally, the decryption of the venom proteomes by snake venomic mass spectrometry and comparison of the same species from different habitats revealed slight differences in the composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cenk Serhan Ozverel
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Maik Damm
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Bayram Göçmen
- Zoology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Robert Sroka
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Roderich D Süssmuth
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ayse Nalbantsoy
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey.
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Jones BK, Saviola AJ, Reilly SB, Stubbs AL, Arida E, Iskandar DT, McGuire JA, Yates JR, Mackessy SP. Venom Composition in a Phenotypically Variable Pit Viper ( Trimeresurus insularis) across the Lesser Sunda Archipelago. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:2206-2220. [PMID: 30958009 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The genus Trimeresurus comprises a group of venomous pitvipers endemic to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Of these, Trimeresurus insularis, the White-lipped Island Pitviper, is a nocturnal, arboreal species that occurs on nearly every major island of the Lesser Sunda archipelago. In the current study, venom phenotypic characteristics of T. insularis sampled from eight Lesser Sunda Islands (Flores, Lembata, Lombok, Pantar, Sumba, Sumbawa, Timor, and Wetar) were evaluated via SDS-PAGE, enzymatic activity assays, fibrinogenolytic assays, gelatin zymography, and RP-HPLC, and the Sumbawa sample was characterized by venomic analysis. For additional comparative analyses, venoms were also examined from several species in the Trimeresurus complex, including T. borneensis, T. gramineus, T. puniceus, T. purpureomaculatus, T. stejnegeri, and Protobothrops flavoviridis. Despite the geographical isolation, T. insularis venoms from all eight islands demonstrated remarkable similarities in gel electrophoretic profiles and RP-HPLC patterns, and all populations had protein bands in the mass ranges of phosphodiesterases (PDE), l-amino acid oxidases (LAAO), P-III snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP), serine proteases, cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP), phospholipases A2 (PLA2), and C-type lectins. An exception was observed in the Lombok sample, which lacked protein bands in the mass range of serine protease and CRISP. Venomic analysis of the Sumbawa venom also identified these protein families, in addition to several proteins of lesser abundance (<1%), including glutaminyl cyclase, aminopeptidase, PLA2 inhibitor, phospholipase B, cobra venom factor, 5'-nucleotidase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and hyaluronidase. All T. insularis venoms exhibited similarities in thrombin-like and PDE activities, while significant differences were observed for LAAO, SVMP, and kallikrein-like activities, though these differences were only observed for a few islands. Slight but noticeable differences were also observed with fibrinogen and gelatin digestion activities. Trimeresurus insularis venoms exhibited overall similarity to the other Trimeresurus complex species examined, with the exception of P. flavoviridis venom, which showed the greatest overall differentiation. Western blot analysis revealed that all major T. insularis venom proteins were recognized by Green Pitviper ( T. albolabris) antivenom, and reactivity was also seen with most venom proteins of the other Trimeresurus species, but incomplete antivenom-venom recognition was observed against P. flavoviridis venom proteins. These results demonstrate significant conservation in the venom composition of T. insularis across the Lesser Sunda archipelago relative to the other Trimeresurus species examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Kathryn Jones
- School of Biological Sciences , University of Northern Colorado , 501 20th Street, CB 92 , Greeley , Colorado 80639-0017 , United States
| | - Anthony J Saviola
- School of Biological Sciences , University of Northern Colorado , 501 20th Street, CB 92 , Greeley , Colorado 80639-0017 , United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Sean B Reilly
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology , University of California , 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building , Berkeley , California 94720-3160 , United States
| | - Alexander L Stubbs
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology , University of California , 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building , Berkeley , California 94720-3160 , United States
| | - Evy Arida
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense , Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) , Jalan Raya Bogor-Jakarta Km. 46 , Cibinong 16911 , Indonesia
| | - Djoko T Iskandar
- School of Life Sciences and Technology , Institut Teknologi Bandung , 10, Jalan Ganesa , Bandung , Java 40132 , Indonesia
| | - Jimmy A McGuire
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology , University of California , 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building , Berkeley , California 94720-3160 , United States
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology , The Scripps Research Institute , 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Stephen P Mackessy
- School of Biological Sciences , University of Northern Colorado , 501 20th Street, CB 92 , Greeley , Colorado 80639-0017 , United States
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Hill N. Description of cranial elements and ontogenetic change within Tropidolaemus wagleri (Serpentes: Crotalinae). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0206023. [PMID: 30785876 PMCID: PMC6382112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropidolaemus wagleri is a species of Asian pitviper with a geographic range including Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Bruniei, parts of Indonesia, and the Philippines. Tropidolaemus is a member of the Crotalinae subfamily, within Viperidae. The genus Tropidolaemus includes five species, and was once included within the genus Trimeresurus. While some osteologic characteristics have been noted a comprehensive description of cranial elements has not been produced for T. wagleri. An in-depth description of the cranial skeleton of Tropidolaemus wagleri lays the foundation for future projects to compare and contrast other taxa within Crotalinae and Viperidae. The chosen reference specimen was compared to the presumed younger specimens to note any variation in ontogeny. The study here provides a comprehensive description of isolated cranial elements as well as a description of ontogenetic change within the specimens observed. This study contributes to the knowledge of osteological characters in T. wagleri and provides a foundation for a long term project to identify isolated elements in the fossil record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolette Hill
- Department of Geosciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Effects of Heme Modulation on Ovophis and Trimeresurus Venom Activity in Human Plasma. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10080322. [PMID: 30096756 PMCID: PMC6116019 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10080322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Geographic isolation and other factors result in evolution-driven diversity of the enzymatic composition of venom of pit vipers in the same genus. The present investigation sought to characterize venoms obtained from such genetically diverse Ovophis and Trimeresurus pit vipers utilizing thrombelastographic coagulation kinetic analyses. The coagulation kinetics of human plasma were assessed after exposure to venom obtained from two Ovophis and three Trimeresurus species. The potency of each venom was defined (µg/mL required to equivalently change coagulation); additionally, venoms were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) or a metheme-inducing agent to modulate any enzyme-associated heme. All venoms had fibrinogenolytic activity, with four being CO-inhibitable. While Ovophis venoms had similar potency, one demonstrated the presence of a thrombin-like activity, whereas the other demonstrated a thrombin-generating activity. There was a 10-fold difference in potency and 10-fold different vulnerability to CO inhibition between the Trimeresurus species. Metheme formation enhanced fibrinogenolytic-like activity in both Ovophis species venoms, whereas the three Trimeresurus species venoms had fibrinogenolytic-like activity enhanced, inhibited, or not changed. This novel “venom kinetomic” approach has potential to identify clinically relevant enzymatic activity and assess efficacy of antivenoms between genetically and geographically diverse species.
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Tan CH, Liew JL, Tan NH, Ismail AK, Maharani T, Khomvilai S, Sitprija V. Cross reactivity and lethality neutralization of venoms of Indonesian Trimeresurus complex species by Thai Green Pit Viper Antivenom. Toxicon 2017; 140:32-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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A Review and Database of Snake Venom Proteomes. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9090290. [PMID: 28927001 PMCID: PMC5618223 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9090290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 329] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in the last decade combining transcriptomics with established proteomics methods have made possible rapid identification and quantification of protein families in snake venoms. Although over 100 studies have been published, the value of this information is increased when it is collated, allowing rapid assimilation and evaluation of evolutionary trends, geographical variation, and possible medical implications. This review brings together all compositional studies of snake venom proteomes published in the last decade. Compositional studies were identified for 132 snake species: 42 from 360 (12%) Elapidae (elapids), 20 from 101 (20%) Viperinae (true vipers), 65 from 239 (27%) Crotalinae (pit vipers), and five species of non-front-fanged snakes. Approximately 90% of their total venom composition consisted of eight protein families for elapids, 11 protein families for viperines and ten protein families for crotalines. There were four dominant protein families: phospholipase A2s (the most common across all front-fanged snakes), metalloproteases, serine proteases and three-finger toxins. There were six secondary protein families: cysteine-rich secretory proteins, l-amino acid oxidases, kunitz peptides, C-type lectins/snaclecs, disintegrins and natriuretic peptides. Elapid venoms contained mostly three-finger toxins and phospholipase A2s and viper venoms metalloproteases, phospholipase A2s and serine proteases. Although 63 protein families were identified, more than half were present in <5% of snake species studied and always in low abundance. The importance of these minor component proteins remains unknown.
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Andonov K, Natchev N, Kornilev YV, Tzankov N. Does Sexual Selection Influence Ornamentation of Hemipenes in Old World Snakes? Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2017. [PMID: 28622447 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated and documented the morphology of the male copulatory organs (hemipenes) in fifteen wide-ranging snake species. The species represent four families (Boidae, Colubridae, Lamprophiidae, and Viperidae) and ten genera. We applied the same preparation techniques for all species, successfully everting and expanding the organs completely. The detailed description of the general morphology of the male copulatory organs was based on 31 specimens. Our data were compared with published observations and we point out some incorrectly described details in previous investigations. We provide the first description of the hemipenial morphology for three ophidian species (Elaphe sauromates, Telescopus fallax, and Malpolon insignitus). In addition to the morphological characteristics of the hemipenes presented in the research, we propose the adoption of a standardized index describing the hemipenial proportions. The immense variation in hemipenial morphology presupposes its dynamic evolution, but we suggest that many of the significant structures observed here may have escaped previous researchers due to differing methodologies. Some of the highly ornamented morphologies that we describe are consistent with a locking mechanism during copulation. However, other morphologies may relate to the variety of mating behaviors observed. As a result, we propose that sexual selection is the major driver affecting the hemipenial ornamentation in snakes. Anat Rec, 300:1680-1694, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostadin Andonov
- Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Sofia, 1164, Bulgaria
| | - Nikolay Natchev
- Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna University, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.,Faculty of Natural Science, Shumen University, Universitetska 115, Shumen, 9700, Bulgaria
| | - Yurii V Kornilev
- Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna University, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vertebrates Department, National Museum of Natural History, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria
| | - Nikolay Tzankov
- Vertebrates Department, National Museum of Natural History, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria
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Chen C, Lu RS, Zhu SS, Tamaki I, Qiu YX. Population structure and historical demography of Dipteronia dyeriana (Sapindaceae), an extremely narrow palaeoendemic plant from China: implications for conservation in a biodiversity hot spot. Heredity (Edinb) 2017; 119:95-106. [PMID: 28379211 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2017.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Inferring past demography is a central question in evolutionary and conservation biology. It is, however, sometimes challenging to disentangle their roles of contemporary versus historical processes in shaping the current patterns of genetic variation in endangered species. In this study, we used both chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) loci and nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) loci to assess the levels of genetic differentiation, genetic effective population size, contemporary/historical levels of gene flow and demographic history for five populations sampled across the range of Dipteronia dyeriana, an endangered palaeoendemism from Southwestern China. We found that D. dyeriana had a mixed pattern of moderate genetic diversity and high inbreeding. Bayesian clustering divided D. dyeriana populations into two nSSR genetic clusters. Coalescent-based approximate Bayesian computation analyses suggest the western and eastern groups of D. dyeriana likely persisted in a long-term refuge in Southern China since the beginning of the last glacial period, whereas increasingly colder and arid climates at the onset of the last glacial maximum might have fostered the fragmentation of D. dyeriana within refugia. Following their divergence, the western group kept relatively stable effective population size, whereas the eastern group had experienced 500-fold population expansion during the Holocene. Although clear loss of genetic diversity by human activities was not suggested, recent habitat fragmentation has led to a reduction of population connectivity and increased genetic differentiation by ongoing genetic drift in isolated populations, possibly owing to decreased population size in recent dozen years. Finally, we discussed the implications of these results on conservation policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chen
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.,College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - R S Lu
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - S S Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - I Tamaki
- Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture, Mino, Japan
| | - Y X Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of the Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Venomics of Tropidolaemus wagleri, the sexually dimorphic temple pit viper: Unveiling a deeply conserved atypical toxin arsenal. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43237. [PMID: 28240232 PMCID: PMC5327433 DOI: 10.1038/srep43237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropidolaemus wagleri (temple pit viper) is a medically important snake in Southeast Asia. It displays distinct sexual dimorphism and prey specificity, however its venomics and inter-sex venom variation have not been thoroughly investigated. Applying reverse-phase HPLC, we demonstrated that the venom profiles were not significantly affected by sex and geographical locality (Peninsular Malaya, insular Penang, insular Sumatra) of the snakes. Essentially, venoms of both sexes share comparable intravenous median lethal dose (LD50) (0.56-0.63 μg/g) and cause neurotoxic envenomation in mice. LCMS/MS identified six waglerin forms as the predominant lethal principles, comprising 38.2% of total venom proteins. Fourteen other toxin-protein families identified include phospholipase A2, serine proteinase, snaclec and metalloproteinase. In mice, HPLC fractions containing these proteins showed insignificant contribution to the overall venom lethality. Besides, the unique elution pattern of approximately 34.5% of non-lethal, low molecular mass proteins (3-5 kDa) on HPLC could be potential biomarker for this primitive crotalid species. Together, the study unveiled the venom proteome of T. wagleri that is atypical among many pit vipers as it comprises abundant neurotoxic peptides (waglerins) but little hemotoxic proteinases. The findings also revealed that the venom is relatively well conserved intraspecifically despite the drastic morphological differences between sexes.
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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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45
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Diversification in vipers: Phylogenetic relationships, time of divergence and shifts in speciation rates. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2016; 105:50-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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46
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Taxonomic Status of the Sumatran PitviperTrimeresurus (Popeia) tobaDavid, Petri, Vogel & Doria, 2009 (Squamata: Viperidae) and Other Sunda Shelf Species of the SubgenusPopeia. J HERPETOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1670/15-045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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47
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Laopichienpong N, Muangmai N, Supikamolseni A, Twilprawat P, Chanhome L, Suntrarachun S, Peyachoknagul S, Srikulnath K. Assessment of snake DNA barcodes based on mitochondrial COI and Cytb genes revealed multiple putative cryptic species in Thailand. Gene 2016; 594:238-247. [PMID: 27632899 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
DNA barcodes of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), cytochrome b (Cytb) genes, and their combined data sets were constructed from 35 snake species in Thailand. No barcoding gap was detected in either of the two genes from the observed intra- and interspecific sequence divergences. Intra- and interspecific sequence divergences of the COI gene differed 14 times, with barcode cut-off scores ranging over 2%-4% for threshold values differentiated among most of the different species; the Cytb gene differed 6 times with cut-off scores ranging over 2%-6%. Thirty-five specific nucleotide mutations were also found at interspecific level in the COI gene, identifying 18 snake species, but no specific nucleotide mutation was observed for Cytb in any single species. This suggests that COI barcoding was a better marker than Cytb. Phylogenetic clustering analysis indicated that most species were represented by monophyletic clusters, suggesting that these snake species could be clearly differentiated using COI barcodes. However, the two-marker combination of both COI and Cytb was more effective, differentiating snake species by over 2%-4%, and reducing species numbers in the overlap value between intra- and interspecific divergences. Three species delimitation algorithms (general mixed Yule-coalescent, automatic barcoding gap detection, and statistical parsimony network analysis) were extensively applied to a wide range of snakes based on both barcodes. This revealed cryptic diversity for eleven snake species in Thailand. In addition, eleven accessions from the database previously grouped under the same species were represented at different species level, suggesting either high genetic diversity, or the misidentification of these sequences in the database as a consequence of cryptic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nararat Laopichienpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Arrjaree Supikamolseni
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Panupon Twilprawat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Lawan Chanhome
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sunutcha Suntrarachun
- Department of Research and Development, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Surin Peyachoknagul
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, Thailand (CASTNAR, NRU-KU), Thailand
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, Thailand (CASTNAR, NRU-KU), Thailand.
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Figueroa A, McKelvy AD, Grismer LL, Bell CD, Lailvaux SP. A Species-Level Phylogeny of Extant Snakes with Description of a New Colubrid Subfamily and Genus. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161070. [PMID: 27603205 PMCID: PMC5014348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With over 3,500 species encompassing a diverse range of morphologies and ecologies, snakes make up 36% of squamate diversity. Despite several attempts at estimating higher-level snake relationships and numerous assessments of generic- or species-level phylogenies, a large-scale species-level phylogeny solely focusing on snakes has not been completed. Here, we provide the largest-yet estimate of the snake tree of life using maximum likelihood on a supermatrix of 1745 taxa (1652 snake species + 7 outgroup taxa) and 9,523 base pairs from 10 loci (5 nuclear, 5 mitochondrial), including previously unsequenced genera (2) and species (61). RESULTS Increased taxon sampling resulted in a phylogeny with a new higher-level topology and corroborate many lower-level relationships, strengthened by high nodal support values (> 85%) down to the species level (73.69% of nodes). Although the majority of families and subfamilies were strongly supported as monophyletic with > 88% support values, some families and numerous genera were paraphyletic, primarily due to limited taxon and loci sampling leading to a sparse supermatrix and minimal sequence overlap between some closely-related taxa. With all rogue taxa and incertae sedis species eliminated, higher-level relationships and support values remained relatively unchanged, except in five problematic clades. CONCLUSION Our analyses resulted in new topologies at higher- and lower-levels; resolved several previous topological issues; established novel paraphyletic affiliations; designated a new subfamily, Ahaetuliinae, for the genera Ahaetulla, Chrysopelea, Dendrelaphis, and Dryophiops; and appointed Hemerophis (Coluber) zebrinus to a new genus, Mopanveldophis. Although we provide insight into some distinguished problematic nodes, at the deeper phylogenetic scale, resolution of these nodes may require sampling of more slowly-evolving nuclear genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Figueroa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Alexander D. McKelvy
- Department of Biology, The Graduate School and Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biology, 6S-143, College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY, United States of America
| | - L. Lee Grismer
- Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, CA, United States of America
| | - Charles D. Bell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Simon P. Lailvaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
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Carrasco PA, Venegas PJ, Chaparro JC, Scrocchi GJ. Nomenclatural instability in the venomous snakes of the Bothrops complex: Implications in toxinology and public health. Toxicon 2016; 119:122-8. [PMID: 27242040 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Since nomenclature is intended to reflect the evolutionary history of organisms, advances in our understanding of historical relationships may lead to changes in classification, and thus potentially in taxonomic instability. An unstable nomenclature for medically important animals like venomous snakes is of concern, and its implications in venom/antivenom research and snakebite treatment have been extensively discussed since the 90´s. The taxonomy of the pitvipers of the Bothrops complex has been historically problematic and different genus-level rearrangements were proposed to rectify the long-standing paraphyly of the group. Here we review the toxinological literature on the Bothrops complex to estimate the impact of recent proposals of classification in non-systematic research. This assessment revealed moderate levels of nomenclatural instability in the last five years, and the recurrence of some practices discussed in previous studies regarding the use of classifications and the information provided about the origin of venom samples. We briefly comment on a few examples and the implications of different proposals of classifications for the Bothrops complex. The aim of this review is to contribute to the reduction of adverse effects of current taxonomic instability in a group of medical importance in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Andrea Carrasco
- Centro de Zoología Aplicada, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Rondeau 798, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Pablo Javier Venegas
- División de Herpetología, Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), Santa Rita, 10536, Of. 202, Huertos de San Antonio, Surco, Lima, Perú
| | - Juan Carlos Chaparro
- Departamento de Herpetología del Museo de Historia Natural del Cusco, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Plaza de Armas del Cusco s/n, Cusco, Perú
| | - Gustavo José Scrocchi
- CONICET and Instituto de Herpetología, Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
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50
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Guo P, Liu Q, Zhu F, Zhong GH, Chen X, Myers EA, Che J, Zhang L, Ziegler T, Nguyen TQ, Burbrink FT. Complex longitudinal diversification across South China and Vietnam in Stejneger's pit viper,Viridovipera stejnegeri(Schmidt, 1925) (Reptilia: Serpentes: Viperidae). Mol Ecol 2016; 25:2920-36. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Guo
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering; Yibin University; Yibin 644007 China
| | - Qin Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering; Yibin University; Yibin 644007 China
| | - Fei Zhu
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering; Yibin University; Yibin 644007 China
| | - Guang H. Zhong
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering; Yibin University; Yibin 644007 China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences; Dartmouth College; Hanover NH 03755 USA
| | - Edward A. Myers
- Department of Biology; The Graduate School and University Center; The City University of New York; 365 5th Avenue New York NY 10016 USA
| | - Jing Che
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals; Kunming Institute of Zoology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming 650223 China
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Menglun Mengla Yunnan 666303 China
| | - Liang Zhang
- South China Institute of Endangered Animals; Guangzhou 510260 China
| | - Thomas Ziegler
- AG Zoologischer Garten Köln; Riehler Strasse 173 D-50735 Cologne Germany
| | - Truong Q. Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Street Hanoi Vietnam
| | - Frank T. Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology; American Museum of Natural History; Central Park West at 79th Street New York NY 10024-5192 USA
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