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Lajoye Q, Bouaoud M, Le Roux G, Weinmann L, Labadie M, Larréché S. Paraspecificity of Mexican antivipmyn TRI antivenom in envenomation by Chinese Protobothrops mangshanensis (Mangshan pit viper) in France: A case report and experimental neutralization of venom procoagulant effect. Toxicon 2024; 247:107826. [PMID: 38909759 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107826] [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: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
This case report presents an exotic envenomation by a Chinese snake, Protobothrops mangshanensis. Its venom exhibited potent activity against plasma and fibrinogen, among other enzymatic activities. The patient initially presented with edema of the right upper limb, without tissue necrosis. There were no signs of bleeding; however, severe hypofibrinogenemia was observed (nadir value at 0.4 g/L), with a marked increase in fibrinogen degradation products and D-dimers, without any other coagulation disturbances. In the absence of a specific antivenom available against Asian Crotalinae venoms, the patient was treated at the 29th hour after bite with six vials of Antivipmyn™ TRI (Instituto Bioclon, Mexico, Mexico), a Mexican antivenom initially intended for American Crotalinae venoms, i.e., Bothrops asper, Lachesis muta and Crotalus durissus. Fibrinogen began to rise 6 hours after the antivenom infusion and was within the normal range 38 hours later. The report also underscores the utility of ClotPro® (Haemonetics ®USA), a viscoelastic test, for real-time monitoring of the snakebite-related coagulopathy. The clotting time was extended to 188 seconds on the EX-test while the MCF was decreased to 31 mm on the EX-test and the AP-test and was not measurable on the FIB-test, confirming severe hypofibrinogenemia. In order to confirm the paraspecificity of antivenom on the venom of P. mangshanensis, we studied the experimental neutralization of the venom procoagulant effect by Antivipmyn TRI and Green Pit Viper antivenom, which has been used in previous published clinical cases of P. mangshanensis envenomation. Both Antivipmyn™ TRI and Green Pit Viper antivenom corrected the procoagulant effect induced by P. mangshanensis venom. These findings suggest that Antivipmyn™ TRI cross-reacts with Protobothrops mangshanensis venom. In the absence of antivenom covering Asian Crotalinae, Antivipmyn TRI should be considered to treat an envenomation by Protobothrops spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Lajoye
- Service de Réanimation Médicale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Misylias Bouaoud
- Service de Réanimation Médicale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Gaël Le Roux
- Centre Antipoison et Toxicovigilance Grand Ouest, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Angers, 4 rue Larrey 49 933, Angers, France.
| | - Laurent Weinmann
- Service d'hématologie Biologique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Bordeaux, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, 1 Avenue Magellan, 33604, PESSAC, France.
| | - Magali Labadie
- Centre Antipoison et de Toxicovigilance De Nouvelle Aquitaine, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Bordeaux, Hôpital Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33000, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Sébastien Larréché
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Hôpital d'instruction des Armées Bégin, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160, Saint-Mandé, France, UMR-S1144, Université Paris Cité, 4 Avenue de l'observatoire, 75006, Paris, France.
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Dufresnes C, Ghielmi S, Halpern B, Martínez-Freiría F, Mebert K, Jelić D, Crnobrnja-Isailović J, Gippner S, Jablonski D, Joger U, Laddaga L, Petrovan S, Tomović L, Vörös J, İğci N, Kariş M, Zinenko O, Ursenbacher S. Phylogenomic insights into the diversity and evolution of Palearctic vipers. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 197:108095. [PMID: 38729384 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108095] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Despite decades of molecular research, phylogenetic relationships in Palearctic vipers (genus Vipera) still essentially rely on a few loci, such as mitochondrial barcoding genes. Here we examined the diversity and evolution of Vipera with ddRAD-seq data from 33 representative species and subspecies. Phylogenomic analyses of ∼ 1.1 Mb recovered nine major clades corresponding to known species/species complexes which are generally consistent with the mitochondrial phylogeny, albeit with a few deep discrepancies that highlight past hybridization events. The most spectacular case is the Italian-endemic V. walser, which is grouped with the alpine genetic diversity of V. berus in the nuclear tree despite carrying a divergent mitogenome related to the Caucasian V. kaznakovi complex. Clustering analyses of SNPs suggest potential admixture between diverged Iberian taxa (V. aspis zinnikeri and V. seoanei), and confirm that the Anatolian V. pontica corresponds to occasional hybrids between V. (ammodytes) meridionalis and V. kaznakovi. Finally, all analyzed lineages of the V. berus complex (including V. walser and V. barani) form vast areas of admixture and may be delimited as subspecies. Our study sets grounds for future taxonomic and phylogeographic surveys on Palearctic vipers, a group of prime interest for toxinological, ecological, biogeographic and conservation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Dufresnes
- Laboratory for Amphibian Systematics and Evolutionary Research, College of Biology & the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China; Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE-PSL, Université des Antilles, Paris, France.
| | | | - Bálint Halpern
- MME Birdlife Hungary, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; HUN-REN - ELTE - MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fernando Martínez-Freiría
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Konrad Mebert
- Global Biology, 5242 Birr, Switzerland; Institute of Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Dusan Jelić
- Croatian Institute for Biodiversity, BIOTA Ltd, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia; Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research « S. Stanković », University of Belgrade - National Institute for Republic of Serbia, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sven Gippner
- Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstr. 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daniel Jablonski
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ulrich Joger
- State Museum of Natural History, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Laddaga
- Società di Scienze Naturali del Verbano Cusio Ossola, Museo di Scienze Naturali, Collegio Mellerio Rosmini, Domodossola, Italy
| | - Silviu Petrovan
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Ljiljana Tomović
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Judit Vörös
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Naşit İğci
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Arts, Nevşehir Haci Bektaş Veli University, 50300 Nevşehir, Türkiye
| | - Mert Kariş
- Laboratory Technology Program, Acıgöl Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Nevşehir Haci Bektaş Veli University, 50300 Nevşehir, Türkiye
| | | | - Sylvain Ursenbacher
- info fauna - Karch, University of Neuchâtel, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg Kuno u. 3, 8237 Tihany, Hungary.
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Weinell JL, Burbrink FT, Das S, Brown RM. Novel phylogenomic inference and 'Out of Asia' biogeography of cobras, coral snakes and their allies. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240064. [PMID: 39113776 PMCID: PMC11303032 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Estimation of evolutionary relationships among lineages that rapidly diversified can be challenging, and, in such instances, inaccurate or unresolved phylogenetic estimates can lead to erroneous conclusions regarding historical geographical ranges of lineages. One example underscoring this issue has been the historical challenge posed by untangling the biogeographic origin of elapoid snakes, which includes numerous dangerously venomous species as well as species not known to be dangerous to humans. The worldwide distribution of this lineage makes it an ideal group for testing hypotheses related to historical faunal exchanges among the many continents and other landmasses occupied by contemporary elapoid species. We developed a novel suite of genomic resources, included worldwide sampling, and inferred a robust estimate of evolutionary relationships, which we leveraged to quantitatively estimate geographical range evolution through the deep-time history of this remarkable radiation. Our phylogenetic and biogeographical estimates of historical ranges definitively reject a lingering former 'Out of Africa' hypothesis and support an 'Out of Asia' scenario involving multiple faunal exchanges between Asia, Africa, Australasia, the Americas and Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L. Weinell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS66045, USA
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY10024, USA
| | - Frank T. Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY10024, USA
| | - Sunandan Das
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki00014, Finland
| | - Rafe M. Brown
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS66045, USA
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Kant A, Ng M, Tan MJE, R APP. Successful use of anti-venom cross-neutralization effects in the clinical management of Shore Pit Viper envenomation. Am J Emerg Med 2024:S0735-6757(24)00365-6. [PMID: 39097519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As the landscape becomes more urbanized, snakebites have increasingly become uncommon presentations to the emergency departments in Singapore, while snakebites causing significant envenomation are even rarer. In this case report, we discuss a 55-year-old man who had significant envenomation from a Shore Pit Viper (Trimeresurus Purpureomaculatus) and who was successfully treated with haemato-toxic polyvalent antivenom (HPAV). He initially presented with pain, swelling and bleeding over his wound. Due to a deterioration in his coagulation profile, he was given two doses of HPAV which is typically reserved for viperid snakes instead. Following administration of the anti-venom, the patient's coagulation profile improved, and the local soft tissue effects of the venom resolved. He did not manifest any adverse effects and was discharged uneventfully about 72 h after the snakebite. The cross-neutralization potential of HPAV for Shore Pit Viper (Trimeresurus Purpureomaculatus) venom in this case study suggests that there may be a possible common underlying chemical structure and pathophysiology among the venom proteins of various snake species. Given that Trimeresurus-specific antivenom is unavailable in most countries, this cross-neutralization strategy deserves further consideration and evaluation in similar circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay Kant
- Accident & Emergency Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore; Sing Health Cluster Toxicology Service, Singapore.
| | - Mingwei Ng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Sing Health Cluster Toxicology Service, Singapore
| | - Ming Jing Elizabeth Tan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Sing Health Cluster Toxicology Service, Singapore
| | - Assoc Prof Ponampalam R
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Sing Health Cluster Toxicology Service, Singapore
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Bekešová B, Petrilla V, Polláková M, Andrejčáková Z, Vlčková R, Dyba B, Sopková D, Petrillová M, Petrovová E, Legáth J. A Comparative Analysis of the Cytotoxic and Vascular Activity Effects of Western Diamondback Rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox) and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus) Venoms Using a Chick Embryo Model. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1634. [PMID: 38891681 PMCID: PMC11171291 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111634] [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: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Crotalus snakebites induce various toxicological effects, encompassing neurological, myotoxic, and cytotoxic symptoms, with potentially fatal outcomes. Investigating venom toxicity is essential for public health, and developing new tools allows for these effects to be studied more comprehensively. The research goals include the elucidation of the physiological consequences of venom exposure and the assessment of toxicity using animal models. Chicken embryos serve as valuable models for assessing venom toxicity through the chick embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST) and the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, particularly useful for evaluating vascular impacts. C. adamanteus venom application resulted in higher embryotoxicity and morphological abnormalities, such as Siamese twins. The CAM assay demonstrated the hemorrhagic effects of venom, varying with venom type and concentration. The irritant potential of both venom types was classified as slight or moderate depending on their concentration. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was performed to receive information about organ toxicity. The results show that both venoms induced changes in the whole embryo, heart, and liver weights, but the C. adamanteus venom was identified as more toxic. Specific venom concentrations affected AChE activity in embryonic tissues. These findings underscore the embryotoxic and vasoactive properties of Crotalus venoms, providing valuable insights into their mechanisms of toxicity and potential applications in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Bekešová
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; (V.P.); (M.P.); (Z.A.); (R.V.); (D.S.)
| | - Vladimír Petrilla
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; (V.P.); (M.P.); (Z.A.); (R.V.); (D.S.)
- Zoological Department, Zoological Garden Košice, Široká 31, 040 06 Košice-Kavečany, Slovakia
| | - Magdaléna Polláková
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; (V.P.); (M.P.); (Z.A.); (R.V.); (D.S.)
| | - Zuzana Andrejčáková
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; (V.P.); (M.P.); (Z.A.); (R.V.); (D.S.)
| | - Radoslava Vlčková
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; (V.P.); (M.P.); (Z.A.); (R.V.); (D.S.)
| | - Barbara Dyba
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of the National Education Commission, Podchorążych 2 Street, 30-084 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Drahomíra Sopková
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; (V.P.); (M.P.); (Z.A.); (R.V.); (D.S.)
| | - Monika Petrillová
- Department of General Competencies, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Eva Petrovová
- Department of Morphological Disciplines, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Jaroslav Legáth
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia;
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Chemistry, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
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Myers EA, Rautsaw RM, Borja M, Jones J, Grünwald CI, Holding ML, Grazziotin F, Parkinson CL. Phylogenomic discordance is driven by wide-spread introgression and incomplete lineage sorting during rapid species diversification within rattlesnakes (Viperidae: Crotalus and Sistrurus). Syst Biol 2024:syae018. [PMID: 38695290 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syae018] [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: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Phylogenomics allows us to uncover the historical signal of evolutionary processes through time and estimate phylogenetic networks accounting for these signals. Insight from genome-wide data further allows us to pinpoint the contributions to phylogenetic signal from hybridization, introgression, and ancestral polymorphism across the genome. Here we focus on how these processes have contributed to phylogenetic discordance among rattlesnakes (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus), a group for which there are numerous conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses based on a diverse array of molecular datasets and analytical methods. We address the instability of the rattlesnake phylogeny using genomic data generated from transcriptomes sampled from nearly all known species. These genomic data, analyzed with coalescent and network-based approaches, reveal numerous instances of rapid speciation where individual gene trees conflict with the species tree. Moreover, the evolutionary history of rattlesnakes is dominated by incomplete speciation and frequent hybridization, both of which have likely influenced past interpretations of phylogeny. We present a new framework in which the evolutionary relationships of this group can only be understood in light of genome-wide data and network-based analytical methods. Our data suggest that network radiations, like seen within the rattlesnakes, can only be understood in a phylogenomic context, necessitating similar approaches in our attempts to understand evolutionary history in other rapidly radiating species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Myers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Rhett M Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Miguel Borja
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universdad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, Gómez Palacio, Durango., Mex
| | - Jason Jones
- Herp.mx A.C. C.P. 28989, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico
| | - Christoph I Grünwald
- Herp.mx A.C. C.P. 28989, Villa de Álvarez, Colima, Mexico
- Biodiversa A.C., Avenida de la Ribera #203, C.P. 45900, Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Matthew L Holding
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Felipe Grazziotin
- Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
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Freitas-de-Sousa LA, Colombini M, Souza VC, Silva JPC, Mota-da-Silva A, Almeida MRN, Machado RA, Fonseca WL, Sartim MA, Sachett J, Serrano SMT, Junqueira-de-Azevedo ILM, Grazziotin FG, Monteiro WM, Bernarde PS, Moura-da-Silva AM. Venom Composition of Neglected Bothropoid Snakes from the Amazon Rainforest: Ecological and Toxinological Implications. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:83. [PMID: 38393161 PMCID: PMC10891915 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Snake venoms have evolved in several families of Caenophidae, and their toxins have been assumed to be biochemical weapons with a role as a trophic adaptation. However, it remains unclear how venom contributes to the success of venomous species for adaptation to different environments. Here we compared the venoms from Bothrocophias hyoprora, Bothrops taeniatus, Bothrops bilineatus smaragdinus, Bothrops brazili, and Bothrops atrox collected in the Amazon Rainforest, aiming to understand the ecological and toxinological consequences of venom composition. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicated that the venoms presented the same toxin groups characteristic from bothropoids, but with distinct isoforms with variable qualitative and quantitative abundances, contributing to distinct enzymatic and toxic effects. Despite the particularities of each venom, commercial Bothrops antivenom recognized the venom components and neutralized the lethality of all species. No clear features could be observed between venoms from arboreal and terrestrial habitats, nor in the dispersion of the species throughout the Amazon habitats, supporting the notion that venom composition may not shape the ecological or toxinological characteristics of these snake species and that other factors influence their foraging or dispersal in different ecological niches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mônica Colombini
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (L.A.F.-d.-S.); (M.C.)
| | - Vinicius C. Souza
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (V.C.S.); (J.P.C.S.); (S.M.T.S.); (I.L.M.J.-d.-A.)
| | - Joanderson P. C. Silva
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (V.C.S.); (J.P.C.S.); (S.M.T.S.); (I.L.M.J.-d.-A.)
| | - Ageane Mota-da-Silva
- Instituto Federal do Acre, Campus de Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul 69980-000, AC, Brazil;
| | - Marllus R. N. Almeida
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Acre, Campus Floresta, Cruzeiro do Sul 69895-000, AC, Brazil; (M.R.N.A.); (R.A.M.); (W.L.F.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Reginaldo A. Machado
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Acre, Campus Floresta, Cruzeiro do Sul 69895-000, AC, Brazil; (M.R.N.A.); (R.A.M.); (W.L.F.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Wirven L. Fonseca
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Acre, Campus Floresta, Cruzeiro do Sul 69895-000, AC, Brazil; (M.R.N.A.); (R.A.M.); (W.L.F.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Marco A. Sartim
- Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus 69040-000, AM, Brazil; (M.A.S.); (J.S.); (W.M.M.)
| | - Jacqueline Sachett
- Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus 69040-000, AM, Brazil; (M.A.S.); (J.S.); (W.M.M.)
| | - Solange M. T. Serrano
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (V.C.S.); (J.P.C.S.); (S.M.T.S.); (I.L.M.J.-d.-A.)
| | - Inácio L. M. Junqueira-de-Azevedo
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (V.C.S.); (J.P.C.S.); (S.M.T.S.); (I.L.M.J.-d.-A.)
| | - Felipe G. Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - Wuelton M. Monteiro
- Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus 69040-000, AM, Brazil; (M.A.S.); (J.S.); (W.M.M.)
| | - Paulo S. Bernarde
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Acre, Campus Floresta, Cruzeiro do Sul 69895-000, AC, Brazil; (M.R.N.A.); (R.A.M.); (W.L.F.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Ana M. Moura-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (L.A.F.-d.-S.); (M.C.)
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Sevilla-Sánchez MJ, Guerrero-Vargas JA, Ayerbe-González S, Calderón-Leytón JJ, Lomonte B, Mora-Obando D. Toxinological profile and histopathological alterations induced by Bothrocophias campbelli venom from Colombia. Acta Trop 2024; 250:107094. [PMID: 38101764 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107094] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite envenomings most frequently reported in Colombia are caused by snakes of the genera Bothrops, Bothriechis, Bothrocophias, and Porthidium. Their venoms induce local and systemic pathophysiological effects, sometimes leading to permanent sequelae such as reduced mobility of the limbs, amputations, besides the risk of death. The genus Bothrocophias includes nine species, among which B. campbelli has a distribution restricted to the department of Nariño in Colombia. In this work we determined the toxinological profile its venom, by performing assays for the lethal, hemorrhagic, edematogenic, and myotoxic activities in mouse models, as well as for in vitro coagulant activity on human plasma. The lethal toxicity of the venom was 142.7 µg venom/mouse (111.4-179.8 µg/mouse; 6.6-10.6 µg/g body weight) by intraperitoneal route. Its hemorrhagic activity (minimum hemorrhagic dose: 12.7 ± 2.3 µg) is generally weaker compared to other South American vipers, but edematogenic (minimum edematogenic dose 1.0 ± 0.3 µg), and myotoxic (minimum myotoxic dose 3.9 ± 2.5 µg) activities are very potent. Histopathological examination of the injected mouse gastrocnemius muscle showed prominent disorganization of the myofibrils, myonecrosis, and an intense inflammatory leukocyte infiltrate. In vitro, the minimal coagulant dose was 12.3 ± 0.5 µg. Overall, this toxinological profile would predict that the clinical picture of envenomings by B. campbelli might be characterized by moderate disturbances in the coagulation cascade, mild local hemorrhage, and, conversely, severe myonecrosis and edema, which could potentially lead to compartment syndrome and gangrene.
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Affiliation(s)
- María-José Sevilla-Sánchez
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Evolutiva, Universidad de Nariño, San Juan de Pasto, Nariño 520002, Colombia
| | - Jimmy Alexander Guerrero-Vargas
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y de la Educación, Departamento de Biología, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas-Bioterio, Museo de Historia Natural, Grupo de Investigaciones Herpetológicas y Toxinológicas, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia
| | - Santiago Ayerbe-González
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y de la Educación, Departamento de Biología, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas-Bioterio, Museo de Historia Natural, Grupo de Investigaciones Herpetológicas y Toxinológicas, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia
| | - Jhon Jairo Calderón-Leytón
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Evolutiva, Universidad de Nariño, San Juan de Pasto, Nariño 520002, Colombia
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Diana Mora-Obando
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Programa de Biología, Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Evolutiva, Universidad de Nariño, San Juan de Pasto, Nariño 520002, Colombia.
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9
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Mochales-Riaño G, Burriel-Carranza B, Barros MI, Velo-Antón G, Talavera A, Spilani L, Tejero-Cicuéndez H, Crochet PA, Piris A, García-Cardenete L, Busais S, Els J, Shobrak M, Brito JC, Šmíd J, Carranza S, Martínez-Freiría F. Hidden in the sand: Phylogenomics unravel an unexpected evolutionary history for the desert-adapted vipers of the genus Cerastes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 191:107979. [PMID: 38040070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107979] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The desert vipers of the genus Cerastes are a small clade of medically important venomous snakes within the family Viperidae. According to published morphological and molecular studies, the group is comprised by four species: two morphologically similar and phylogenetically sister taxa, the African horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) and the Arabian horned viper (Cerastes gasperettii); a more distantly related species, the Saharan sand viper (Cerastes vipera), and the enigmatic Böhme's sand viper (Cerastes boehmei), only known from a single specimen in captivity allegedly captured in Central Tunisia. In this study, we sequenced one mitochondrial marker (COI) as well as genome-wide data (ddRAD sequencing) from 28 and 41 samples, respectively, covering the entire distribution range of the genus to explore the population genomics, phylogenomic relationships and introgression patterns within the genus Cerastes. Additionally, and to provide insights into the mode of diversification of the group, we carried out niche overlap analyses considering climatic and habitat variables. Both nuclear phylogenomic reconstructions and population structure analyses have unveiled an unexpected evolutionary history for the genus Cerastes, which sharply contradicts the morphological similarities and previously published mitochondrial approaches. Cerastes cerastes and C. vipera are recovered as sister taxa whilst C. gasperettii is a sister taxon to the clade formed by these two species. We found a relatively high niche overlap (OI > 0.7) in both climatic and habitat variables between C. cerastes and C. vipera, contradicting a potential scenario of sympatric speciation. These results are in line with the introgression found between the northwestern African populations of C. cerastes and C. vipera. Finally, our genomic data confirms the existence of a lineage of C. cerastes in Arabia. All these results highlight the importance of genome-wide data over few genetic markers to study the evolutionary history of species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bernat Burriel-Carranza
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain; Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, P° Picasso s/n, Parc Ciutadella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Margarida Isabel Barros
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Guillermo Velo-Antón
- Universidad de Vigo, Facultad de Biología, Edificio de Ciencias Experimentales, Bloque B, Planta 2, Laboratorio 39 (Grupo GEA), E-36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Adrián Talavera
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Loukia Spilani
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Héctor Tejero-Cicuéndez
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alberto Piris
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis García-Cardenete
- Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía, C/Johan G. Gutenberg, 1, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Salem Busais
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Aden University, Yemen
| | - Johannes Els
- Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Shobrak
- National Center for Wildlife, Prince Saud Al Faisal Wildlife Research Centre, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - José Carlos Brito
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Jiří Šmíd
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Salvador Carranza
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-Freiría
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
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10
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Hamdan B, Seixas VC, Nunes GL, Oliveira G, Bonatto SL, Vidal A, Pires ES, Zingali RB. The Brazilian Atlantic Bushmaster Lachesis (Linnaeus, 1766) Mitogenome With Insights On Snake Evolution And Divergence (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae). AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220973. [PMID: 37909566 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220973] [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: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This study presents the first complete mitogenome of the Brazilian Atlantic bushmaster Lachesis with insights into snake evolution. The total length was 17,177 bp, consisting of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs and a duplicate control region (CRs). Almost all genes were encoded by the heavy-strand, except for the ND6 gene and eight tRNAs (tRNA-Gln, Ala, Asn, Cys, Tyr, Ser[TGA anticodon], Glu, Pro). Only ATG, ATA, and ATC were starting codons for protein-coding sequences. Stop codons mainly were TAA, AGA, AGG, and TAG; whereas ND1, ND3, and CYTB terminated with incomplete stop codons. Phylogeny retrieved Lachesis within the Crotalinae as the sister group of Agkistrodon; and the Lachesis+Agkistrodon clade as the sister group of (Sistrurus+Crotalus)+Bothrops. The tree supports Crotalinae, Viperinae, and Azemiopinae in the Viperidae family, being sister taxa of Colubridae+(Elapidae+Psammophiidae). The mean genetic distance across 15 snake families and 57 nucleotide sequences was 0.37. The overall mean value of genetic distance across the Crotalinae was 0.23, with Lachesis muta exhibiting the shortest distance of 0.2 with Agkistrodon piscivorus, Protobothrops dabieshanensis and P. flavoviridis and the greatest 0.25 with Gloydius blomhoffii, Trimeresurus albolabris, S. miliarius, and Deinagkistrodon acutus. The complete Atlantic L. muta mitogenome presented herein is only the third annotated mitogenome from more than 430 described Brazilian snake species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breno Hamdan
- Instituto Vital Brazil, Diretoria Científica, Laboratório de Coleções Biológicas e Biodiversidade, Rua Maestro José Botelho, 64, 24230-410 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CCS/UFRJ, Bloco H, 2º andar, sala 08, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Victor C Seixas
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Rua Vital Brasil, 64, 24230-340 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gisele L Nunes
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Umarizal, 66055-090 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Umarizal, 66055-090 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Sandro L Bonatto
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Av. Ipiranga, 668, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Amanda Vidal
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Umarizal, 66055-090 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Eder S Pires
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Rua Boaventura da Silva, 955, Umarizal, 66055-090 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Russolina B Zingali
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CCS/UFRJ, Bloco H, 2º andar, sala 08, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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11
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Jones L, Waite C, Neri-Castro E, Fry BG. Comparative Analysis of Alpha-1 Orthosteric-Site Binding by a Clade of Central American Pit Vipers (Genera Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium). Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:487. [PMID: 37624244 PMCID: PMC10467085 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15080487] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The distribution and relative potency of post-synaptic neurotoxic activity within Crotalinae venoms has been the subject of less investigation in comparison with Elapidae snake venoms. No previous studies have investigated post-synaptic neurotoxic activity within the Atropoides, Metlapilcoatlus, Cerrophidion, and Porthidium clade. Given the specificity of neurotoxins to relevant prey types, we aimed to uncover any activity present within this clade of snakes that may have been overlooked due to lower potency upon humans and thus not appearing as a clinical feature. Using biolayer interferometry, we assessed the relative binding of crude venoms to amphibian, lizard, bird, rodent and human α-1 nAChR orthosteric sites. We report potent alpha-1 orthosteric site binding in venoms from Atropoides picadoi, Metlapilcoatlus occiduus, M. olmec, M. mexicanus, M. nummifer. Lower levels of binding, but still notable, were evident for Cerrophidion godmani, C. tzotzilorum and C. wilsoni venoms. No activity was observed for Porthidium venoms, which is consistent with significant alpha-1 orthosteric site neurotoxicity being a trait that was amplified in the last common ancestor of Atropoides/Cerrophidion/Metlapilcoatlus subsequent to the split by Porthidium. We also observed potent taxon-selective activity, with strong selection for non-mammalian targets (amphibian, lizard, and bird). As these are poorly studied snakes, much of what is known about them is from clinical reports. The lack of affinity towards mammalian targets may explain the knowledge gap in neurotoxic activity within these species, since symptoms would not appear in bite reports. This study reports novel venom activity, which was previously unreported, indicating toxins that bind to post-synaptic receptors may be more widespread in pit vipers than previously considered. While these effects appear to not be clinically significant due to lineage-specific effects, they are of significant evolutionary novelty and of biodiscovery interest. This work sets the stage for future research directions, such as the use of in vitro and in vivo models to determine whether the alpha-1 orthosteric site binding observed within this study confers neurotoxic venom activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Jones
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia;
| | - Callum Waite
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia;
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, Gómez Palacio 35010, Dgo., Mexico;
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Mor., Mexico
| | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia;
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12
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Burbrink FT, Ruane S, Rabibisoa N, Raselimanana AP, Raxworthy CJ, Kuhn A. Speciation rates are unrelated to the formation of population structure in Malagasy gemsnakes. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10344. [PMID: 37529593 PMCID: PMC10375368 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Speciation rates vary substantially across the tree of life. These rates should be linked to the rate at which population structure forms if a continuum between micro and macroevolutionary patterns exists. Previous studies examining the link between speciation rates and the degree of population formation in clades have been shown to be either correlated or uncorrelated depending on the group, but no study has yet examined the relationship between speciation rates and population structure in a young group that is constrained spatially to a single-island system. We examine this correlation in 109 gemsnakes (Pseudoxyrhophiidae) endemic to Madagascar and originating in the early Miocene, which helps control for extinction variation across time and space. We find no relationship between rates of speciation and the formation rates of population structure over space in 33 species of gemsnakes. Rates of speciation show low variation, yet population structure varies widely across species, indicating that speciation rates and population structure are disconnected. We suspect this is largely due to the persistence of some lineages not susceptible to extinction. Importantly, we discuss how delimiting populations versus species may contribute to problems understanding the continuum between shallow and deep evolutionary processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank T. Burbrink
- Department of HerpetologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew York CityNew YorkUSA
| | - Sara Ruane
- Life Sciences Section, Negaunee Integrative Research CenterField Museum of Natural HistoryChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Nirhy Rabibisoa
- Sciences de la Vie et de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'EnvironnementUniversité de MahajangaMahajangaMadagascar
| | - Achille P. Raselimanana
- Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des SciencesUniversité d'AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
| | | | - Arianna Kuhn
- Department of HerpetologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew York CityNew YorkUSA
- Virginia Museum of Natural HistoryMartinsvilleVirginiaUSA
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13
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Tiatragul S, Brennan IG, Broady ES, Keogh JS. Australia's hidden radiation: Phylogenomics analysis reveals rapid Miocene radiation of blindsnakes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 185:107812. [PMID: 37207892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarin Tiatragul
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
| | - Ian G Brennan
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth S Broady
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
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14
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Cavalcante JS, de Almeida DEG, Santos-Filho NA, Sartim MA, de Almeida Baldo A, Brasileiro L, Albuquerque PL, Oliveira SS, Sachett JAG, Monteiro WM, Ferreira RS. Crosstalk of Inflammation and Coagulation in Bothrops Snakebite Envenoming: Endogenous Signaling Pathways and Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11508. [PMID: 37511277 PMCID: PMC10380640 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming represents a major health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. Considering the elevated number of accidents and high morbidity and mortality rates, the World Health Organization reclassified this disease to category A of neglected diseases. In Latin America, Bothrops genus snakes are mainly responsible for snakebites in humans, whose pathophysiology is characterized by local and systemic inflammatory and degradative processes, triggering prothrombotic and hemorrhagic events, which lead to various complications, organ damage, tissue loss, amputations, and death. The activation of the multicellular blood system, hemostatic alterations, and activation of the inflammatory response are all well-documented in Bothrops envenomings. However, the interface between inflammation and coagulation is still a neglected issue in the toxinology field. Thromboinflammatory pathways can play a significant role in some of the major complications of snakebite envenoming, such as stroke, venous thromboembolism, and acute kidney injury. In addition to exacerbating inflammation and cell interactions that trigger vaso-occlusion, ischemia-reperfusion processes, and, eventually, organic damage and necrosis. In this review, we discuss the role of inflammatory pathways in modulating coagulation and inducing platelet and leukocyte activation, as well as the inflammatory production mediators and induction of innate immune responses, among other mechanisms that are altered by Bothrops venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeliton S Cavalcante
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu 18618-687, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denis Emanuel Garcia de Almeida
- Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture, Agronomic Sciences School, São Paulo State University (UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu 18618-687, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Norival A Santos-Filho
- Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista), Araraquara 14800-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Sartim
- Laboratory of Bioprospection, University Nilton Lins, Manaus 69058-030, Amazonas, Brazil
- Research & Development Department, Nilton Lins Foundation, Manaus 69058-030, Amazonas, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine, Department of Research at Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Amanda de Almeida Baldo
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu 18618-687, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lisele Brasileiro
- Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine, Department of Research at Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Polianna L Albuquerque
- Toxicological Information and Assistance Center, Instituto Doutor Jose Frota Hospital, Fortaleza 60025-061, Ceará, Brazil
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza 60430-140, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Sâmella S Oliveira
- Research Management, Hospital Foundation of Hematology and Hemotherapy of Amazonas, Manaus 69050-001, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Almeida Gonçalves Sachett
- Research & Development Department, Nilton Lins Foundation, Manaus 69058-030, Amazonas, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine, Department of Research at Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Research & Development Department, Nilton Lins Foundation, Manaus 69058-030, Amazonas, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine, Department of Research at Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Amazonas State University, Manaus 69850-000, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rui Seabra Ferreira
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu 18618-687, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Translational Science and Development of Biopharmaceuticals FAPESP/CEVAP-UNESP, Botucatu 18610-307, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu 18610-307, São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Mezzasalma M, Brunelli E, Odierna G, Guarino FM. Comparative cytogenetics of Hemorrhois hippocrepis and Malpolon monspessulanus highlights divergent karyotypes in Colubridae and Psammophiidae (Squamata: Serpentes). THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2023.2180547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M. Mezzasalma
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - E. Brunelli
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - G. Odierna
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - F. M. Guarino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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16
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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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17
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Nuñez LP, Gray LN, Weisrock DW, Burbrink FT. The Phylogenomic and Biogeographic History of the Gartersnakes, Watersnakes, and Allies (Natricidae: Thamnophiini). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023:107844. [PMID: 37301486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
North American Thamnophiini (gartersnakes, watersnakes, brownsnakes, and swampsnakes) are an ecologically and phenotypically diverse temperate clade of snakes representing 61 species across 10 genera. In this study, we estimate phylogenetic trees using ∼3,700 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) for 76 specimens representing 75% of all Thamnophiini species. We infer phylogenies using multispecies coalescent methods and time calibrate them using the fossil record. We also conducted ancestral area estimation to identify how major biogeographic boundaries in North America affect broadscale diversification in the group. While most nodes exhibited strong statistical support, analysis of concordant data across gene trees reveals substantial heterogeneity. Ancestral area estimation demonstrated that the genus Thamnophis was the only taxon in this subfamily to cross the Western Continental Divide, even as other taxa dispersed southward toward the tropics. Additionally, levels of gene tree discordance are overall higher in transition zones between bioregions, including the Rocky Mountains. Therefore, the Western Continental Divide may be a significant transition zone structuring the diversification of Thamnophiini during the Neogene and Pleistocene. Here we show that despite high levels of discordance across gene trees, we were able to infer a highly resolved and well-supported phylogeny for Thamnophiini, which allows us to understand broadscale patterns of diversity and biogeography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leroy P Nuñez
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA; Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Levi N Gray
- Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Guam, USA
| | - David W Weisrock
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Frank T Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
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18
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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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19
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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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20
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Cytogenetic Analysis of the Bimodal Karyotype of the Common European Adder, Vipera berus (Viperidae). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243563. [PMID: 36552484 PMCID: PMC9774092 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243563] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Vipera berus is the species with the largest range of snakes on Earth and one of the largest among reptiles in general. It is also the only snake species found in the Arctic Circle. Vipera berus is the most involved species of the genus Vipera in the process of interspecific hybridization in nature. The taxonomy of the genus Vipera is based on molecular markers and morphology and requires clarification using SC-karyotyping. This work is a detailed comparative study of the somatic and meiotic karyotypes of V. berus, with special attention to DNA and protein markers associated with synaptonemal complexes. The karyotype of V. berus is a remarkable example of a bimodal karyotype containing both 16 large macrochromosomes and 20 microchromosomes. We traced the stages of the asynchronous assembly of both types of bivalents. The number of crossing-over sites per pachytene nucleus, the localization of the nucleolar organizer, and the unique heterochromatin block on the autosomal bivalent 6-an important marker-were determined. Our results show that the average number of crossing-over sites per pachytene nucleus is 49.5, and the number of MLH1 sites per bivalent 1 reached 11, which is comparable to several species of agamas.
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21
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Ortiz-Medina JA, Cedeño-Vázquez JR, González-Solís D, Mata-Silva V. Intraspecific Variation in Diet Composition and Morphology of Yucatecan Cantils (Agkistrodon russeolus Gloyd 1972 [Serpentes: Viperidae]). HERPETOLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-21-00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Javier A. Ortiz-Medina
- Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, 77014, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México
| | - J. Rogelio Cedeño-Vázquez
- Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, 77014, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México
| | - David González-Solís
- Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, 77014, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Vicente Mata-Silva
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968-0500, USA
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22
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Extreme Procoagulant Potency in Human Plasma of Venoms from the African Viperid Genera Atheris, Cerastes, and Proatheris and the Relative Efficacy of Antivenoms and Synthetic Enzyme-Inhibitors. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120836. [PMID: 36548733 PMCID: PMC9788330 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120836] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The African viperid snake genera Atheris, Cerastes, and Proatheris are closely related, similar in size, but occupy extremely divergent ecological niches (arboreal in tropical rainforests, fossorial in deserts, and swamp-dwelling, respectively). Their venoms have not previously been subjected to comparative analyses for their action upon the coagulation of blood, most notably with significant data deficiencies from Atheris and Proatheris. In contrast, the closely related genus Echis is well-documented as capable of producing potent procoagulant effects. In light of this, we set out to compare the coagulotoxic actions of Atheris ceratophora, A. chlorechis, A. desaixi, A. nitschei, A. squamigera, C. cerastes, C. cerastes gasperettii, C. vipera, and Proatheris superciliaris and explore potential pharmacological interventions to reestablish normal blood coagulation. All venoms displayed extremely potent procoagulant effects, over twice as fast as the most potent Echis reported to date. Although Cerastes is used in the immunising mixture of two different regionally available antivenoms (Inoserp-MENA with C. cerastes, C. cerastes gasperettii, C. vipera and Saudi Arabian polyvalent with C. cerastes), none of the other species in this study are included in the immunising mixture of any antivenom. Notably, all the Cerastes species were only neutralised by the Inoserp-MENA antivenom. C. cerastes venom was not neutralised well by the Saudi Arabian antivenom, with the low levels of recognition for any of the Cerastes venoms suggesting a strong regional variation in the venom of this species, as the C. cerastes venom tested was of African (Tunisian) origin versus Saudi locality used in that antivenom's production. The other antivenoms (Micropharm EchiTAbG, ICP EchiTAb-Plus-ICP, Inosan Inoserp Pan-Africa, Premium Serums PANAF Sub-Sahara Africa, South African Vaccine Producers Echis, South African Vaccine Producers Polyvalent) all displayed trivial-to-no ability to neutralise the procoagulant toxicity of any of the Atheris, Cerastes, or Proatheris venoms. Comparative testing of the enzyme inhibitors DMPS, marimastat, and prinomastat, revealed a very potent neutralising capacity of marimastat, with prinomastat showing lower but still significant potency at the same molar concentration, while a 5× molar concentration of DMPS had no apparent effect on procoagulant venom effects normalized by the other inhibitors. These results and methods contribute to the body of knowledge of potential clinical effects and data necessary for evidence-based advancement of clinical management strategies.
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23
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Yadollahvandmiandoab R, Koroiva R, Bashirichelkasari N, Mesquita DO. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of the poorly known genus Spalerosophis (Serpentes: Colubridae). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-022-00596-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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24
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Holding ML, Trevine VC, Zinenko O, Strickland JL, Rautsaw RM, Mason AJ, Hogan MP, Parkinson CL, Grazziotin FG, Santana SE, Davis MA, Rokyta DR. Evolutionary allometry and ecological correlates of fang length evolution in vipers. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221132. [PMID: 36300520 PMCID: PMC9449470 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits for prey acquisition form the phenotypic interface of predator-prey interactions. In venomous predators, morphological variation in venom delivery apparatus like fangs and stingers may be optimized for dispatching prey. Here, we determine how a single dimension of venom injection systems evolves in response to variation in the size, climatic conditions and dietary ecology of viperid snakes. We measured fang length in more than 1900 museum specimens representing 199 viper species (55% of recognized species). We find both phylogenetic signal and within-clade variation in relative fang length across vipers suggesting both general taxonomic trends and potential adaptive divergence in fang length. We recover positive evolutionary allometry and little static allometry in fang length. Proportionally longer fangs have evolved in larger species, which may facilitate venom injection in more voluminous prey. Finally, we leverage climatic and diet data to assess the global correlates of fang length. We find that models of fang length evolution are improved through the inclusion of both temperature and diet, particularly the extent to which diets are mammal-heavy diets. These findings demonstrate how adaptive variation can emerge among components of complex prey capture systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Holding
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Vivian C. Trevine
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Oleksandr Zinenko
- V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody square, Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine
| | - Jason L. Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Rhett M. Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Andrew J. Mason
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Michael P. Hogan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Christopher L. Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings street, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Felipe G. Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sharlene E. Santana
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Mark A. Davis
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Darin R. Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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25
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Trevine VC, Grazziotin FG, Giraudo A, Sallesbery‐Pinchera N, Vianna JA, Zaher H. The systematics of Tachymenini (Serpentes, Dipsadidae): An updated classification based on molecular and morphological evidence. ZOOL SCR 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vivian C. Trevine
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas Instituto Butantan São Paulo Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação de Zoologia, Insituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | | | - Alejandro Giraudo
- Instituto Nacional de Limnología (CONICET – UNL) Ciudad Universitaria Santa Fe Argentina
- Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias (FHUC – UNL) Ciudad Universitaria Santa Fe Argentina
| | - Nicole Sallesbery‐Pinchera
- Escuela Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad Ecología y Recursos Naturales Universidad Andrés Bello Santiago Chile
| | - Juliana A. Vianna
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CRG), Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Hussam Zaher
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
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26
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Malsawmdawngliana F, Muansanga L, Malsawma R, Vabeiryureilai M, Lalremsanga HT, Biakzuala L. Systematics and Ecological Data Enrichment for the Recently Described Lushai Hills Dragon Snake, Stoliczkia vanhnuailianai Lalronunga, Lalhmangaiha, Zosangliana, Lalhmingliani, Gower, Das & Deepak, 2021 (Squamata: Xenodermidae) from Northeast India. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.41.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fanai Malsawmdawngliana
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, INDIA
| | - Lal Muansanga
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, INDIA
| | - Ro Malsawma
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, INDIA
| | - Mathipi Vabeiryureilai
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, INDIA
| | - Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, INDIA
| | - Lal Biakzuala
- Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, INDIA
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27
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Jones L, Youngman NJ, Neri-Castro E, Guadarrama-Martínez A, Lewin MR, Carter R, Frank N, Fry BG. Differential Antivenom and Small-Molecule Inhibition of Novel Coagulotoxic Variations in Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium American Viperid Snake Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080511. [PMID: 35893753 PMCID: PMC9332056 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Within Neotropical pit-vipers, the Mexican/Central-American clade consisting of Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium is a wide-ranging, morphologically and ecologically diverse group of snakes. Despite their prevalence, little is known of the functional aspects of their venoms. This study aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding coagulotoxic effects and to examine the potential of different therapeutic approaches. As a general trait, the venoms were shown to be anticoagulant but were underpinned by diverse biochemical actions. Pseudo-procoagulant activity (i.e., thrombin-like), characterized by the direct cleavage of fibrinogen to form weak fibrin clots, was evident for Atropoides picadoi, Cerrophidiontzotzilorum, Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus, M. nummifer, M. occiduus, M. olmec, and Porthidium porrasi. In contrast, other venoms cleaved fibrinogen in a destructive (non-clotting) manner, with C. godmani and C. wilsoni being the most potent. In addition to actions on fibrinogen, clotting enzymes were also inhibited. FXa was only weakly inhibited by most species, but Cerrophidion godmani and C. wilsoni were extremely strong in their inhibitory action. Other clotting enzymes were more widely inhibited by diverse species spanning the full taxonomical range, but in each case, there were species that had these traits notably amplified relatively to the others. C. godmani and C. wilsoni were the most potent amongst those that inhibited the formation of the prothrombinase complex and were also amongst the most potent inhibitors of Factor XIa. While most species displayed only low levels of thrombin inhibition, Porthidium dunni potently inhibited this clotting factor. The regional polyvalent antivenom produced by Instituto Picado Clodomiro was tested and was shown to be effective against the diverse anticoagulant pathophysiological effects. In contrast to the anticoagulant activities of the other species, Porthidium volcanicum was uniquely procoagulant through the activation of Factor VII and Factor XII. This viperid species is the first snake outside of the Oxyuranus/Pseudonaja elapid snake clade to be shown to activate FVII and the first snake venom of any kind to activate FXII. Interestingly, while small-molecule metalloprotease inhibitors prinomastat and marimastat demonstrated the ability to prevent the procoagulant toxicity of P. volcanicum, neither ICP antivenom nor inhibitor DMPS showed this effect. The extreme variation among the snakes here studied underscores how venom is a dynamic trait and how this can shape clinical outcomes and influence evolving treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Jones
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.G.F.)
| | - Nicholas J. Youngman
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (E.N.-C.); (A.G.-M.)
| | - Alid Guadarrama-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (E.N.-C.); (A.G.-M.)
| | | | - Rebecca Carter
- Ophirex Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA; (M.R.L.); (R.C.)
| | | | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.G.F.)
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28
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Cisneros-Bernal AY, Rodríguez-Gómez F, Flores-Villela O, Fujita MK, Velasco JA, Fernández JA. Phylogeography supports lineage divergence for an endemic rattlesnake ( Crotalus ravus) of the Neotropical montane forest in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The formation of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations have been shown to influence the diversification of lineages and species distributed throughout central Mexico. In some taxa, however, evidence of lineage diversification is not easily recognized, as often is the case in reptiles. Here we present a phylogeographic study on a Mexican endemic rattlesnake species (Crotalus ravus), with the aim of understanding how distinct lineages are distributed across the TMVB. Genetic (mtDNA) and genomic (ddRADseq) data were generated from samples across the species’ range to evaluate phylogeographic structure, estimate phylogenetic relationships and divergence times, and perform environmental niche modeling (ENM). Both datasets recover strong phylogeographic structuring of two distinct lineages on an east-west axis, with an estimated Pleistocene divergence (~1.47 Myr). The ENM suggest that the distribution of the two lineages experienced expansion and reduction events throughout recent evolutionary time. We attribute the diversification of C. ravus lineages to geological events associated with the formation of the TMVB, as well as Quaternary climate changes, both of which have been previously recognized in co-distributed taxa in the TMVB. This work emphasizes the existence of cryptic diversification processes in a morphologically conserved species distributed in a region of complex climatic and orogenic heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Yolocalli Cisneros-Bernal
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Circuito de los Posgrados S/N, coyoacán, 04510, Mexico City , Mexico
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City , Circuito exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico
- Totlok, A.C., Cerro del Agua, Integración Latinoamericana , Coyoacán, 04350, Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Flor Rodríguez-Gómez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Traslacional, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara , Blvd. Marcelino García Barragán 44430, Gadalajara, Jalisco , Mexico
| | - Oscar Flores-Villela
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City , Circuito exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico
| | - Matthew K Fujita
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington , 501 S. Nedderman Drive 337 Life Science, Arlington, TX 76010-0498 , USA
| | - Julián A Velasco
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Investigación Científica s/n, Ciudad Universitaria , Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City , Mexico
| | - Jesús A Fernández
- Departamento de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua , Periférico Francisco R. Almada km 1, Zootecnia 31415 Chihuahua , Mexico
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29
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Muñoz-Mora VH, Suárez-Atilano M, Maltagliati F, Ramírez-Corona F, Carbajal-Saucedo A, Percino-Daniel R, Langeneck J, D’Addario M, Sunny A. A tale about vipers’ tails: phylogeography of black-tailed rattlesnakes. HERPETOZOA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.35.e84297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylogenetic relationships among black-tailed rattlesnakes remain poorly understood and some authors indicated that the diversity of this group has been underestimated and additional analyses are required to clarify the biogeographic patterns throughout its distribution in Mexico. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among black-tailed rattlesnakes across their range, identifying relative divergence times among the main clades and reconstructing the biogeographical history of the group. Three partial mitochondrial genes (ND4, cytb and ATPase6) and one nuclear gene (RAG1) were sequenced to infer the phylogenetic relationships, through the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference-based methods; demographic history reconstruction was investigated through Bayesian Skyline plot analysis and the ancestral area reconstruction was carried out considering a Bayesian framework. We found strong evidence that the black-tailed rattlesnakes’ group is composed of six clades, which is in agreement with subspecies previously reported. Divergence time estimation indicated that the origin of the C. molossus group could be traced to the middle of the Miocene (~7.71 Mya). Ancestral area reconstruction indicated that early divergence events occurred in Central Mexico, probably related to the geological dynamics of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The lineage C. m. oaxacus is the basal member of the C. molossus group. Furthermore, the combination of geological events and changes in Quaternary vegetation may have contributed to the divergence of C. molossus clades. Our results suggest several clades within C. molossus complex could be potentially recognized as separate species.
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Bernstein JM, Ruane S. Maximizing Molecular Data From Low-Quality Fluid-Preserved Specimens in Natural History Collections. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.893088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, museum genomics studies have focused on obtaining DNA of sufficient quality and quantity for sequencing from fluid-preserved natural history specimens, primarily to be used in systematic studies. While these studies have opened windows to evolutionary and biodiversity knowledge of many species worldwide, published works often focus on the success of these DNA sequencing efforts, which is undoubtedly less common than obtaining minimal or sometimes no DNA or unusable sequence data from specimens in natural history collections. Here, we attempt to obtain and sequence DNA extracts from 115 fresh and 41 degraded samples of homalopsid snakes, as well as from two degraded samples of a poorly known snake, Hydrablabes periops. Hydrablabes has been suggested to belong to at least two different families (Natricidae and Homalopsidae) and with no fresh tissues known to be available, intractable museum specimens currently provide the only opportunity to determine this snake’s taxonomic affinity. Although our aim was to generate a target-capture dataset for these samples, to be included in a broader phylogenetic study, results were less than ideal due to large amounts of missing data, especially using the same downstream methods as with standard, high-quality samples. However, rather than discount results entirely, we used mapping methods with references and pseudoreferences, along with phylogenetic analyses, to maximize any usable molecular data from our sequencing efforts, identify the taxonomic affinity of H. periops, and compare sequencing success between fresh and degraded tissue samples. This resulted in largely complete mitochondrial genomes for five specimens and hundreds to thousands of nuclear loci (ultra-conserved loci, anchored-hybrid enrichment loci, and a variety of loci frequently used in squamate phylogenetic studies) from fluid-preserved snakes, including a specimen of H. periops from the Field Museum of Natural History collection. We combined our H. periops data with previously published genomic and Sanger-sequenced datasets to confirm the familial designation of this taxon, reject previous taxonomic hypotheses, and make biogeographic inferences for Hydrablabes. A second H. periops specimen, despite being seemingly similar for initial raw sequencing results and after being put through the same protocols, resulted in little usable molecular data. We discuss the successes and failures of using different pipelines and methods to maximize the products from these data and provide expectations for others who are looking to use DNA sequencing efforts on specimens that likely have degraded DNA.Life Science Identifier (Hydrablabes periops)urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F2AA44 E2-D2EF-4747-972A-652C34C2C09D.
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Suranse V, Jackson TNW, Sunagar K. Contextual Constraints: Dynamic Evolution of Snake Venom Phospholipase A 2. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14060420. [PMID: 35737081 PMCID: PMC9231074 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14060420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom is a dynamic trait that has contributed to the success of numerous organismal lineages. Predominantly composed of proteins, these complex cocktails are deployed for predation and/or self-defence. Many non-toxic physiological proteins have been convergently and recurrently recruited by venomous animals into their toxin arsenal. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is one such protein and features in the venoms of many organisms across the animal kingdom, including snakes of the families Elapidae and Viperidae. Understanding the evolutionary history of this superfamily would therefore provide insight into the origin and diversification of venom toxins and the evolution of novelty more broadly. The literature is replete with studies that have identified diversifying selection as the sole influence on PLA2 evolution. However, these studies have largely neglected the structural/functional constraints on PLA2s, and the ecology and evolutionary histories of the diverse snake lineages that produce them. By considering these crucial factors and employing evolutionary analyses integrated with a schema for the classification of PLA2s, we uncovered lineage-specific differences in selection regimes. Thus, our work provides novel insights into the evolution of this major snake venom toxin superfamily and underscores the importance of considering the influence of evolutionary and ecological contexts on molecular evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Suranse
- Evolutionary Venomics Laboratory, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India;
| | - Timothy N. W. Jackson
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Laboratory, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-080-2293-2895
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Myers EA, Strickland JL, Rautsaw RM, Mason AJ, Schramer TD, Nystrom GS, Hogan MP, Yooseph S, Rokyta DR, Parkinson CL. De Novo Genome Assembly Highlights the Role of Lineage-Specific Duplications in the Evolution of Venom in Fea’s Viper. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6603630. [PMID: 35670514 PMCID: PMC9256536 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the medical significance to humans and important ecological roles filled by vipers, few high-quality genomic resources exist for these snakes outside of a few genera of pitvipers. Here we sequence, assemble, and annotate the genome of Fea’s Viper (Azemiops feae). This taxon is distributed in East Asia and belongs to a monotypic subfamily, sister to the pitvipers. The newly sequenced genome resulted in a 1.56 Gb assembly, a contig N50 of 1.59 Mb, with 97.6% of the genome assembly in contigs >50 Kb, and a BUSCO completeness of 92.4%. We found that A. feae venom is primarily composed of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) proteins expressed by genes that likely arose from lineage-specific PLA2 gene duplications. Additionally, we show that renin, an enzyme associated with blood pressure regulation in mammals and known from the venoms of two viper species including A. feae, is expressed in the venom gland at comparative levels to known toxins and is present in the venom proteome. The cooption of this gene as a toxin may be more widespread in viperids than currently known. To investigate the historical population demographics of A. feae, we performed coalescent-based analyses and determined that the effective population size has remained stable over the last 100 kyr. This suggests Quaternary glacial cycles likely had minimal influence on the demographic history of A. feae. This newly assembled genome will be an important resource for studying the genomic basis of phenotypic evolution and understanding the diversification of venom toxin gene families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A. Myers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Jason L. Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama , Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Rhett M. Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Andrew J. Mason
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Tristan D. Schramer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Gunnar S. Nystrom
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Michael P. Hogan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Shibu Yooseph
- Department of Computer Science, Genomics and Bioinformatics Cluster, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd , Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - Darin R. Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Christopher L. Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University , Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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Roldán-Padrón O, Cruz-Pérez MS, Castro-Guillén JL, García-Arredondo JA, Mendiola-Olaya E, Saldaña-Gutiérrez C, Herrera-Paniagua P, Blanco-Labra A, García-Gasca T. Hybridization between Crotalus aquilus and Crotalus polystictus Species: A Comparison of Their Venom Toxicity and Enzymatic Activities. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:661. [PMID: 35625389 PMCID: PMC9138290 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization is defined as the interbreeding of individuals from two populations distinguishable by one or more heritable characteristics. Snake hybridization represents an interesting opportunity to analyze variability and how genetics affect the venom components between parents and hybrids. Snake venoms exhibit a high degree of variability related to biological and biogeographical factors. The aim of this work is to analyze the protein patterns and enzymatic activity of some of the main hemotoxic enzymes in snake venoms, such as serine proteases (trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, and elastase-like), metalloproteases, hyaluronidases, and phospholipase A2. The lethal dose of 50 (LD50) of venom from the Crotalus aquilus (Cabf) and Crotalus polystictus (Cpbm) parents and their hybrids in captivity was determined, and phenetic analysis is also conducted, which showed a high similarity between the hybrids and C. polystictus. The protein banding patterns and enzymatic activity analyze by zymography resulted in a combination of proteins from the parental venoms in the hybrids, with variability among them. In some cases, the enzymatic activity is higher in the hybrids with a lower LD50 than in the parents, indicating higher toxicity. These data show the variability among snake venoms and suggest that hybridization is an important factor in changes in protein concentration, peptide variability, and enzymatic activity that affect toxicity and lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Roldán-Padrón
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecuar, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Qro, Mexico; (O.R.-P.); (M.S.C.-P.); (C.S.-G.); (P.H.-P.)
| | - Martha Sandra Cruz-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecuar, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Qro, Mexico; (O.R.-P.); (M.S.C.-P.); (C.S.-G.); (P.H.-P.)
| | - José Luis Castro-Guillén
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carr. Irapuato-León, Irapuato 36824, Gto, Mexico; (J.L.C.-G.); (E.M.-O.)
| | - José Alejandro García-Arredondo
- Laboratorio de Química Medicinal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Centro Universitario, Queretaro 76010, Qro, Mexico;
| | - Elizabeth Mendiola-Olaya
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carr. Irapuato-León, Irapuato 36824, Gto, Mexico; (J.L.C.-G.); (E.M.-O.)
| | - Carlos Saldaña-Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecuar, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Qro, Mexico; (O.R.-P.); (M.S.C.-P.); (C.S.-G.); (P.H.-P.)
| | - Patricia Herrera-Paniagua
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecuar, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Qro, Mexico; (O.R.-P.); (M.S.C.-P.); (C.S.-G.); (P.H.-P.)
| | - Alejandro Blanco-Labra
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Km. 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carr. Irapuato-León, Irapuato 36824, Gto, Mexico; (J.L.C.-G.); (E.M.-O.)
| | - Teresa García-Gasca
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecuar, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Qro, Mexico; (O.R.-P.); (M.S.C.-P.); (C.S.-G.); (P.H.-P.)
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Bourke LA, Zdenek CN, Tanaka-Azevedo AM, Silveira GPM, Sant’Anna SS, Grego KF, Rodrigues CFB, Fry BG. Clinical and Evolutionary Implications of Dynamic Coagulotoxicity Divergences in Bothrops (Lancehead Pit Viper) Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14050297. [PMID: 35622544 PMCID: PMC9148167 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite coagulotoxicity being a primary weapon for prey capture by Bothrops species (lancehead pit vipers) and coagulopathy being a major lethal clinical effect, a genus-wide comparison has not been undertaken. To fill this knowledge gap, we used thromboelastography to compare 37 venoms, from across the full range of geography, taxonomy, and ecology, for their action upon whole plasma and isolated fibrinogen. Potent procoagulant toxicity was shown to be the main venom effect of most of the species tested. However, the most basal species (B. pictus) was strongly anticoagulant; this is consistent with procoagulant toxicity being a novel trait that evolved within Bothrops subsequent to their split from anticoagulant American pit vipers. Intriguingly, two of the arboreal species studied (B. bilineatus and B. taeniatus) lacked procoagulant venom, suggesting differential evolutionary selection pressures. Notably, some terrestrial species have secondarily lost the procoagulant venom trait: the Mogi Mirim, Brazil locality of B. alternatus; San Andres, Mexico locality of B. asper; B. diporus; and the São Roque of B. jararaca. Direct action on fibrinogen was extremely variable; this is consistent with previous hypotheses regarding it being evolutionary decoupled due to procoagulant toxicity being the primary prey-capture weapon. However, human patients live long enough for fibrinogen depletion to be clinically significant. The extreme variability may be reflective of antivenom variability, with these results thereby providing a foundation for such future work of clinical relevance. Similarly, the venom diversification trends relative to ecological niche will also be useful for integration with natural history data, to reconstruct the evolutionary pressures shaping the venoms of these fascinating snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan Allan Bourke
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Correspondence: (L.A.B.); (B.G.F.)
| | - Christina N. Zdenek
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
- Laboratrio de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil; (A.M.T.-A.); (G.P.M.S.); (S.S.S.); (K.F.G.); (C.F.B.R.)
| | - Giovanni Perez Machado Silveira
- Laboratrio de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil; (A.M.T.-A.); (G.P.M.S.); (S.S.S.); (K.F.G.); (C.F.B.R.)
| | - Sávio Stefanini Sant’Anna
- Laboratrio de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil; (A.M.T.-A.); (G.P.M.S.); (S.S.S.); (K.F.G.); (C.F.B.R.)
| | - Kathleen Fernandes Grego
- Laboratrio de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo 05503-900, Brazil; (A.M.T.-A.); (G.P.M.S.); (S.S.S.); (K.F.G.); (C.F.B.R.)
| | | | - Bryan Grieg Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Correspondence: (L.A.B.); (B.G.F.)
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35
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Cornuault J, Sanmartín I. A road map for phylogenetic models of species trees. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 173:107483. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Differences in PLA2 Constitution Distinguish the Venom of Two Endemic Brazilian Mountain Lanceheads, Bothrops cotiara and Bothrops fonsecai. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14040237. [PMID: 35448846 PMCID: PMC9028134 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14040237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Interspecific differences in snake venom compositions can result from distinct regulatory mechanisms acting in each species. However, comparative analyses focusing on identifying regulatory elements and patterns that led to distinct venom composition are still scarce. Among venomous snakes, Bothrops cotiara and Bothrops fonsecai represent ideal models to complement our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of venom production. These recently diverged species share a similar specialized diet, habitat, and natural history, but each presents a distinct venom phenotype. Here, we integrated data from the venom gland transcriptome and miRNome and the venom proteome of B. fonsecai and B. cotiara to better understand the regulatory mechanisms that may be acting to produce differing venom compositions. We detected not only the presence of similar toxin isoforms in both species but also distinct expression profiles of phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and some snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and snake venom serine proteinases (SVSPs) isoforms. We found evidence of modular expression regulation of several toxin isoforms implicated in venom divergence and observed correlated expression of several transcription factors. We did not find strong evidence for miRNAs shaping interspecific divergence of the venom phenotypes, but we identified a subset of toxin isoforms whose final expression may be fine-tuned by specific miRNAs. Sequence analysis on orthologous toxins showed a high rate of substitutions between PLA2s, which indicates that these toxins may be under strong positive selection or represent paralogous toxins in these species. Our results support other recent studies in suggesting that gene regulation is a principal mode of venom evolution across recent timescales, especially among species with conserved ecotypes.
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Youngman NJ, Lewin MR, Carter R, Naude A, Fry BG. Efficacy and Limitations of Chemically Diverse Small-Molecule Enzyme-Inhibitors against the Synergistic Coagulotoxic Activities of Bitis Viper Venoms. Molecules 2022; 27:1733. [PMID: 35268832 PMCID: PMC8911647 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite remains a significant public health burden globally, disproportionately affecting low-income and impoverished regions of the world. Recently, researchers have begun to focus on the use of small-molecule inhibitors as potential candidates for the neutralisation of key snake venom toxins and as potential field therapies. Bitis vipers represent some of the most medically important as well as frequently encountered snake species in Africa, with a number of species possessing anticoagulant phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins that prevent the prothrombinase complex from inducing clot formation. Additionally, species within the genus are known to exert pseudo-procoagulant activity, whereby kallikrein enzymatic toxins cleave fibrinogen to form a weak fibrin clot that rapidly degrades, thereby depleting fibrinogen levels and contributing to the net anticoagulant state. Utilising well-validated coagulation assays measuring time until clot formation, this study addresses the in vitro efficacy of three small molecule enzyme inhibitors (marimastat, prinomastat and varespladib) in neutralising these aforementioned activities. The PLA2 inhibitor varespladib showed the greatest efficacy for the neutralisation of PLA2-driven anticoagulant venom activity, with the metalloproteinase inhibitors prinomastat and marimastat both showing low and highly variable degrees of cross-neutralisation with PLA2 anticoagulant toxicity. However, none of the inhibitors showed efficacy in neutralising the pseudo-procoagulant venom activity exerted by the venom of B. caudalis. Our results highlight the complex nature of snake venoms, for which single-compound treatments will not be universally effective, but combinations might prove highly effective. Despite the limitations of these inhibitors with regards to in vitro kallikrein enzyme pseudo-procoagulant venom activity, our results further support the growing body of literature indicating the potential use of small molecule inhibitors to enhance first-aid treatment of snakebite envenoming, particularly in cases where hospital and thus antivenom treatment is either unavailable or far away.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Youngman
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew R. Lewin
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA;
- Ophirex Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA;
| | | | - Arno Naude
- Snakebite Assist, Pretoria ZA-0001, South Africa;
| | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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Senter PJ. Phylogeny of Courtship and Male-male Combat Behavior in Snakes: An Updated Analysis. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.41.35] [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)
- Philip J. Senter
- Department of Biological and Forensic Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, 28301 UNITED STATES
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Barbo FE, Booker WW, Duarte MR, Chaluppe B, Portes-Junior JA, Franco FL, Grazziotin FG. Speciation process on Brazilian continental islands, with the description of a new insular lancehead of the genus Bothrops (Serpentes, Viperidae). SYST BIODIVERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2021.2017059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fausto E. Barbo
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas – LCZ, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - William W. Booker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, 32306 FL, USA
| | - Marcelo R. Duarte
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas – LCZ, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Betina Chaluppe
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas – LCZ, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - José A. Portes-Junior
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas – LCZ, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Francisco L. Franco
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas – LCZ, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe G. Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas – LCZ, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, 05503-900 SP, Brazil
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Barbo FE, Grazziotin FG, Pereira-Filho GA, Freitas MA, Abrantes SH, Kokubum MNDC. Isolated by dry lands: integrative analyses unveil the existence of a new species and a previously unknown evolutionary lineage of Brazilian Lanceheads (Serpentes: Viperidae: Bothrops) from a Caatinga moist-forest enclave. CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Here we describe a new species of Lancehead (Bothrops jabrensis sp. nov.) based on three individuals sampled from a previously unknown population from Pico do Jabre, an isolated and small Caatinga moist-forest enclave (CMFE) located in northeastern Brazil. Although this new species has an external morphology resembling those found in representatives of the Bothrops jararaca (Wied-Neuwied, 1824) species group, B. jabrensis can be diagnosed by a combination of meristic and color characters. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates the new species represents a unique and highly divergent lineage within Bothrops revealing the existence of a previously unknown phylogenetic lineage that has been evolving as an independent unit for more than 8 million years. Additionally, the estimated divergence time of this lineage conflicts with some proposed scenarios of historical processes associated with the evolution of CMFEs. Finally, the uniqueness of this species indicates its relevance for the maintenance of the phylogenetic diversity of Lanceheads in South America. Like other CMFEs, Pico do Jabre is consistently threatened by poaching, illegal fires, deforestation for agricultural purposes, and illegal logging. The restricted distribution of B. jabrensis, in a small and disturbed CMFE, strongly suggests that this species is critically endangered and is likely approaching extinction as a natural population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausto E. Barbo
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe G. Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gentil A. Pereira-Filho
- Laboratório de Ecologia Animal, Departamento de Engenharia e Meio Ambiente, Centro de Ciências Aplicadas e Educação, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58297-000, Rio Tinto, PB, Brazil
| | - Marco A. Freitas
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Estação Ecológica de Murici, Rua Marino Vieira de Araújo, 32, 57820-000, Cidade Alta, Murici, AL, Brazil
| | - Stephenson H.F. Abrantes
- Laboratório de Ecomorfologia Animal, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Avenida Universitária, s/n, 58708-110, Patos, PB, Brazil
| | - Marcelo N. de C. Kokubum
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Avenida Universitária, s/n, 58708-110, Patos, PB, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, 58429-500, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
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Dynamic genetic differentiation drives the widespread structural and functional convergent evolution of snake venom proteinaceous toxins. BMC Biol 2022; 20:4. [PMID: 34996434 PMCID: PMC8742412 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01208-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The explosive radiation and diversification of the advanced snakes (superfamily Colubroidea) was associated with changes in all aspects of the shared venom system. Morphological changes included the partitioning of the mixed ancestral glands into two discrete glands devoted for production of venom or mucous respectively, as well as changes in the location, size and structural elements of the venom-delivering teeth. Evidence also exists for homology among venom gland toxins expressed across the advanced snakes. However, despite the evolutionary novelty of snake venoms, in-depth toxin molecular evolutionary history reconstructions have been mostly limited to those types present in only two front-fanged snake families, Elapidae and Viperidae. To have a broader understanding of toxins shared among extant snakes, here we first sequenced the transcriptomes of eight taxonomically diverse rear-fanged species and four key viperid species and analysed major toxin types shared across the advanced snakes. Results Transcriptomes were constructed for the following families and species: Colubridae - Helicops leopardinus, Heterodon nasicus, Rhabdophis subminiatus; Homalopsidae – Homalopsis buccata; Lamprophiidae - Malpolon monspessulanus, Psammophis schokari, Psammophis subtaeniatus, Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus; and Viperidae – Bitis atropos, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, Tropidolaeumus subannulatus, Vipera transcaucasiana. These sequences were combined with those from available databases of other species in order to facilitate a robust reconstruction of the molecular evolutionary history of the key toxin classes present in the venom of the last common ancestor of the advanced snakes, and thus present across the full diversity of colubroid snake venoms. In addition to differential rates of evolution in toxin classes between the snake lineages, these analyses revealed multiple instances of previously unknown instances of structural and functional convergences. Structural convergences included: the evolution of new cysteines to form heteromeric complexes, such as within kunitz peptides (the beta-bungarotoxin trait evolving on at least two occasions) and within SVMP enzymes (the P-IIId trait evolving on at least three occasions); and the C-terminal tail evolving on two separate occasions within the C-type natriuretic peptides, to create structural and functional analogues of the ANP/BNP tailed condition. Also shown was that the de novo evolution of new post-translationally liberated toxin families within the natriuretic peptide gene propeptide region occurred on at least five occasions, with novel functions ranging from induction of hypotension to post-synaptic neurotoxicity. Functional convergences included the following: multiple occasions of SVMP neofunctionalised in procoagulant venoms into activators of the clotting factors prothrombin and Factor X; multiple instances in procoagulant venoms where kunitz peptides were neofunctionalised into inhibitors of the clot destroying enzyme plasmin, thereby prolonging the half-life of the clots formed by the clotting activating enzymatic toxins; and multiple occasions of kunitz peptides neofunctionalised into neurotoxins acting on presynaptic targets, including twice just within Bungarus venoms. Conclusions We found novel convergences in both structural and functional evolution of snake toxins. These results provide a detailed roadmap for future work to elucidate predator–prey evolutionary arms races, ascertain differential clinical pathologies, as well as documenting rich biodiscovery resources for lead compounds in the drug design and discovery pipeline. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01208-9.
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OUP accepted manuscript. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Silva KMP, Almeida-Santos SM, Lobo LM, Bravo-Vega CA, Rici REG, Sasa M. Morphology and seasonality of the sexual segment of the kidney in genus Bothrops snakes. J Morphol 2021; 283:236-249. [PMID: 34951038 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21439] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In Squamata, the sexual segment of the male kidney (SSK) produces secretory granules that are transmitted to the female tract during copulation. Here, we investigate the morphology of SSK in various species of the pitviper-genus Bothrops, a medically relevant clade of Neotropical snakes, using histology, histochemistry, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. We also evaluated the relationship of SSK hypertrophy with spermatogenesis and storage of sperm. The SSK in Bothrops consists of tall columnar epithelial cells filled with electron-dense secretory granules. These granules are apparently released into the lumen by an apocrine secretory process. In general, the ultrastructural morphology of SSK in Bothrops is similar to those described for other pitvipers in the genus Agkistrodon. In most Bothrops males, the SSK produces carbohydrates and proteins, and occurs in all lobes of the kidney, occupying most of the kidney mass. In contrast, intersexual females (with male copulatory organs) of Bothrops insularis had a smaller SSK diameter than males and did not show hypertrophy. The seasonal development of SSK in Bothrops species seems to be driven by environmental factors rather than phylogeny, since sister species exhibited periods of hypertrophy at different months. In most Bothrops males, hypertrophy occurs at various seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn), even in winter, and seasonal changes in SSK do not necessarily accompany spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luís Miguel Lobo
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Andrés Bravo-Vega
- Departamento de Ingeniería Biomédica, Grupo de Investigación en Biologia Matemática y Computacional BIOMAC, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Rose Eli Grassi Rici
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Anatomia dos Animais Domésticos e Silvestres, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Costa Rica y Museo de Zoología, Centro de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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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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Sitprija S, Chanhome L, Reamtong O, Thiangtrongjit T, Vasaruchapong T, Khow O, Noiphrom J, Laoungbua P, Tubtimyoy A, Chaiyabutr N, Kumkate S. Proteomics and immunocharacterization of Asian mountain pit viper (Ovophis monticola) venom. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260496. [PMID: 34851989 PMCID: PMC8635378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The venomic profile of Asian mountain pit viper Ovophis monticola is clarified in the present study. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, 247 different proteins were identified in crude venom of O. monticola found in Thailand. The most abundant proteins were snake venom metalloproteases (SVMP) (36.8%), snake venom serine proteases (SVSP) (31.1%), and phospholipases A2 (PLA2) (12.1%). Less abundant proteins included L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) (5.7%), venom nerve growth factor (3.6%), nucleic acid degrading enzymes (3.2%), C-type lectins (CTL) (1.6%), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP) (1.2%) and disintegrin (1.2%). The immunoreactivity of this viper's venom to a monovalent antivenom against green pit viper Trimeresurus albolabris, or to a polyvalent antivenom against hemotoxic venom was investigated by indirect ELISA and two-dimensional (2D) immunoblotting. Polyvalent antivenom showed substantially greater reactivity levels than monovalent antivenom. A titer for the monovalent antivenom was over 1:1.28x107 dilution while that of polyvalent antivenom was 1:5.12x107. Of a total of 89 spots comprising 173 proteins, 40 spots of predominantly SVMP, SVSP and PLA2 were specific antigens for antivenoms. The 49 unrecognized spots containing 72 proteins were characterized as non-reactive proteins, and included certain types of CTLs and CRISPs. These neglected venom constituents could limit the effectiveness of antivenom-based therapy currently available for victims of pit viper envenomation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siravit Sitprija
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lawan Chanhome
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (LC); (SK)
| | - Onrapak Reamtong
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tipparat Thiangtrongjit
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Taksa Vasaruchapong
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Orawan Khow
- Department of Research and Development, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jureeporn Noiphrom
- Department of Research and Development, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panithi Laoungbua
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Arissara Tubtimyoy
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Narongsak Chaiyabutr
- Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Research and Development, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supeecha Kumkate
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (LC); (SK)
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Harris RJ, Nekaris KAI, Fry BG. Monkeying around with venom: an increased resistance to α-neurotoxins supports an evolutionary arms race between Afro-Asian primates and sympatric cobras. BMC Biol 2021; 19:253. [PMID: 34823526 PMCID: PMC8613972 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01195-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Snakes and primates have a multi-layered coevolutionary history as predators, prey, and competitors with each other. Previous work has explored the Snake Detection Theory (SDT), which focuses on the role of snakes as predators of primates and argues that snakes have exerted a selection pressure for the origin of primates’ visual systems, a trait that sets primates apart from other mammals. However, primates also attack and kill snakes and so snakes must simultaneously avoid primates. This factor has been recently highlighted in regard to the movement of hominins into new geographic ranges potentially exerting a selection pressure leading to the evolution of spitting in cobras on three independent occasions. Results Here, we provide further evidence of coevolution between primates and snakes, whereby through frequent encounters and reciprocal antagonism with large, diurnally active neurotoxic elapid snakes, Afro-Asian primates have evolved an increased resistance to α-neurotoxins, which are toxins that target the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In contrast, such resistance is not found in Lemuriformes in Madagascar, where venomous snakes are absent, or in Platyrrhini in the Americas, where encounters with neurotoxic elapids are unlikely since they are relatively small, fossorial, and nocturnal. Within the Afro-Asian primates, the increased resistance toward the neurotoxins was significantly amplified in the last common ancestor of chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans (clade Homininae). Comparative testing of venoms from Afro-Asian and American elapid snakes revealed an increase in α-neurotoxin resistance across Afro-Asian primates, which was likely selected against cobra venoms. Through structure-activity studies using native and mutant mimotopes of the α-1 nAChR receptor orthosteric site (loop C), we identified the specific amino acids responsible for conferring this increased level of resistance in hominine primates to the α-neurotoxins in cobra venom. Conclusion We have discovered a pattern of primate susceptibility toward α-neurotoxins that supports the theory of a reciprocal coevolutionary arms-race between venomous snakes and primates. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01195-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Harris
- Venom Evolution Lab, University of Queensland, Biological Sciences, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - K Anne-Isola Nekaris
- Nocturnal Primate Research Group, Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, University of Queensland, Biological Sciences, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
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Aranciaga-Rolando AM, Agnolin FL, Martinelli AG, Buide VE. Oldest Record of the Pit-Viper Bothrops (Squamata, Viperidae), from the Lower Pliocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-19-00109.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M. Aranciaga-Rolando
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico L. Agnolin
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín G. Martinelli
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Viviana E. Buide
- Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales “Carlos Ameghino”, Mercedes, Argentina
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Long C, Wu F, Lu Q, Xie B, Shen C, Li J, Deng Y, Liang P, Yu Y, Lai R. A Strategy for Efficient Preparation of Genus-Specific Diagnostic Antibodies for Snakebites. Front Immunol 2021; 12:775678. [PMID: 34899734 PMCID: PMC8660121 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.775678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As said by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, "Snakebite is the most important tropical disease you've never heard of." Listed as a priority neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization, snakebite envenoming (SBE) kills in excess of 125,000 people per year. However, due to the complexity and overlap of snake venom compositions, few reliable venom diagnostic methods for genus-/species-specific identification, which is crucial for successful SBE therapy, are available. Here, we develop a strategy to select and prepare genus-specific snake venom antibodies, which allows rapid and efficient clinical diagnosis of snakebite. Multi-omics approaches are used to choose candidate antigens from snake venoms and identify genus-specific antigenic epitope peptide fragments (GSAEPs) with ideal immunogenicity, specificity, and spatial accessibility. Double-antibody sandwich ELISA kit was established by matching a polyclonal antibody against a natural antigen and a monoclonal antibody that was prepared by natural protein as antigen and can specifically target the GSAEPs. The kit shows the ability to accurately identify venoms from similar genera of Trimeresurus and Protobothrops with a detection limit of 6.25 ng/ml on the snake venoms and a little cross-reaction, thus proving high feasibility and applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbo Long
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides, The National & Local Joint Engineering Center of Natural bioactive Peptides, Kunming Institute of Zoology-The Chinese University of Hong Kong (KIZ-CUHK) Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, and National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Feilong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides, The National & Local Joint Engineering Center of Natural bioactive Peptides, Kunming Institute of Zoology-The Chinese University of Hong Kong (KIZ-CUHK) Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, and National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Qiumin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides, The National & Local Joint Engineering Center of Natural bioactive Peptides, Kunming Institute of Zoology-The Chinese University of Hong Kong (KIZ-CUHK) Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, and National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Bing Xie
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Chuanbin Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (LKSKI)-Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jiayao Li
- Clinical Laboratory, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Wuzhou, Wuzhou, China
| | - Yanling Deng
- Clinical Laboratory, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Wuzhou, Wuzhou, China
| | - Ping Liang
- Clinical Laboratory, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Wuzhou, Wuzhou, China
| | - Yongzhi Yu
- Clinical Laboratory, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Wuzhou, Wuzhou, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides, The National & Local Joint Engineering Center of Natural bioactive Peptides, Kunming Institute of Zoology-The Chinese University of Hong Kong (KIZ-CUHK) Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, and National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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Ruiz-Campos M, Sanz L, Bonilla F, Sasa M, Lomonte B, Zaruma-Torres F, Terán M, Fernández J, Calvete JJ, Caldeira CAS, Da Silva SL. Venomics of the poorly studied hognosed pitvipers Porthidium arcosae and Porthidium volcanicum. J Proteomics 2021; 249:104379. [PMID: 34534714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We report the first proteomics analyses of the venoms of two poorly studied snakes, the Manabi hognosed pitviper Porthidium arcosae endemic to the western coastal province of Manabí (Ecuador), and the Costa Rican hognosed pitviper P. volcanicum with distribution restricted to South Pacific Costa Rica and western Panamá. These venom proteomes share a conserved compositional pattern reported in four other congeneric species within the clade of South American Porthidium species, P. nasutum, P. lansbergii, P. ophryomegas, and P. porrasi. The paraspecific immunorecognition profile of antivenoms produced in Costa Rica (ICP polyvalent), Perú (Instituto Nacional de Salud) and Brazil (soro antibotrópico pentavalente, SAB, from Instituto Butantan) against the venom of P. arcosae was investigated through a third-generation antivenomics approach. The maximal venom-binding capacities of the investigated antivenoms were 97.1 mg, 21.8 mg, and 25.7 mg of P. arcosae venom proteins per gram of SAB, ICP, and INS-PERU antibody molecules, respectively, which translate into 28.4 mg, 13.1 mg, and 15.2 mg of total venom proteins bound per vial of SAB, ICP, and INS-PERU AV. The antivenomics results suggest that 21.8%, 7.8% and 6.1% of the SAB, ICP, and INS-PERU antibody molecules recognized P. arcosae venom toxins. The SAB antivenom neutralized P. arcosae venom's lethality in mice with an ED50 of 31.3 mgV/g SAB AV. This preclinical neutralization paraspecificity points to Brazilian SAB as a promising candidate for the treatment of envenomings by Ecuadorian P. arcosae. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Assessing the preclinical efficacy profile of antivenoms against homologous and heterologous medically relevant snake venoms represents an important goal towards defining the biogeographic range of their clinical utility. This is particularly relevant in regions, such as Mesoamerica, where a small number of pharmaceutical companies produce antivenoms against the venoms of a small number of species of maximum medical relevance among the local rich herpetofauna, leaving a wide range of snakes of secondary medical relevance, but also causing life-threatening human envenomings without nominal clinical coverage. This work is part of a larger project aiming at mapping the immunological characteristics of antivenoms generated in Latin American countries towards venoms of such poorly studied snakes of the local and neighboring countries' herpetofauna. Here we report the proteomics characterization of the Manabi hognosed pitviper Porthidium arcosae endemic to the western coastal province of Manabí (Ecuador), and the Costa Rican hognosed pitviper P. volcanicum with distribution restricted to southwestern Costa Rica, the antivenomics assessment of three bothropoid commercial antivenoms produced in Costa Rica, Perú, and Brazil against the venom components of P. arcosae, and the in vivo capacity of the Brazilian soro antibotrópico pentavalente (SAB) from Instituto Butantan to neutralize the murine lethality of P. arcosae venom. The preclinical paraspecific ED50 of 31.3 mg of P. arcosae venom per gram of antivenom points to Brazilian SAB as a promising candidate for the treatment of envenomings by the Manabi hognosed pitviper P. arcosae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ruiz-Campos
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Libia Sanz
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Fabián Bonilla
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica; Centro Investigaciones, Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Fausto Zaruma-Torres
- College of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
| | - Maria Terán
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
| | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Cleópatra A S Caldeira
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas a Saúde CEBio/FIOCRUZ/UNIR, Rua da Beira 7671, Lagoa, CEP 76820-245 Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental (PGBIOEXP), Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, rede BIONORTE, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil.
| | - Saulo L Da Silva
- College of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
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