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Gopalan SS, Perry BW, Francioli YZ, Schield DR, Guss HD, Bernstein JM, Ballard K, Smith CF, Saviola AJ, Adams RH, Mackessy SP, Castoe TA. Diverse Gene Regulatory Mechanisms Alter Rattlesnake Venom Gene Expression at Fine Evolutionary Scales. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae110. [PMID: 38753011 PMCID: PMC11243404 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae110] [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] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding and predicting the relationships between genotype and phenotype is often challenging, largely due to the complex nature of eukaryotic gene regulation. A step towards this goal is to map how phenotypic diversity evolves through genomic changes that modify gene regulatory interactions. Using the Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) and related species, we integrate mRNA-seq, proteomic, ATAC-seq and whole-genome resequencing data to understand how specific evolutionary modifications to gene regulatory network components produce differences in venom gene expression. Through comparisons within and between species, we find a remarkably high degree of gene expression and regulatory network variation across even a shallow level of evolutionary divergence. We use these data to test hypotheses about the roles of specific trans-factors and cis-regulatory elements, how these roles may vary across venom genes and gene families, and how variation in regulatory systems drive diversity in venom phenotypes. Our results illustrate that differences in chromatin and genotype at regulatory elements play major roles in modulating expression. However, we also find that enhancer deletions, differences in transcription factor expression, and variation in activity of the insulator protein CTCF also likely impact venom phenotypes. Our findings provide insight into the diversity and gene-specificity of gene regulatory features and highlight the value of comparative studies to link gene regulatory network variation to phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth S Gopalan
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Blair W Perry
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Yannick Z Francioli
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Drew R Schield
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Hannah D Guss
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Justin M Bernstein
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Kaas Ballard
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Cara F Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Anthony J Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Richard H Adams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Stephen P Mackessy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, USA
| | - Todd A Castoe
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
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2
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Neri-Castro E, Zarzosa V, Lomonte B, Zamudio F, Hernandez-Orihuela L, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Rodríguez-Solís AM, Borja M, García-Vázquez UO, Jones JM, Parkinson CL, Alagón A. Exploring venom diversity in Mixcoatlus browni and Mixcoatlus barbouri: A comparative analysis of two rare Mexican snake species with crotoxin-like presence. Biochimie 2024; 225:81-88. [PMID: 38762000 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.05.015] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The genus Mixcoatlus is composed of three species: Mixcoatlus barbouri, M. browni, and M. melanurus, of which the venom composition of M. melanurus, the most common species of the three, has only recently been described. However, very little is known about the natural history of M. barbouri and M. browni, and the venom composition of these two species has remained thus far unexplored. In this study we characterize the proteomic profiles and the main biochemical and toxic activities of these two venoms. Proteomic data obtained by shotgun analysis of whole venom identified 12 protein families for M. barbouri, and 13 for M. browni. The latter venom was further characterized by using a quantitative 'venomics' protocol, which revealed that it is mainly composed of 51.1 % phospholipases A2 (PLA2), 25.5 % snake venom serine proteases (SVSP), 4.6 % l-amino oxidases (LAO), and 3.6 % snake venom metalloproteases (SVMP), with lower percentages other six protein families. Both venoms contained homologs of the basic and acidic subunits of crotoxin. However, due to limitations in M. barbouri venom availability, we could only characterize the crotoxin-like protein of M. browni venom, which we have named Mixcoatlutoxin. It exhibited a lethal potency in mice like that described for classical rattlesnake crotoxins. These findings expand knowledge on the distribution of crotoxin-like heterodimeric proteins in viper snake species. Further investigation of the bioactivities of the venom of M. barbouri, on the other hand, remains necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Neri-Castro
- Investigador por México, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010, Gómez Palacio, Dgo, Mexico; Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico.
| | - Vanessa Zarzosa
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Fernando Zamudio
- Investigador por México, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010, Gómez Palacio, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Lorena Hernandez-Orihuela
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Olvera-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Audrey Michelle Rodríguez-Solís
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Miguel Borja
- Investigador por México, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010, Gómez Palacio, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Uri O García-Vázquez
- Laboratorio de Sistemática Molecular, Carrera de Biología, UMIEZ, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Batalla 5 de Mayo s/n, Ejército de Oriente, Ciudad de México, 09230, Mexico
| | | | - Chistopher L Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Forestry, and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, 190 Collings St. Clemson, SC, 29631, USA
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico.
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3
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Guadarrama-Martínez A, Neri-Castro E, Boyer L, Alagón A. Variability in antivenom neutralization of Mexican viperid snake venoms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012152. [PMID: 38717980 PMCID: PMC11078402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Each year, 3,800 cases of snakebite envenomation are reported in Mexico, resulting in 35 fatalities. The only scientifically validated treatment for snakebites in Mexico is the use of antivenoms. Currently, two antivenoms are available in the market, with one in the developmental phase. These antivenoms, produced in horses, consist of F(ab')2 fragments generated using venoms from various species as immunogens. While previous studies primarily focused on neutralizing the venom of the Crotalus species, our study aims to assess the neutralization capacity of different antivenom batches against pit vipers from various genera in Mexico. METHODOLOGY We conducted various biological and biochemical tests to characterize the venoms. Additionally, we performed neutralization tests using all three antivenoms to evaluate their effectiveness against lethal activity and their ability to neutralize proteolytic and fibrinogenolytic activities. RESULTS Our results reveal significant differences in protein content and neutralizing capacity among different antivenoms and even between different batches of the same product. Notably, the venom of Crotalus atrox is poorly neutralized by all evaluated batches despite being the primary cause of envenomation in the country's northern region. Furthermore, even at the highest tested concentrations, no antivenom could neutralize the lethality of Metlapilcoatlus nummifer and Porthidium yucatanicum venoms. These findings highlight crucial areas for improving existing antivenoms and developing new products. CONCLUSION Our research reveals variations in protein content and neutralizing potency among antivenoms, emphasizing the need for consistency in venom characteristics as immunogens. While Birmex neutralizes more LD50 per vial, Antivipmyn excels in specific neutralization. The inability of antivenoms to neutralize certain venoms, especially M. nummifer and P. yucatanicum, highlights crucial improvement opportunities, given the medical significance of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alid Guadarrama-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, México
| | - Leslie Boyer
- Department of Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
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4
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Hogan MP, Holding ML, Nystrom GS, Colston TJ, Bartlett DA, Mason AJ, Ellsworth SA, Rautsaw RM, Lawrence KC, Strickland JL, He B, Fraser P, Margres MJ, Gilbert DM, Gibbs HL, Parkinson CL, Rokyta DR. The genetic regulatory architecture and epigenomic basis for age-related changes in rattlesnake venom. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313440121. [PMID: 38578985 PMCID: PMC11032440 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313440121] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental phenotypic changes can evolve under selection imposed by age- and size-related ecological differences. Many of these changes occur through programmed alterations to gene expression patterns, but the molecular mechanisms and gene-regulatory networks underlying these adaptive changes remain poorly understood. Many venomous snakes, including the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), undergo correlated changes in diet and venom expression as snakes grow larger with age, providing models for identifying mechanisms of timed expression changes that underlie adaptive life history traits. By combining a highly contiguous, chromosome-level genome assembly with measures of expression, chromatin accessibility, and histone modifications, we identified cis-regulatory elements and trans-regulatory factors controlling venom ontogeny in the venom glands of C. adamanteus. Ontogenetic expression changes were significantly correlated with epigenomic changes within genes, immediately adjacent to genes (e.g., promoters), and more distant from genes (e.g., enhancers). We identified 37 candidate transcription factors (TFs), with the vast majority being up-regulated in adults. The ontogenetic change is largely driven by an increase in the expression of TFs associated with growth signaling, transcriptional activation, and circadian rhythm/biological timing systems in adults with corresponding epigenomic changes near the differentially expressed venom genes. However, both expression activation and repression contributed to the composition of both adult and juvenile venoms, demonstrating the complexity and potential evolvability of gene regulation for this trait. Overall, given that age-based trait variation is common across the tree of life, we provide a framework for understanding gene-regulatory-network-driven life-history evolution more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Hogan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Matthew L. Holding
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Gunnar S. Nystrom
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Timothy J. Colston
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR00681
| | - Daniel A. Bartlett
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Andrew J. Mason
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC29634
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH43210
| | - Schyler A. Ellsworth
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Rhett M. Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC29634
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99164
| | - Kylie C. Lawrence
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Jason L. Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC29634
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL36688
| | - Bing He
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Peter Fraser
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
| | - Mark J. Margres
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL33620
| | - David M. Gilbert
- Laboratory of Chromosome Replication and Epigenome Regulation, San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, San Diego, CA92121
| | - H. Lisle Gibbs
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH43210
| | - Christopher L. Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC29634
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC29634
| | - Darin R. Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL32306
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5
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Modahl CM, Han SX, van Thiel J, Vaz C, Dunstan NL, Frietze S, Jackson TNW, Mackessy SP, Kini RM. Distinct regulatory networks control toxin gene expression in elapid and viperid snakes. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:186. [PMID: 38365592 PMCID: PMC10874052 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10090-y] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venom systems are ideal models to study genetic regulatory mechanisms that underpin evolutionary novelty. Snake venom glands are thought to share a common origin, but there are major distinctions between venom toxins from the medically significant snake families Elapidae and Viperidae, and toxin gene regulatory investigations in elapid snakes have been limited. Here, we used high-throughput RNA-sequencing to profile gene expression and microRNAs between active (milked) and resting (unmilked) venom glands in an elapid (Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis), in addition to comparative genomics, to identify cis- and trans-acting regulation of venom production in an elapid in comparison to viperids (Crotalus viridis and C. tigris). RESULTS Although there is conservation in high-level mechanistic pathways regulating venom production (unfolded protein response, Notch signaling and cholesterol homeostasis), there are differences in the regulation of histone methylation enzymes, transcription factors, and microRNAs in venom glands from these two snake families. Histone methyltransferases and transcription factor (TF) specificity protein 1 (Sp1) were highly upregulated in the milked elapid venom gland in comparison to the viperids, whereas nuclear factor I (NFI) TFs were upregulated after viperid venom milking. Sp1 and NFI cis-regulatory elements were common to toxin gene promoter regions, but many unique elements were also present between elapid and viperid toxins. The presence of Sp1 binding sites across multiple elapid toxin gene promoter regions that have been experimentally determined to regulate expression, in addition to upregulation of Sp1 after venom milking, suggests this transcription factor is involved in elapid toxin expression. microRNA profiles were distinctive between milked and unmilked venom glands for both snake families, and microRNAs were predicted to target a diversity of toxin transcripts in the elapid P. textilis venom gland, but only snake venom metalloproteinase transcripts in the viperid C. viridis venom gland. These results suggest differences in toxin gene posttranscriptional regulation between the elapid P. textilis and viperid C. viridis. CONCLUSIONS Our comparative transcriptomic and genomic analyses between toxin genes and isoforms in elapid and viperid snakes suggests independent toxin regulation between these two snake families, demonstrating multiple different regulatory mechanisms underpin a venomous phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra M Modahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, U.K..
| | - Summer Xia Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Fulcrum Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A
| | - Jory van Thiel
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, U.K
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Candida Vaz
- Human Development, Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Seth Frietze
- Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, U.S.A
| | - Timothy N W Jackson
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stephen P Mackessy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, U.S.A
| | - R Manjunatha Kini
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, U.S.A..
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6
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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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7
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Kazemi SM, Hosseinzadeh MS, Weinstein SA. Identifying the geographic distribution pattern of venomous snakes and regions of high snakebite risk in Iran. Toxicon 2023; 231:107197. [PMID: 37321410 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We describe species richness patterns of venomous snakes in Iran in order to produce snakebite risk prediction maps and identify gaps in regional health care centers capable of managing snakebites. We digitized distribution maps from the literature, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and the results of our own field studies of 24 terrestrial venomous snake species (including 4 endemic to Iran). Species richness patterns were associated with eight environmental factors. The variables have been extracted from the WorldClim dataset (bio12 = annual precipitation, bio15 = precipitation seasonality, bio17 = precipitation of the driest quarter, bio2 = mean diurnal range, bio3 = isothermality (bio2/bio7), bio4 = temperature seasonality, bio9 = mean temperature of the driest quarter and slope). Based on spatial analyses, species richness in Iran is highly affected by three environmental variables (bio12, 15, and 17) associated with precipitation. The relationship patterns among these predictors and species richness were strong and linear. The hotspot regions for venomous snakes species are concentrated on the western to southwestern and north to northeastern regions of Iran, which is partially consistent with the known Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot. Because of the high number of endemic species and climatic conditions on the Iranian Plateau, the venoms of snakes distributed in those areas may contain novel properties and components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mahdi Kazemi
- Zagros Herpetological Institute, 37156-88415, P. O. No 12, Somayyeh 14 Avenue, Qom, Iran
| | | | - Scott A Weinstein
- Playford Family Medicine, 297 Peachey Rd., Munno Para, South Australia, 5115, Australia; Young Adult Institute, 220 E. 42nd St., 8th Floor, NY, NY, 10017, USA; Premier Health Care, 227 E. 41st St., 8th Floor, NY, NY, 10017, USA.
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8
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van Thiel J, Alonso LL, Slagboom J, Dunstan N, Wouters RM, Modahl CM, Vonk FJ, Jackson TNW, Kool J. Highly Evolvable: Investigating Interspecific and Intraspecific Venom Variation in Taipans ( Oxyuranus spp.) and Brown Snakes ( Pseudonaja spp.). Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:74. [PMID: 36668892 PMCID: PMC9864820 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Snake venoms are complex mixtures of toxins that differ on interspecific (between species) and intraspecific (within species) levels. Whether venom variation within a group of closely related species is explained by the presence, absence and/or relative abundances of venom toxins remains largely unknown. Taipans (Oxyuranus spp.) and brown snakes (Pseudonaja spp.) represent medically relevant species of snakes across the Australasian region and provide an excellent model clade for studying interspecific and intraspecific venom variation. Using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometry detection, we analyzed a total of 31 venoms covering all species of this monophyletic clade, including widespread localities. Our results reveal major interspecific and intraspecific venom variation in Oxyuranus and Pseudonaja species, partially corresponding with their geographical regions and phylogenetic relationships. This extensive venom variability is generated by a combination of the absence/presence and differential abundance of venom toxins. Our study highlights that venom systems can be highly dynamical on the interspecific and intraspecific levels and underscores that the rapid toxin evolvability potentially causes major impacts on neglected tropical snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jory van Thiel
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Luis L. Alonso
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Slagboom
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Roel M. Wouters
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cassandra M. Modahl
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Freek J. Vonk
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Timothy N. W. Jackson
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Hempel BF, Damm M, Petras D, Kazandjian TD, Szentiks CA, Fritsch G, Nebrich G, Casewell NR, Klein O, Süssmuth RD. Spatial Venomics─Cobra Venom System Reveals Spatial Differentiation of Snake Toxins by Mass Spectrometry Imaging. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:26-35. [PMID: 36521429 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Among venomous animals, toxic secretions have evolved as biochemical weapons associated with various highly specialized delivery systems on many occasions. Despite extensive research, there is still limited knowledge of the functional biology of most animal toxins, including their venom production and storage, as well as the morphological structures within sophisticated venom producing tissues that might underpin venom modulation. Here, we report on the spatial exploration of a snake venom gland system by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), in combination with standard proteotranscriptomic approaches, to enable in situ toxin mapping in spatial intensity maps across a venom gland sourced from the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje). MALDI-MSI toxin visualization on the elapid venom gland reveals a high spatial heterogeneity of different toxin classes at the proteoform level, which may be the result of physiological constraints on venom production and/or storage that reflects the potential for venom modulation under diverse stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies BCRT, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.,Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maik Damm
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Petras
- CMFI Cluster of Excellence, Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin Tübingen, Universität Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Taline D Kazandjian
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, U.K
| | - Claudia A Szentiks
- Department of Wildlife Diseases and Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Fritsch
- Department of Wildlife Diseases and Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Grit Nebrich
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies BCRT, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, U.K
| | - Oliver Klein
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies BCRT, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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10
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Lüddecke T, Paas A, Harris RJ, Talmann L, Kirchhoff KN, Billion A, Hardes K, Steinbrink A, Gerlach D, Fry BG, Vilcinskas A. Venom biotechnology: casting light on nature's deadliest weapons using synthetic biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1166601. [PMID: 37207126 PMCID: PMC10188951 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1166601] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Venoms are complex chemical arsenals that have evolved independently many times in the animal kingdom. Venoms have attracted the interest of researchers because they are an important innovation that has contributed greatly to the evolutionary success of many animals, and their medical relevance offers significant potential for drug discovery. During the last decade, venom research has been revolutionized by the application of systems biology, giving rise to a novel field known as venomics. More recently, biotechnology has also made an increasing impact in this field. Its methods provide the means to disentangle and study venom systems across all levels of biological organization and, given their tremendous impact on the life sciences, these pivotal tools greatly facilitate the coherent understanding of venom system organization, development, biochemistry, and therapeutic activity. Even so, we lack a comprehensive overview of major advances achieved by applying biotechnology to venom systems. This review therefore considers the methods, insights, and potential future developments of biotechnological applications in the field of venom research. We follow the levels of biological organization and structure, starting with the methods used to study the genomic blueprint and genetic machinery of venoms, followed gene products and their functional phenotypes. We argue that biotechnology can answer some of the most urgent questions in venom research, particularly when multiple approaches are combined together, and with other venomics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Lüddecke
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- *Correspondence: Tim Lüddecke,
| | - Anne Paas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Richard J. Harris
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences (IMB), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lea Talmann
- Syngenta Crop Protection, Stein, Switzerland
| | - Kim N. Kirchhoff
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - André Billion
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- BMBF Junior Research Group in Infection Research “ASCRIBE”, Giessen, Germany
| | - Antje Steinbrink
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Doreen Gerlach
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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11
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Senji Laxme RR, Khochare S, Attarde S, Kaur N, Jaikumar P, Shaikh NY, Aharoni R, Primor N, Hawlena D, Moran Y, Sunagar K. The Middle Eastern Cousin: Comparative Venomics of Daboia palaestinae and Daboia russelii. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14110725. [PMID: 36355975 PMCID: PMC9696752 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the medically most important snakes in the world, the species belonging to the genus Daboia have been attributed to the highest number of human envenomings, deaths and disabilities. Given their significant clinical relevance, the venoms of Russell's vipers (D. russelii and D. siamensis) have been the primary focus of research. In contrast, the composition, activity, ecology and evolution of venom of its congener, the Palestine viper (D. palaestinae), have remained largely understudied. Therefore, to unravel the factors responsible for the enhanced medical relevance of D. russelii in comparison to D. palaestinae, we comparatively evaluated their venom proteomes, biochemical activities, and mortality and morbidity inflicting potentials. Furthermore, the synthesis and regulation of venom in snakes have also remained underinvestigated, and the relative contribution of each venom gland remains unclear. We address this knowledge gap by sequencing the tissue transcriptomes of both venom glands of D. palaestinae, and comparatively evaluating their contribution to the secreted venom concoction. Our findings highlight the disparity in the venom composition, function and toxicities of the two Daboia species. We also show that toxin production is not partitioned between the two venom glands of D. palaestinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. R. Senji Laxme
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Suyog Khochare
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Saurabh Attarde
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Navneet Kaur
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Priyanka Jaikumar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Naeem Yusuf Shaikh
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Reuven Aharoni
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Naftali Primor
- Shulov Institute of Science, 10 Oppenheimer Street, Science Park, Rehovot 7670110, Israel
| | - Dror Hawlena
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (K.S.)
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Correspondence: (Y.M.); (K.S.)
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12
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Venom Variation of Neonate and Adult Chinese Cobras in Captivity Concerning Their Foraging Strategies. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14090598. [PMID: 36136536 PMCID: PMC9501182 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14090598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom and transcriptome profile of the captive Chinese cobra (Naja atra) is not characterized until now. Here, LC-MS/MS and illumine technology were used to unveil the venom and trascriptome of neonates and adults N. atra specimens. In captive Chinese cobra, 98 co-existing transcripts for venom-related proteins was contained. A total of 127 proteins belong to 21 protein families were found in the profile of venom. The main components of snake venom were three finger toxins (3-FTx), snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP), cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP), cobra venom factor (CVF), and phosphodiesterase (PDE). During the ontogenesis of captive Chinese cobra, the rearrangement of snake venom composition occurred and with obscure gender difference. CVF, 3-FTx, PDE, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in adults were more abundant than neonates, while SVMP and CRISP in the neonates was richer than the adults. Ontogenetic changes in the proteome of Chinese cobra venom reveals different strategies for handling prey. The levels of different types of toxin families were dramatically altered in the wild and captive specimens. Therefore, we speculate that the captive process could reshape the snake venom composition vigorously. The clear comprehension of the composition of Chinese cobra venom facilitates the understanding of the mechanism of snakebite intoxication and guides the preparation and administration of traditional antivenom and next-generation drugs for snakebite.
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13
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Bibliometric Analysis of Literature in Snake Venom-Related Research Worldwide (1933–2022). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162058. [PMID: 36009648 PMCID: PMC9405337 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Around the world, snake envenomation poses a serious health risk. Proteins with pharmacological effects are present in snake venom. Recent studies elaborate snake venom and its potential application, including as a cancer drug and antibacterial substances. Our study aimed to analyze the global profile of the literature in snake venom research from documents indexed in the Scopus database between 1933 and 2022. In total, 2999 documents were published with Brazil showing the highest productivity. Antivenom, proteomics, and transcriptomics are emerging as hot topics on a global scale. The present study offers a distinctive overview of snake venom research conducted worldwide. Abstract Snake envenomation is a severe economic and health concern affecting countries worldwide. Snake venom carries a wide variety of small peptides and proteins with various immunological and pharmacological properties. A few key research areas related to snake venom, including its applications in treating cancer and eradicating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, have been gaining significant attention in recent years. The goal of the current study was to analyze the global profile of literature in snake venom research. This study presents a bibliometric review of snake venom-related research documents indexed in the Scopus database between 1933 and 2022. The overall number of documents published on a global scale was 2999, with an average annual production of 34 documents. Brazil produced the highest number of documents (n = 729), followed by the United States (n = 548), Australia (n = 240), and Costa Rica (n = 235). Since 1963, the number of publications has been steadily increasing globally. At a worldwide level, antivenom, proteomics, and transcriptomics are growing hot issues for research in this field. The current research provides a unique overview of snake venom research at global level from 1933 through 2022, and it may be beneficial in guiding future research.
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14
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Rodríguez-Vargas A, Vega N, Reyes-Montaño E, Corzo G, Neri-Castro E, Clement H, Ruiz-Gómez F. Intraspecific Differences in the Venom of Crotalus durissus cumanensis from Colombia. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080532. [PMID: 36006194 PMCID: PMC9416679 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080532] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Biochemical and biological differences in the venom of Crotalus durissus cumanensis from three ecoregions of Colombia were evaluated. Rattlesnakes were collected from the geographic areas of Magdalena Medio (MM), Caribe (CA) and Orinoquía (OR). All three regionally distributed venoms contain proteases, PLA2s and the basic subunit of crotoxin. However, only crotamine was detected in the CA venom. The highest lethality, coagulant, phospholipase A2 and hyaluronidase activities were found in the MM venom. Also, some differences, observed by western blot and immunoaffinity, were found in all three venoms when using commercial antivenoms. Furthermore, all three eco-regional venoms showed intraspecific variability, considering the differences in the abundance and intensity of their components, in addition to the activity and response to commercial antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Rodríguez-Vargas
- Grupo de Investigación en Proteínas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 11001, Colombia; (N.V.); (E.R.-M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Nohora Vega
- Grupo de Investigación en Proteínas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 11001, Colombia; (N.V.); (E.R.-M.)
| | - Edgar Reyes-Montaño
- Grupo de Investigación en Proteínas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 11001, Colombia; (N.V.); (E.R.-M.)
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (G.C.); (E.N.-C.); (H.C.)
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (G.C.); (E.N.-C.); (H.C.)
| | - Herlinda Clement
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (G.C.); (E.N.-C.); (H.C.)
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Gómez
- Grupo de Investigación en Animales Ponzoñosos y sus Venenos, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia;
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15
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Nascimento A, Zychar BC, Pessôa R, Duarte AJDS, Clissa PB, Sanabani SS. Altered RNome expression in Murine Gastrocnemius Muscle following Exposure to Jararhagin, a Metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14070472. [PMID: 35878210 PMCID: PMC9321239 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14070472] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding single-stranded RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. Experiments in mice and humans have revealed that a typical small RNA can affect the expression of a wide range of genes, implying that small RNAs function as global regulators. Here, we used small RNA deep sequencing to investigate how jararhagin, a metalloproteinase toxin produced from the venom of Bothrops jararaca, affected mmu-miRNAs expression in mice 2 hours (Jar 2hrs) and 24 hours (Jar 24hrs) after injection compared to PBS control. The findings revealed that seven mmu-miRNAs were substantially differentially expressed (p value (p (Corr) cut-off 0.05, fold change ≥ 2) at 2 hrs after jararhagin exposure and that the majority of them were upregulated when compared to PBS. In contrast to these findings, a comparison of Jar 24hrs vs. PBS 24hrs demonstrated that the majority of identified mmu-miRNAs were downregulated. Furthermore, the studies demonstrated that mmu-miRNAs can target the expression of several genes involved in the MAPK signaling pathway. The steady antithetical regulation of mmu-miRNAs may correlate with the expression of genes that trigger apoptosis via MAPK in the early stages, and this effect intensifies with time. The findings expand our understanding of the effects of jararhagin on local tissue lesions at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrezza Nascimento
- Post-Graduation Program in Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil; (A.N.); (R.P.)
| | | | - Rodrigo Pessôa
- Post-Graduation Program in Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil; (A.N.); (R.P.)
| | - Alberto José da Silva Duarte
- Laboratory of Dermatology and Immunodeficiency, Department of Dermatology LIM 56, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil;
| | - Patricia Bianca Clissa
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (P.B.C.); (S.S.S.); Tel.:+55-11-2627-9777 (P.B.C.); +55-11-3061-7194 (ext. 218) (S.S.S.)
| | - Sabri Saeed Sanabani
- Laboratory of Dermatology and Immunodeficiency, Department of Dermatology LIM 56, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation 03 (LIM03), Clinics Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
- Correspondence: (P.B.C.); (S.S.S.); Tel.:+55-11-2627-9777 (P.B.C.); +55-11-3061-7194 (ext. 218) (S.S.S.)
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16
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Gopalan SS, Perry BW, Schield DR, Smith CF, Mackessy SP, Castoe TA. Origins, genomic structure and copy number variation of snake venom myotoxins. Toxicon 2022; 216:92-106. [PMID: 35820472 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Crotamine, myotoxin a and homologs are short peptides that often comprise major fractions of rattlesnake venoms and have been extensively studied for their bioactive properties. These toxins are thought to be important for rapidly immobilizing mammalian prey and are implicated in serious, and sometimes fatal, responses to envenomation in humans. While high quality reference genomes for multiple venomous snakes are available, the loci that encode myotoxins have not been successfully assembled in any existing genome assembly. Here, we integrate new and existing genomic and transcriptomic data from the Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) to reconstruct, characterize, and infer the chromosomal locations of myotoxin-encoding loci. We integrate long-read transcriptomics (Pacific Bioscience's Iso-Seq) and short-read RNA-seq to infer gene sequence diversity and characterize patterns of myotoxin and paralogous β-defensin expression across multiple tissues. We also identify two long non-coding RNA sequences which both encode functional myotoxins, demonstrating a newly discovered source of venom coding sequence diversity. We also integrate long-range mate-pair chromatin contact data and linked-read sequencing to infer the structure and chromosomal locations of the three myotoxin-like loci. Further, we conclude that the venom-associated myotoxin is located on chromosome 1 and is adjacent to non-venom paralogs. Consistent with this locus contributing to venom composition, we find evidence that the promoter of this gene is selectively open in venom gland tissue and contains transcription factor binding sites implicated in broad trans-regulatory pathways that regulate snake venoms. This study provides the best genomic reconstruction of myotoxin loci to date and raises questions about the physiological roles and interplay between myotoxin and related genes, as well as the genomic origins of snake venom variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth S Gopalan
- Department of Biology, 501 S. Nedderman Dr., The University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Blair W Perry
- Department of Biology, 501 S. Nedderman Dr., The University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Drew R Schield
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Cara F Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, 501 20th Street, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 12801 East 17th Avenue, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Stephen P Mackessy
- School of Biological Sciences, 501 20th Street, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA
| | - Todd A Castoe
- Department of Biology, 501 S. Nedderman Dr., The University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.
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17
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Jia Y, Vega C. Biochemical and computational approaches to understand venom toxin-toxin interaction. Toxicon 2022; 216:11-14. [PMID: 35772507 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Snake venoms are mainly composed of proteins and peptides (venom toxins). The venom transcriptomes and proteomes have been extensively investigated; however, venom toxin-toxin interactions remain poorly characterized. We detected the interaction of venom Asp49-PLA2 and 3FTx using biochemical and computational approaches. A stable structure of Asp49-PLA2-3FTx was identified, and the interface of Asp49-PLA2 and 3FTx was analyzed. The approaches will shed light on understanding the venom complexity and deciphering the synergistic effects of venom toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Jia
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, 78520, USA.
| | - Christine Vega
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, 78520, USA
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Interpopulational variation and ontogenetic shift in the venom composition of Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei, Boscá 1878) from northern Portugal. J Proteomics 2022; 263:104613. [PMID: 35589061 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2022.104613] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei) is a venomous European viper endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, recognised as medically important by the World Health Organization. To date, no comprehensive characterisation of this species' venom has been reported. Here, we analysed the venoms of juvenile and adult specimens of V. latastei from two environmentally different populations from northern Portugal. Using bottom-up venomics, we produced six venom proteomes (three per population) from vipers belonging to both age classes (i.e., two juveniles and four adults), and RP-HPLC profiles of 54 venoms collected from wild specimens. Venoms from juveniles and adults differed in their chromatographic profiles and relative abundances of their toxins, suggesting the occurrence of ontogenetic changes in venom composition. Specifically, snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) was the most abundant toxin family in juvenile venoms, while snake venom serine proteinases (SVSPs), phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), and C-type lectin-like (CTLs) proteins were the main toxins comprising adult venoms. The RP-HPLC venom profiles were found to vary significantly between the two sampled localities, indicating geographic variability. Furthermore, the presence/absence of certain peaks in the venom chromatographic profiles appeared to be significantly correlated also to factors like body size and sex of the vipers. Our findings show that V. latastei venom is a variable phenotype. The intraspecific differences we detected in its composition likely mirror changes in the feeding ecology of this species, taking place during different life stages and under different environmental pressures. SIGNIFICANCE: Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei) is a medically important viper endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, inhabiting different habitats and undergoing a marked ontogenetic dietary shift. In the current study, we report the first proteomic analysis of V. latastei venom from two environmentally different localities in northern Portugal. Our bottom-up venomic analyses show that snake venom serine proteinases (SVSPs), phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), and C-type lectin-like (CTLs) proteins are the major components of adult V. latastei venom. The comparative analysis of young and adult venoms suggests the occurrence of ontogenetic shift in toxin abundances, with snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) being the predominant toxins in juvenile venoms. Moreover, geographic venom variation between the two studied populations is also detected, with our statistical analyses suggesting that factors like body size and sex of the vipers are possibly at play in its determination. Our work represents the first assessment of the composition of V. latastei venom, and the first step towards a better understanding of the drivers behind its variability.
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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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Malhotra A, Wüster W, Owens JB, Hodges CW, Jesudasan A, Ch G, Kartik A, Christopher P, Louies J, Naik H, Santra V, Kuttalam SR, Attre S, Sasa M, Bravo-Vega C, Murray KA. Promoting co-existence between humans and venomous snakes through increasing the herpetological knowledge base. Toxicon X 2021; 12:100081. [PMID: 34522881 PMCID: PMC8426276 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2021.100081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite incidence at least partly depends on the biology of the snakes involved. However, studies of snake biology have been largely neglected in favour of anthropic factors, with the exception of taxonomy, which has been recognised for some decades to affect the design of antivenoms. Despite this, within-species venom variation and the unpredictability of the correlation with antivenom cross-reactivity has continued to be problematic. Meanwhile, other aspects of snake biology, including behaviour, spatial ecology and activity patterns, distribution, and population demography, which can contribute to snakebite mitigation and prevention, remain underfunded and understudied. Here, we review the literature relevant to these aspects of snakebite and illustrate how demographic, spatial, and behavioural studies can improve our understanding of why snakebites occur and provide evidence for prevention strategies. We identify the large gaps that remain to be filled and urge that, in the future, data and relevant metadata be shared openly via public data repositories so that studies can be properly replicated and data used in future meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Malhotra
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution @ Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, 3rd floor ECW, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution @ Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, 3rd floor ECW, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - John Benjamin Owens
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution @ Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, 3rd floor ECW, Deiniol Road, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
- Captive & Field Herpetology Ltd, Wales, 13 Hirfron, Holyhead, Llaingoch, Anglesey, LL65 1YU, UK
| | - Cameron Wesley Hodges
- School of Biology, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Muang Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Allwin Jesudasan
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology, Post bag No.4, Vadanamelli Village, East Coast Road, Mamallapuram, 603 104, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gnaneswar Ch
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology, Post bag No.4, Vadanamelli Village, East Coast Road, Mamallapuram, 603 104, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ajay Kartik
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology, Post bag No.4, Vadanamelli Village, East Coast Road, Mamallapuram, 603 104, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Peter Christopher
- Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology, Post bag No.4, Vadanamelli Village, East Coast Road, Mamallapuram, 603 104, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Hiral Naik
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. P. O. Wits, 2050, Gauteng, South Africa
- Save the Snakes, R527, Blyderus, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa
| | - Vishal Santra
- Captive & Field Herpetology Ltd, Wales, 13 Hirfron, Holyhead, Llaingoch, Anglesey, LL65 1YU, UK
- Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal 712407, India
| | - Sourish Rajagopalan Kuttalam
- Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal 712407, India
| | - Shaleen Attre
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Bravo-Vega
- Research Group in Mathematical and Computational Biology (BIOMAC), Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of the Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Kris A. Murray
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, UK
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara, Gambia
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21
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Gómez A, Solano G, Chang-Castillo A, Chacón D, Corrales G, Segura Á, Estrada R, León G. Intraspecific variability of the Central American rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) venom and its usefulness to obtain a representative standard venom. Toxicon 2021; 202:20-26. [PMID: 34562491 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Snake venoms are mixtures of proteins whose physicochemical features confer them toxicity and immunogenicity. Animals (e.g., horses or sheep) immunized with snake venoms produce antibodies towards the venom proteins. Since these antibodies can neutralize the venom toxicity, they have been used to formulate snake antivenoms. The efficacy of the antivenoms is widely accepted, and standard venoms are expected to be representative of the snake's population that inhabit in the region where the antivenom is intended to be used. The representativeness of a single venom collected from a Crotalus simus snake, and its usefulness as standard venom to produce an antivenom is evaluated. The use of an "average venom" might be as representative of the population intended to be used, as the standard venom composed by many venom samples. Variations in the relative abundance concentration of crotoxin in the C. simus leads to different clinical manifestations, as well as differences in the neutralization efficacy of the antivenoms. A monovalent anti-Cs antivenom was produced from a single venom C. simus specimen, and its efficacy in neutralizing the lethal activity of 30 C. simus snakes was tested. Despite the variations in the relative abundance content of crotoxin found in the proteomes, the monovalent anti-Cs antivenom was successful in neutralize the toxicity caused by the variations on the venom composition of three different snake population used. Interestingly, it seems that the sex is not a key factor in the lethality of the venoms tested. The concept of representative venom mixtures for immunization should be revised for the case of C. simus on the populations found in Costa Rica, since it might use as less as one representative individual whose venom covers the mainly toxic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Gabriela Solano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Arturo Chang-Castillo
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Danilo Chacón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Greivin Corrales
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Álvaro Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ricardo Estrada
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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22
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Colis-Torres A, Neri-Castro E, Strickland JL, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Borja M, Calvete J, Jones J, Parkinson CL, Bañuelos J, López de León J, Alagón A. Intraspecific venom variation of Mexican West Coast Rattlesnakes (Crotalus basiliscus) and its implications for antivenom production. Biochimie 2021; 192:111-124. [PMID: 34656669 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Intraspecific variation in snake venoms has been widely documented worldwide. However, there are few studies on this subject in Mexico. Venom characterization studies provide important data used to predict clinical syndromes, to evaluate the efficacy of antivenoms and, in some cases, to improve immunogenic mixtures in the production of antivenoms. In the present work, we evaluated the intraspecific venom variation of Crotalus basiliscus, a rattlesnake of medical importance and whose venom is used in the immunization of horses to produce one of the Mexican antivenoms. Our results demonstrate that there is variation in biological and biochemical activities among adult venoms and that there is an ontogenetic change from juvenile to adult venoms. Juvenile venoms were more lethal and had higher percentages of crotamine and crotoxin, while adult venoms had higher percentages of snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs). Additionally, we documented crotoxin-like PLA2 variation in which specimens from Zacatecas, Sinaloa and Michoacán (except 1) lacked the neurotoxin, while the rest of the venoms had it. Finally, we evaluated the efficacy of three lots of Birmex antivenom and all three were able to neutralize the lethality of four representative venoms but were not able to neutralize crotamine. We also observed significant differences in the LD50 values neutralized per vial among the different lots. Based on these results, we recommend including venoms containing crotamine in the production of antivenom for a better immunogenic mixture and to improve the homogeneity of lots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Colis-Torres
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jason L Strickland
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, 5871 USA Dr. N, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA
| | - Alejandro Olvera-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Miguel Borja
- Facultad Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010, Gómez Palacio, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Juan Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jason Jones
- Herp.mx A.C, Villa del Álvarez, Colima, Mexico
| | - Christopher L Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Forestry, and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, 190 Collings St. Clemson, SC, 29631, USA
| | - Jorge Bañuelos
- Herp.mx A.C, Villa del Álvarez, Colima, Mexico; Unidad Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Edificio de Biología Campus II Ave. Preparatoria S/N, Col. Agronómica, 98066, ZacatecasZacatecas, Mexico
| | - Jorge López de León
- Hospital General Norberto Treviño Zapata, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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23
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Zhao HY, Sun Y, Du Y, Li JQ, Lv JG, Qu YF, Lin LH, Lin CX, Ji X, Gao JF. Venom of the Annulated Sea Snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus: A Biochemically Simple but Genetically Complex Weapon. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:548. [PMID: 34437419 PMCID: PMC8402435 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Given that the venom system in sea snakes has a role in enhancing their secondary adaption to the marine environment, it follows that elucidating the diversity and function of venom toxins will help to understand the adaptive radiation of sea snakes. We performed proteomic and de novo NGS analyses to explore the diversity of venom toxins in the annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) and estimated the adaptive molecular evolution of the toxin-coding unigenes and the toxicity of the major components. We found three-finger toxins (3-FTxs), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) in the venom proteome and 59 toxin-coding unigenes belonging to 24 protein families in the venom-gland transcriptome; 3-FTx and PLA2 were the most abundant families. Nearly half of the toxin-coding unigenes had undergone positive selection. The short- (i.p. 0.09 μg/g) and long-chain neurotoxin (i.p. 0.14 μg/g) presented fairly high toxicity, whereas both basic and acidic PLA2s expressed low toxicity. The toxicity of H. cyanocinctus venom was largely determined by the 3-FTxs. Our data show the venom is used by H. cyanocinctus as a biochemically simple but genetically complex weapon and venom evolution in H. cyanocinctus is presumably driven by natural selection to deal with fast-moving prey and enemies in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yan Zhao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (H.-Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (L.-H.L.)
| | - Yan Sun
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (H.-Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (L.-H.L.)
| | - Yu Du
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China; (Y.D.); (J.-G.L.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.-Q.L.); (Y.-F.Q.)
| | - Jia-Qi Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.-Q.L.); (Y.-F.Q.)
| | - Jin-Geng Lv
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China; (Y.D.); (J.-G.L.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China
| | - Yan-Fu Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.-Q.L.); (Y.-F.Q.)
| | - Long-Hui Lin
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (H.-Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (L.-H.L.)
| | - Chi-Xian Lin
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China; (Y.D.); (J.-G.L.)
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.-Q.L.); (Y.-F.Q.)
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (H.-Y.Z.); (Y.S.); (L.-H.L.)
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24
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Zhao HY, Wen L, Miao YF, Du Y, Sun Y, Yin Y, Lin CX, Lin LH, Ji X, Gao JF. Venom-gland transcriptomic, venomic, and antivenomic profiles of the spine-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis curtus) from the South China Sea. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:520. [PMID: 34238212 PMCID: PMC8268360 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07824-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A comprehensive evaluation of the -omic profiles of venom is important for understanding the potential function and evolution of snake venom. Here, we conducted an integrated multi-omics-analysis to unveil the venom-transcriptomic and venomic profiles in a same group of spine-bellied sea snakes (Hydrophis curtus) from the South China Sea, where the snake is a widespread species and might generate regionally-specific venom potentially harmful to human activities. The capacity of two heterologous antivenoms to immunocapture the H. curtus venom was determined for an in-depth evaluation of their rationality in treatment of H. curtus envenomation. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis by maximum likelihood was used to detect the adaptive molecular evolution of full-length toxin-coding unigenes. Results A total of 90,909,384 pairs of clean reads were generated via Illumina sequencing from a pooled cDNA library of six specimens, and yielding 148,121 unigenes through de novo assembly. Sequence similarity searching harvested 63,845 valid annotations, including 63,789 non-toxin-coding and 56 toxin-coding unigenes belonging to 22 protein families. Three protein families, three-finger toxins (3-FTx), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), and cysteine-rich secretory protein, were detected in the venom proteome. 3-FTx (27.15% in the transcriptome/41.94% in the proteome) and PLA2 (59.71%/49.36%) were identified as the most abundant families in the venom-gland transcriptome and venom proteome. In addition, 24 unigenes from 11 protein families were shown to have experienced positive selection in their evolutionary history, whereas four were relatively conserved throughout evolution. Commercial Naja atra antivenom exhibited a stronger capacity than Bungarus multicinctus antivenom to immunocapture H. curtus venom components, especially short neurotoxins, with the capacity of both antivenoms to immunocapture short neurotoxins being weaker than that for PLA2s. Conclusions Our study clarified the venom-gland transcriptomic and venomic profiles along with the within-group divergence of a H. curtus population from the South China Sea. Adaptive evolution of most venom components driven by natural selection appeared to occur rapidly during evolutionary history. Notably, the utility of commercial N. atra and B. multicinctus antivenoms against H. curtus toxins was not comprehensive; thus, the development of species-specific antivenom is urgently needed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07824-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yan Zhao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Wen
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu-Feng Miao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu Du
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yin Yin
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chi-Xian Lin
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Herpetological Research, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China
| | - Long-Hui Lin
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation for Tropical Marine Bioresources, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya, 572022, Hainan, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China. .,College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jian-Fang Gao
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
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25
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Calvete JJ, Lomonte B, Saviola AJ, Bonilla F, Sasa M, Williams DJ, Undheim EA, Sunagar K, Jackson TN. Mutual enlightenment: A toolbox of concepts and methods for integrating evolutionary and clinical toxinology via snake venomics and the contextual stance. Toxicon X 2021; 9-10:100070. [PMID: 34195606 PMCID: PMC8234350 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2021.100070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that may claim over 100,000 human lives annually worldwide. Snakebite occurs as the result of an interaction between a human and a snake that elicits either a defensive response from the snake or, more rarely, a feeding response as the result of mistaken identity. Snakebite envenoming is therefore a biological and, more specifically, an ecological problem. Snake venom itself is often described as a "cocktail", as it is a heterogenous mixture of molecules including the toxins (which are typically proteinaceous) responsible for the pathophysiological consequences of envenoming. The primary function of venom in snake ecology is pre-subjugation, with defensive deployment of the secretion typically considered a secondary function. The particular composition of any given venom cocktail is shaped by evolutionary forces that include phylogenetic constraints associated with the snake's lineage and adaptive responses to the snake's ecological context, including the taxa it preys upon and by which it is predated upon. In the present article, we describe how conceptual frameworks from ecology and evolutionary biology can enter into a mutually enlightening relationship with clinical toxinology by enabling the consideration of snakebite envenoming from an "ecological stance". We detail the insights that may emerge from such a perspective and highlight the ways in which the high-fidelity descriptive knowledge emerging from applications of -omics era technologies - "venomics" and "antivenomics" - can combine with evolutionary explanations to deliver a detailed understanding of this multifactorial health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J. Calvete
- Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Unidad de Proteómica, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Anthony J. Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Fabián Bonilla
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Animales Peligrosos (LIAP), Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Animales Peligrosos (LIAP), Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Museo de Zoología, Centro de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
| | | | - Eivind A.B. Undheim
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Timothy N.W. Jackson
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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26
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Claunch NM, Holding M, Frazier JT, Huff EM, Schonour RB, Vernasco B, Moore IT, Rokyta DR, Taylor EN. Experimental Manipulation of Corticosterone Does Not Affect Venom Composition or Functional Activity in Free-Ranging Rattlesnakes. Physiol Biochem Zool 2021; 94:286-301. [PMID: 34166170 DOI: 10.1086/714936] [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] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractVenom is an integral feeding trait in many animal species. Although venom often varies ontogenetically, little is known about the proximate physiological mediators of venom variation within individuals. The glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT) can alter the transcription and activation of proteins, including homologues of snake venom components such as snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). CORT is endogenously produced by snakes, varies seasonally and also in response to stress, and is a candidate endogenous mediator of changes in venom composition and functional activity. Here, we tested the hypothesis that CORT induces changes in snake venom by sampling the venom of wild adult rattlesnakes before and after they were treated with either empty (control) or CORT-filled (treatment) Silastic implants. We measured longitudinal changes in whole-venom composition, whole-venom total protein content, and enzymatic activity of SVMP and PLA2 components of venom. We also assessed the within-individual repeatability of venom components. Despite successfully elevating plasma CORT in the treatment group, we found no effect of CORT treatment or average plasma CORT level on any venom variables measured. Except for total protein content, venom components were highly repeatable within individuals ([Formula: see text]). Our results indicate that the effects of CORT, a hormone commonly associated with stress and metabolic functions, in adult rattlesnake venom are negligible. Our findings bode well for venom researchers and biomedical applications that rely on the consistency of venoms produced from potentially stressed individuals and provide an experimental framework for future studies of proximate mediators of venom variation across an individual's life span.
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27
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Damm M, Hempel BF, Süssmuth RD. Old World Vipers-A Review about Snake Venom Proteomics of Viperinae and Their Variations. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13060427. [PMID: 34204565 PMCID: PMC8235416 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13060427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution, snake venoms have frightened but also fascinated humanity and nowadays they constitute potential resources for drug development, therapeutics and antivenoms. The continuous progress of mass spectrometry techniques and latest advances in proteomics workflows enabled toxinologists to decipher venoms by modern omics technologies, so-called ‘venomics’. A tremendous upsurge reporting on snake venom proteomes could be observed. Within this review we focus on the highly venomous and widely distributed subfamily of Viperinae (Serpentes: Viperidae). A detailed public literature database search was performed (2003–2020) and we extensively reviewed all compositional venom studies of the so-called Old-World Vipers. In total, 54 studies resulted in 89 venom proteomes. The Viperinae venoms are dominated by four major, four secondary, six minor and several rare toxin families and peptides, respectively. The multitude of different venomics approaches complicates the comparison of venom composition datasets and therefore we differentiated between non-quantitative and three groups of quantitative workflows. The resulting direct comparisons within these groups show remarkable differences on the intra- and interspecies level across genera with a focus on regional differences. In summary, the present compilation is the first comprehensive up-to-date database on Viperinae venom proteomes and differentiating between analytical methods and workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Damm
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, (BCRT), 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Roderich D. Süssmuth
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)30-314-24205
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28
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Hatakeyama DM, Jorge Tasima L, da Costa Galizio N, Serino-Silva C, Fabri Bittencourt Rodrigues C, Rodrigues Stuginski D, Stefanini Sant’Anna S, Fernandes Grego K, Tashima AK, Nishiduka ES, de Morais-Zani K, Tanaka-Azevedo AM. From birth to adulthood: An analysis of the Brazilian lancehead (Bothrops moojeni) venom at different life stages. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253050. [PMID: 34111213 PMCID: PMC8191990 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Brazilian lancehead (Bothrops moojeni) has a wide distribution in Brazil and represents a serious public health hazard. Previous works reported that the symptoms of snakebites caused by B. moojeni juveniles’ bites were mainly related to coagulation, while those caused by adults’ bites had a more prominent local damage. In this work, we analyzed the venoms of B. moojeni at different life stages to better understand the ontogeny shift in this species. Snakes were grouped by age and sex, and venom pools were formed accordingly. Compositional analyses by one-dimensional electrophoresis (1-DE), chromatography, and mass spectrometry revealed that ontogenetic changes might be mostly related to phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and metalloproteases. Regarding the venoms functional aspect, proteolytic, L-amino acid oxidase, PLA2, and coagulant in vitro activities were assayed, but only the first and the last ones showed age-related changes, with the venom of snakes up to 1 year-old displaying lower proteolytic and higher coagulant activities, while those from 2 years-old onward presented the opposite relation. The venoms of 3 years-old snakes were exceptions to the compositional and functional pattern of adults as both venoms presented profiles similar to neonates. Sex-related differences were observed in specific groups and were not age-related. In vivo experiments (median lethal dose and hemorrhagic activity) were statistically similar between neonates and adults, however we verified that the adult venom killed mice faster comparing to the neonates. All venoms were mostly recognized by the antibothropic serum and displayed similar profiles to 1-DE in western blotting. In conclusion, the Brazilian lancehead venom showed ontogenetic shift in its composition and activities. Furthermore, this change occurred in snakes from 1 to 2 years-old, and interestingly the venom pools from 3 years-old snakes had particular characteristics, which highlights the importance of comprehensive studies to better understand venom variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Miki Hatakeyama
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lídia Jorge Tasima
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nathália da Costa Galizio
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Serino-Silva
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Fabri Bittencourt Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Karen de Morais-Zani
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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29
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Lima EOVD, Tasima LJ, Hatakeyama DM, Serino-Silva C, Rodrigues CFB, Galizio NDC, Chiarelli T, Nishiduka ES, Rocha MMTD, Sant'Anna SS, Grego KF, Tashima AK, Tanaka-Azevedo AM, Morais-Zani KD. Snake venom color and L-amino acid oxidase: An evidence of long-term captive Crotalus durissus terrificus venom plasticity. Toxicon 2021; 193:73-83. [PMID: 33515573 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The venom color variation of Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) is attributed to the presence of the toxin L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO). During the venom milking routine of Instituto Butantan, we have noticed that most venoms of captive Cdt specimens show a yellowish color, while most venoms of wild specimens are white. Here we describe a comparative analysis of long-term captive (LTC) and recently wild-caught (RWC) Cdt, focusing on LAAO variation. For the identification of LAAO in individual venoms, four different approaches were employed: evaluation of the enzymatic activity, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and ELISA. In addition, mass spectrometry analysis was performed using pooled samples. Although some variation among these methodologies was observed, it was possible to notice that the presence of LAAO was significantly higher in the venom of LTC individuals. LAAO was identified in 60-80% LTC specimens and in only 10-12% of RWC specimens. Furthermore, this enzyme accounts for 5.6% of total venom proteins of LTC Cdt pooled venom, while it corresponds to only 0.7% of RWC Cdt pooled venom. These findings strongly suggest that captive maintenance increases the expression of LAAO in Cdt venom.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lídia Jorge Tasima
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniela Miki Hatakeyama
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Serino-Silva
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caroline Fabri Bittencourt Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nathália da Costa Galizio
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tassia Chiarelli
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karen de Morais-Zani
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil; Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
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30
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Margres MJ, Rautsaw RM, Strickland JL, Mason AJ, Schramer TD, Hofmann EP, Stiers E, Ellsworth SA, Nystrom GS, Hogan MP, Bartlett DA, Colston TJ, Gilbert DM, Rokyta DR, Parkinson CL. The Tiger Rattlesnake genome reveals a complex genotype underlying a simple venom phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2014634118. [PMID: 33468678 PMCID: PMC7848695 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014634118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in gene regulation is ubiquitous, yet identifying the mechanisms producing such variation, especially for complex traits, is challenging. Snake venoms provide a model system for studying the phenotypic impacts of regulatory variation in complex traits because of their genetic tractability. Here, we sequence the genome of the Tiger Rattlesnake, which possesses the simplest and most toxic venom of any rattlesnake species, to determine whether the simple venom phenotype is the result of a simple genotype through gene loss or a complex genotype mediated through regulatory mechanisms. We generate the most contiguous snake-genome assembly to date and use this genome to show that gene loss, chromatin accessibility, and methylation levels all contribute to the production of the simplest, most toxic rattlesnake venom. We provide the most complete characterization of the venom gene-regulatory network to date and identify key mechanisms mediating phenotypic variation across a polygenic regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Margres
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634;
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Rhett M Rautsaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Jason L Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688
| | - Andrew J Mason
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Tristan D Schramer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Erich P Hofmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Erin Stiers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Schyler A Ellsworth
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Gunnar S Nystrom
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Michael P Hogan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Daniel A Bartlett
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Timothy J Colston
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - David M Gilbert
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Darin R Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Christopher L Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634;
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
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31
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Sunagar K, Khochare S, Senji Laxme RR, Attarde S, Dam P, Suranse V, Khaire A, Martin G, Captain A. A Wolf in Another Wolf's Clothing: Post-Genomic Regulation Dictates Venom Profiles of Medically-Important Cryptic Kraits in India. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13010069. [PMID: 33477742 PMCID: PMC7832344 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) shares a distribution range with many other ‘phenotypically-similar’ kraits across the Indian subcontinent. Despite several reports of fatal envenomings by other Bungarus species, commercial Indian antivenoms are only manufactured against B. caeruleus. It is, therefore, imperative to understand the distribution of genetically distinct lineages of kraits, the compositional differences in their venoms, and the consequent impact of venom variation on the (pre)clinical effectiveness of antivenom therapy. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted phylogenetic and comparative venomics investigations of kraits in Southern and Western India. Phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial markers revealed a new species of krait, Romulus’ krait (Bungarus romulusi sp. nov.), in Southern India. Additionally, we found that kraits with 17 mid-body dorsal scale rows in Western India do not represent a subspecies of the Sind Krait (B. sindanus walli) as previously believed, but are genetically very similar to B. sindanus in Pakistan. Furthermore, venom proteomics and comparative transcriptomics revealed completely contrasting venom profiles. While the venom gland transcriptomes of all three species were highly similar, venom proteomes and toxicity profiles differed significantly, suggesting the prominent role of post-genomic regulatory mechanisms in shaping the venoms of these cryptic kraits. In vitro venom recognition and in vivo neutralisation experiments revealed a strong negative impact of venom variability on the preclinical performance of commercial antivenoms. While the venom of B. caeruleus was neutralised as per the manufacturer’s claim, performance against the venoms of B. sindanus and B. romulusi was poor, highlighting the need for regionally-effective antivenoms in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India; (S.K.); (R.R.S.L.); (S.A.); (P.D.); (V.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Suyog Khochare
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India; (S.K.); (R.R.S.L.); (S.A.); (P.D.); (V.S.)
| | - R. R. Senji Laxme
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India; (S.K.); (R.R.S.L.); (S.A.); (P.D.); (V.S.)
| | - Saurabh Attarde
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India; (S.K.); (R.R.S.L.); (S.A.); (P.D.); (V.S.)
| | - Paulomi Dam
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India; (S.K.); (R.R.S.L.); (S.A.); (P.D.); (V.S.)
| | - Vivek Suranse
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India; (S.K.); (R.R.S.L.); (S.A.); (P.D.); (V.S.)
| | - Anil Khaire
- Indian Herpetological Society, 7/47, Pune Satara Road, Pune 411009, Maharashtra, India;
| | - Gerard Martin
- The Liana Trust, Survey #1418/1419 Rathnapuri, Hunsur 571189, Karnataka, India;
| | - Ashok Captain
- 3/1 Boat Club Road, Pune 411001, Maharashtra, India;
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32
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Weitzner EL, Fanter CE, Hindle AG. Pinniped Ontogeny as a Window into the Comparative Physiology and Genomics of Hypoxia Tolerance. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:1414-1424. [PMID: 32559283 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Diving physiology has received considerable scientific attention as it is a central element of the extreme phenotype of marine mammals. Many scientific discoveries have illuminated physiological mechanisms supporting diving, such as massive, internally bound oxygen stores and dramatic cardiovascular regulation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that support the diving phenotype remain mostly unexplored as logistic and legal restrictions limit the extent of scientific manipulation possible. With next-generation sequencing (NGS) tools becoming more widespread and cost-effective, there are new opportunities to explore the diving phenotype. Genomic investigations come with their own challenges, particularly those including cross-species comparisons. Studying the regulatory pathways that underlie diving mammal ontogeny could provide a window into the comparative physiology of hypoxia tolerance. Specifically, in pinnipeds, which shift from terrestrial pups to elite diving adults, there is potential to characterize the transcriptional, epigenetic, and posttranslational differences between contrasting phenotypes while leveraging a common genome. Here we review the current literature detailing the maturation of the diving phenotype in pinnipeds, which has primarily been explored via biomarkers of metabolic capability including antioxidants, muscle fiber typing, and key aerobic and anaerobic metabolic enzymes. We also discuss how NGS tools have been leveraged to study phenotypic shifts within species through ontogeny, and how this approach may be applied to investigate the biochemical and physiological mechanisms that develop as pups become elite diving adults. We conclude with a specific example of the Antarctic Weddell seal by overlapping protein biomarkers with gene regulatory microRNA datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Weitzner
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Cornelia E Fanter
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Allyson G Hindle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
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33
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Freitas-de-Sousa LA, Nachtigall PG, Portes-Junior JA, Holding ML, Nystrom GS, Ellsworth SA, Guimarães NC, Tioyama E, Ortiz F, Silva BR, Kunz TS, Junqueira-de-Azevedo ILM, Grazziotin FG, Rokyta DR, Moura-da-Silva AM. Size Matters: An Evaluation of the Molecular Basis of Ontogenetic Modifications in the Composition of Bothrops jararacussu Snake Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12120791. [PMID: 33322460 PMCID: PMC7763748 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12120791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ontogenetic changes in venom composition have been described in Bothrops snakes, but only a few studies have attempted to identify the targeted paralogues or the molecular mechanisms involved in modifications of gene expression during ontogeny. In this study, we decoded B. jararacussu venom gland transcripts from six specimens of varying sizes and analyzed the variability in the composition of independent venom proteomes from 19 individuals. We identified 125 distinct putative toxin transcripts, and of these, 73 were detected in venom proteomes and only 10 were involved in the ontogenetic changes. Ontogenetic variability was linearly related to snake size and did not correspond to the maturation of the reproductive stage. Changes in the transcriptome were highly predictive of changes in the venom proteome. The basic myotoxic phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) were the most abundant components in larger snakes, while in venoms from smaller snakes, PIII-class SVMPs were the major components. The snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) identified corresponded to novel sequences and conferred higher pro-coagulant and hemorrhagic functions to the venom of small snakes. The mechanisms modulating venom variability are predominantly related to transcriptional events and may consist of an advantage of higher hematotoxicity and more efficient predatory function in the venom from small snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana A. Freitas-de-Sousa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências-Toxinologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (N.C.G.); (E.T.)
- Correspondence: (L.A.F.-d.-S.); (A.M.M.-d.-S.); Tel.: +55-11-2627-9779 (A.M.M.-d.-S.)
| | - Pedro G. Nachtigall
- Laboratório Especial de Toxinologia Aplicada, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (P.G.N.); (I.L.M.J.-d.-A.)
| | - José A. Portes-Junior
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (J.A.P.-J.); (F.O.); (B.R.S.); (T.S.K.); (F.G.G.)
| | - Matthew L. Holding
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (M.L.H.); (G.S.N.); (S.A.E.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Gunnar S. Nystrom
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (M.L.H.); (G.S.N.); (S.A.E.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Schyler A. Ellsworth
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (M.L.H.); (G.S.N.); (S.A.E.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Noranathan C. Guimarães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências-Toxinologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (N.C.G.); (E.T.)
| | - Emilly Tioyama
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências-Toxinologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (N.C.G.); (E.T.)
| | - Flora Ortiz
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (J.A.P.-J.); (F.O.); (B.R.S.); (T.S.K.); (F.G.G.)
| | - Bruno R. Silva
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (J.A.P.-J.); (F.O.); (B.R.S.); (T.S.K.); (F.G.G.)
| | - Tobias S. Kunz
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (J.A.P.-J.); (F.O.); (B.R.S.); (T.S.K.); (F.G.G.)
| | | | - Felipe G. Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (J.A.P.-J.); (F.O.); (B.R.S.); (T.S.K.); (F.G.G.)
| | - Darin R. Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (M.L.H.); (G.S.N.); (S.A.E.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Ana M. Moura-da-Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências-Toxinologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; (N.C.G.); (E.T.)
- Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Correspondence: (L.A.F.-d.-S.); (A.M.M.-d.-S.); Tel.: +55-11-2627-9779 (A.M.M.-d.-S.)
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Schonour RB, Huff EM, Holding ML, Claunch NM, Ellsworth SA, Hogan MP, Wray K, McGivern J, Margres MJ, Colston TJ, Rokyta DR. Gradual and Discrete Ontogenetic Shifts in Rattlesnake Venom Composition and Assessment of Hormonal and Ecological Correlates. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12100659. [PMID: 33081249 PMCID: PMC7602723 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12100659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ontogenetic shifts in venom occur in many snakes but establishing their nature as gradual or discrete processes required additional study. We profiled shifts in venom expression from the neonate to adult sizes of two rattlesnake species, the eastern diamondback and the timber rattlesnake. We used serial sampling and venom chromatographic profiling to test if ontogenetic change occurs gradually or discretely. We found evidence for gradual shifts in overall venom composition in six of eight snakes, which sometimes spanned more than two years. Most chromatographic peaks shift gradually, but one quarter shift in a discrete fashion. Analysis of published diet data showed gradual shifts in overall diet composition across the range of body sizes attained by our eight study animals, while the shifts in abundance of different prey classes varied in form from gradual to discrete. Testosterone concentrations were correlated with the change in venom protein composition, but the relationship is not strong enough to suggest causation. Venom research employing simple juvenile versus adult size thresholds may be failing to account for continuous variation in venom composition lifespan. Our results imply that venom shifts represent adaptive matches to dietary shifts and highlight venom for studies of alternative gene regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B. Schonour
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Emma M. Huff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Matthew L. Holding
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Natalie M. Claunch
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Schyler A. Ellsworth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Michael P. Hogan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Kenneth Wray
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - James McGivern
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Mark J. Margres
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Timothy J. Colston
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
| | - Darin R. Rokyta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA; (R.B.S.); (E.M.H.); (S.A.E.); (M.P.H.); (K.W.); (J.M.); (M.J.M.); (T.J.C.); (D.R.R.)
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Diniz-Sousa R, Moraes JDN, Rodrigues-da-Silva TM, Oliveira CS, Caldeira CADS. A brief review on the natural history, venomics and the medical importance of bushmaster ( Lachesis) pit viper snakes. Toxicon X 2020; 7:100053. [PMID: 32793880 PMCID: PMC7408722 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2020.100053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakes of the genus Lachesis, commonly known as bushmasters, are the largest venomous snakes in the Americas. Because these snakes have their habitats in areas of remote forests they are difficult to find, and consequently there are few studies of Lachesis taxa in their natural ecosystems. Bushmasters are distributed in tropical forest areas of South and Central America. In Brazil they can be found in the Amazon Rainforest and the Atlantic Forest. Despite the low incidence of cases, laquetic envenoming causes severe permanent sequelae due to the high amount of inoculated venom. These accidents are characterized by local pain, hemorrhage and myonecrosis that can be confused with bothropic envenomings. However, victims of Lachesis bites develop symptoms characteristic of Lachesis envenoming, known as vagal syndrome. An important message of this bibliographic synthesis exercise is that, despite having the proteomic profiles of all the taxa of the genus available, very few structure-function correlation studies have been carried out. Therefore the motivation for this review was to fill a gap in the literature on the genus Lachesis, about which there is no recent review. Here we discuss data scattered in a number of original articles published in specialized journals, spanning the evolutionary history and extant phylogeographic distribution of the bushmasters, their venom composition and diet, as well as the pathophysiology of their bites to humans and the biological activities and possible biotechnological applicability of their venom toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Diniz-Sousa
- Center for the Study of Biomolecules Applied to Health (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Experimental Biology (PGBIOEXP), Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Sao Lucas University Center (UniSL), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Jeane do N. Moraes
- Center for the Study of Biomolecules Applied to Health (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Experimental Biology (PGBIOEXP), Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | - Cláudia S. Oliveira
- Center for the Study of Biomolecules Applied to Health (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Experimental Biology (PGBIOEXP), Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Cleópatra A. da S. Caldeira
- Center for the Study of Biomolecules Applied to Health (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Experimental Biology (PGBIOEXP), Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
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Ontogenetic changes in the venom of Metlapilcoatlus nummifer, the mexican jumping viper. Toxicon 2020; 184:204-214. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Wang Q, Wang Z, Xu M, Tu W, Hsin IF, Stotland A, Kim JH, Liu P, Naiki M, Gottlieb RA, Seki E. Neurotropin Inhibits Lipid Accumulation by Maintaining Mitochondrial Function in Hepatocytes via AMPK Activation. Front Physiol 2020; 11:950. [PMID: 32848877 PMCID: PMC7424056 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, known as hepatic steatosis, is a hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Inhibiting hepatic steatosis is suggested to be a therapeutic strategy for NAFLD. The present study investigated the actions of Neurotropin (NTP), a drug used for chronic pain in Japan and China, on lipid accumulation in hepatocytes as a possible treatment for NAFLD. NTP inhibited lipid accumulation induced by palmitate and linoleate, the two major hepatotoxic free fatty acids found in NAFLD livers. An RNA sequencing analysis revealed that NTP altered the expression of mitochondrial genes. NTP ameliorated palmitate-and linoleate-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by reversing mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration, and β-oxidation, suppressing mitochondrial oxidative stress, and enhancing mitochondrial turnover. Moreover, NTP increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, a critical factor in the regulation of mitochondrial function, and induced PGC-1β expression. Inhibition of AMPK activity and PGC-1β expression diminished the anti-steatotic effect of NTP in hepatocytes. JNK inhibition could also be associated with NTP-mediated inhibition of lipid accumulation, but we did not find the association between AMPK and JNK. These results suggest that NTP inhibits lipid accumulation by maintaining mitochondrial function in hepatocytes via AMPK activation, or by inhibiting JNK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglan Wang
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Committee, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Wang
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mingyi Xu
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Wei Tu
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - I-Fang Hsin
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Aleksandr Stotland
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jeong Han Kim
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ping Liu
- E-Institute of Shanghai Municipal Education Committee, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mitsuru Naiki
- Department of Pharmacological Research, Institute of Bio-Active Science, Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Roberta A. Gottlieb
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Neri-Castro E, Sanz L, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Bénard-Valle M, Alagón A, Calvete JJ. Venomics and biochemical analysis of the black-tailed horned pitviper, Mixcoatlus melanurus, and characterization of Melanurutoxin, a novel crotoxin homolog. J Proteomics 2020; 225:103865. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Jia Y, Lopez I, Kowalski P. Toxin transcripts in Crotalus atrox venom and in silico structures of toxins. JOURNAL OF VENOM RESEARCH 2020; 10:18-22. [PMID: 32774833 PMCID: PMC7314381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is a common and widespread North American pit viper species, and its venom possesses medical applications. In this research, we identified 14 of the most common transcripts encoding 11 major venom toxins including transcripts for a three-finger toxin (3FTx) from the crude venom of C. atrox. In silico three-dimensional (3D) structures of 9 venom toxins were predicted by using deduced toxin amino acid sequences and a computer programme-MODELLER. The accuracy of all predicted toxin structures was evaluated by five stereochemical structure parameters including discrete optimised protein energy (DOPE) score, root mean square deviation (RMSD), Z-score, overall quality factor (ERRAT), and φ/ψ dihedral angle distribution of toxin backbone Cα residues, resulting that the overall predicted models are satisfied quality evaluation checks. Our present toxin transcripts and simulated individual toxin structures are important not only for revealing species-specific venom gene expression profiles, but also for predicting the toxin-toxin interactions and designing the structure-based toxin inhibitors for the treatment of snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Jia
- Biology Department, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA
| | - Ivan Lopez
- Biology Department, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA
| | - Paulina Kowalski
- Biology Department, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA
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Lomonte B, Díaz C, Chaves F, Fernández J, Ruiz M, Salas M, Zavaleta A, Calvete JJ, Sasa M. Comparative characterization of Viperidae snake venoms from Perú reveals two compositional patterns of phospholipase A 2 expression. Toxicon X 2020; 7:100044. [PMID: 32550596 PMCID: PMC7285926 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2020.100044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake species within the Bothrops complex (sensu lato) are of medical relevance in Latin America, but knowledge on their venom characteristics is limited, or even unavailable, for some taxa. Perú harbors 17 species of pit vipers, within the genera Bothrops, Bothriechis, Bothrocophias, Porthidium, Crotalus, and Lachesis. This study compared the venoms of twelve species, through chromatographic and electrophoretic profiles, as well as proteolytic and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities. Also, proteomic profiles were analyzed for nine of the venoms using a shotgun approach. Results unveiled conspicuous differences in the expression of venom PLA2s among species, six of them presenting scarce levels as judged by RP-HPLC profiles. Since most species within the bothropoid lineage possess venoms with high to intermediate abundances of this protein family, our findings suggest the existence of a phenotypic duality in the expression of venom PLA2s within the Bothrops (sensu lato) complex. Bothrops barnetti and Bothrocophias andianus venoms, very scarce in PLA2s, were shown to lack significant myotoxic activity, highlighting that the observed variability in PLA2 expression bears toxicological correlations with effects attributed to these proteins. Finally, an attempt to identify phylogenetic relationships of bothropoid species from Perú presenting low- or high-PLA2 venom phenotypes showed an interspersed pattern, thus precluding a simple phylogenetic interpretation of this venom compositional dichotomy. Venoms from 12 viperids of Perú were compared. Conspicuous differences in the expression of PLA2 were found. Venoms presenting scarce levels of PLA2 lack myotoxicity. A new phenotypic dichotomy in venom PLA2 expression is described within Bothrops (sensu lato).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Cecilia Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Fernando Chaves
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marco Ruiz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - María Salas
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Alfonso Zavaleta
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.,Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Zancolli G, Casewell NR. Venom Systems as Models for Studying the Origin and Regulation of Evolutionary Novelties. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:2777-2790. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
A central goal in biology is to determine the ways in which evolution repeats itself. One of the most remarkable examples in nature of convergent evolutionary novelty is animal venom. Across diverse animal phyla, various specialized organs and anatomical structures have evolved from disparate developmental tissues to perform the same function, that is, produce and deliver a cocktail of potent molecules to subdue prey or predators. Venomous organisms therefore offer unique opportunities to investigate the evolutionary processes of convergence of key adaptive traits, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the emergence of novel genes, cells, and tissues. Indeed, some venomous species have already proven to be highly amenable as models for developmental studies, and recent work with venom gland organoids provides manipulatable systems for directly testing important evolutionary questions. Here, we provide a synthesis of the current knowledge that could serve as a starting point for the establishment of venom systems as new models for evolutionary and molecular biology. In particular, we highlight the potential of various venomous species for the study of cell differentiation and cell identity, and the regulatory dynamics of rapidly evolving, highly expressed, tissue-specific, gene paralogs. We hope that this review will encourage researchers to look beyond traditional study organisms and consider venom systems as useful tools to explore evolutionary novelties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Zancolli
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Hashmi SU, Alvi A, Munir I, Perveen M, Fazal A, Jackson TNW, Ali SA. Functional venomics of the Big-4 snakes of Pakistan. Toxicon 2020; 179:60-71. [PMID: 32173354 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In South Asia, the "Big-4" venomous snakes Naja naja, Bungarus caeruleus, Daboia russelii, and Echis carinatus are so-called because they are the most medically important snakes in the region. Antivenom is the only effective treatment option for snakebite envenoming but antivenom is not produced domestically in Pakistan making the country reliant on polyvalent products imported from India and Saudi Arabia. The present study investigated the toxin composition and activity of the venoms of Pakistani specimens by means of proteomic and physio/pharmacological experiments. To evaluate the composition of venoms, 1D/2D-PAGE of crude venoms and RP-HPLC followed by SDS-PAGE were performed. Enzymatic, hemolytic, coagulant and platelet aggregating activities of crude venoms were assayed and were concordant with expectations based on the abundance of protein species in each. Neutralization assays were performed using Bharat polyvalent antivenom (BPAV), a product raised against venoms from Big-4 specimens from southern India. BPAV exhibited cross-reactivity against the Pakistani venoms, however, neutralization of clinically relevant activities was variable and rarely complete. Cumulatively, the presented data not only highlight geographical variations present in the venoms of the Big-4 snakes of South Asia, but also demonstrate the neutralization potential of Indian polyvalent against the venom of Pakistani specimens. Given the partial neutralization observed, it is clear that whilst BPAV is a life-saving product in Pakistan, in future it is hoped that a region-specific product might be manufactured domestically, using venoms of local snakes in the immunising mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syeda U Hashmi
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Areej Alvi
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Iqra Munir
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Mehvish Perveen
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Amaila Fazal
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Timothy N W Jackson
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Syed A Ali
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
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Fangs for the Memories? A Survey of Pain in Snakebite Patients Does Not Support a Strong Role for Defense in the Evolution of Snake Venom Composition. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12030201. [PMID: 32235759 PMCID: PMC7150919 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12030201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals use venoms for multiple purposes, most prominently for prey acquisition and self-defense. In snakes, venom composition often evolves as a result of selection for optimization for local diet. However, whether selection for a defensive function has also played a role in driving the evolution of venom composition has remained largely unstudied. Here, we use an online survey of snakebite victims to test a key prediction of a defensive function, that envenoming should result in the rapid onset of severe pain. From the analysis of 584 snakebite reports, involving 192 species of venomous snake, we find that the vast majority of bites do not result in severe early pain. Phylogenetic comparative analysis shows that where early pain after a bite evolves, it is often lost rapidly. Our results, therefore, do not support the hypothesis that natural selection for antipredator defense played an important role in the origin of venom or front-fanged delivery systems in general, although there may be intriguing exceptions to this rule.
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Fridrich A, Hazan Y, Moran Y. Too Many False Targets for MicroRNAs: Challenges and Pitfalls in Prediction of miRNA Targets and Their Gene Ontology in Model and Non-model Organisms. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1800169. [PMID: 30919506 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Short ("seed") or extended base pairing between microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target RNAs enables post-transcriptional silencing in many organisms. These interactions allow the computational prediction of potential targets. In model organisms, predicted targets are frequently validated experimentally; hence meaningful miRNA-regulated processes are reported. However, in non-models, these reports mostly rely on computational prediction alone. Many times, further bioinformatic analyses such as Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment are based on these in silico projections. Here such approaches are reviewed, their caveats are highlighted and the ease of picking false targets from predicted lists is demonstrated. Discoveries that shed new light on how miRNAs evolved to regulate targets in various phyletic groups are discussed, in addition to the pitfalls of target identification in non-model organisms. The goal is to prevent the misuse of bioinformatic tools, as they cannot bypass the biological understanding of miRNA-target regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arie Fridrich
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yael Hazan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
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Rodríguez-Abarca S, Corrales G, Chacón D, Guevara M, Esquivel C, Arroyo C, Gómez A. Morphological alterations caused by manual venom extraction on the main venom gland of Bothrops asper and Crotalus simus snakes (Serpentes: Viperidae): Long-term implications for antivenom production. Toxicon 2019; 172:23-32. [PMID: 31689424 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.10.242] [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: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The only scientifically validated treatment for snakebite envenomation is the administration of antivenoms. For their production, small quantities of snake venom are injected in animals to elicit a specific antibody response. Snakes are kept in captivity, and their venom is regularly extracted to assure antivenom access. It has already been reported that the pressure exerted upon the venom gland during this extraction can cause tissue damage and fibrosis, leading to a decrease in the venom yield. We described the histopathology of venom glands for B. asper and C. simus snakes used for antivenom production. Based on these reported tissue abnormalities, we quantify the tissue injury by a generated damage-SCORE and fibrosis. A variety of histopathological damages were found such as fibrosis, edema, necrosis, hemorrhage, and formation of anomalous structures, especially in C. simus, which is more prone to suffer severe damage. The level and severity of the damage depend on the frequency and the number of venom extractions. Furthermore, we design an experimental intensive venom extraction scheme with which we could confirm the causality of these effects. In addition to the histopathological damages, the LD50 and biochemical venom composition were also affected giving experimental evidence that the venom extraction not only causes tissue damage but also affects the composition stability and toxicity of the venom. In order to produce quality and effective antivenoms, an improvement of the management of snake collections could be established, such as rotation groups to assure the quality of the venom yielded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Rodríguez-Abarca
- Serpentario, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Apto: 11501-2060, Costa Rica; Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Apto: 86-3000, Costa Rica.
| | - Greivin Corrales
- Serpentario, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Apto: 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Danilo Chacón
- Serpentario, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Apto: 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Maricruz Guevara
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Técnica Nacional, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
| | - Carolina Esquivel
- Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratoria de Biología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional, Apto: 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica.
| | - Cynthia Arroyo
- Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Apto: 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Aarón Gómez
- Serpentario, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Apto: 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
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Margres MJ, Patton A, Wray KP, Hassinger ATB, Ward MJ, Lemmon EM, Lemmon AR, Rokyta DR. Tipping the Scales: The Migration-Selection Balance Leans toward Selection in Snake Venoms. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:271-282. [PMID: 30395254 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The migration-selection interaction is the strongest determinant of whether a beneficial allele increases in frequency within a population. Results of empirical studies examining the role of gene flow in an adaptive context, however, have largely been equivocal, with examples of opposing outcomes being repeatedly documented (e.g., local adaptation with high levels of gene flow vs. gene swamping). We compared neutral genomic and venom expression divergence for three sympatric pit vipers with differing ecologies to determine if and how migration-selection disequilibria result in local adaptation. We specifically tested whether neutral differentiation predicted phenotypic differentiation within an isolation-by-distance framework. The decoupling of neutral and phenotypic differentiation would indicate selection led to adaptive divergence irrespective of migration, whereas a significant relationship between neutral and venom expression differentiation would provide evidence in favor of the constraining force of gene flow. Neutral differentiation and geographic distance predicted phenotypic differentiation only in the generalist species, indicating that selection was the predominant mechanism in the migration-selection balance underlying adaptive venom evolution in both specialists. Dispersal is thought to be a stronger influence on genetic differentiation than specialization, but our results suggest the opposite. Greater specialization may lead to greater diversification rates, and extreme spatial and temporal variation in selective pressures can favor generalist phenotypes evolving under strong stabilizing selection. Our results are consistent with these expectations, suggesting that the equivocal findings of studies examining the role of gene flow in an adaptive context may be explained by ecological specialization theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Margres
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.,School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
| | - Austin Patton
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Kenneth P Wray
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
| | - Alyssa T B Hassinger
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Micaiah J Ward
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
| | | | - Alan R Lemmon
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
| | - Darin R Rokyta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
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47
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Functional variability of Bothrops atrox venoms from three distinct areas across the Brazilian Amazon and consequences for human envenomings. Toxicon 2019; 164:61-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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48
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Evidence for Snake Venom Plasticity in a Long-Term Study with Individual Captive Bothrops atrox. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11050294. [PMID: 31137619 PMCID: PMC6563259 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11050294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Variability in snake venom composition has been frequently reported and correlated to the adaptability of snakes to environmental conditions. Previous studies report plasticity for the venom phenotype. However, these observations are not conclusive, as the results were based on pooled venoms, which present high individual variability. Here we tested the hypothesis of plasticity by influence of confinement and single diet type in the venom composition of 13 adult specimens of Bothrops atrox snakes, maintained under captivity for more than three years. Individual variability in venom composition was observed in samples extracted just after the capture of the snakes. However, composition was conserved in venoms periodically extracted from nine specimens, which presented low variability restricted to the less abundant components. In a second group, composed of four snakes, drastic changes were observed in the venom samples extracted at different periods, mostly related to snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), the core function toxins of B. atrox venom, which occurred approximately between 400 and 500 days in captivity. These data show plasticity in the venom phenotype during the lifetime of adult snakes maintained under captive conditions. Causes or functional consequences involved in the phenotype modification require further investigations.
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49
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Petras D, Hempel BF, Göçmen B, Karis M, Whiteley G, Wagstaff SC, Heiss P, Casewell NR, Nalbantsoy A, Süssmuth RD. Intact protein mass spectrometry reveals intraspecies variations in venom composition of a local population of Vipera kaznakovi in Northeastern Turkey. J Proteomics 2019; 199:31-50. [PMID: 30763806 PMCID: PMC7613002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We report on the variable venom composition of a population of the Caucasus viper (Vipera kaznakovi) in Northeastern Turkey. We applied a combination of venom gland transcriptomics, de-complexing bottom-up and top-down venomics. In contrast to sole bottom-up venomics approaches and gel or chromatography based venom comparison, our combined approach enables a faster and more detailed comparison of venom proteomes from multiple individuals. In total, we identified peptides and proteins from 15 toxin families, including snake venom metalloproteinases (svMP; 37.8%), phospholipases A2 (PLA2; 19.0%), snake venom serine proteinases (svSP; 11.5%), C-type lectins (CTL; 6.9%) and cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP; 5.0%), in addition to several low abundant toxin families. Furthermore, we identified intraspecies variations of the venom composition of V. kaznakovi, and find these were mainly driven by the age of the animals, with lower svSP abundance detected in juveniles. On the proteoform level, several small molecular weight toxins between 5 and 8 kDa in size, as well as PLA2s, drove the differences observed between juvenile and adult individuals. This study provides novel insights into the venom variability of V. kaznakovi and highlights the utility of intact mass profiling for fast and detailed comparison of snake venom. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Population level and ontogenetic venom variation (e.g. diet, habitat, sex or age) can result in a loss of antivenom efficacy against snakebites from wide ranging snake populations. The current state of the art for the analysis of snake venoms are de-complexing bottom-up proteomics approaches. While useful, these have the significant drawback of being time-consuming and following costly protocols, and consequently are often applied to pooled venom samples. To overcome these shortcomings and to enable rapid and detailed profiling of large numbers of individual venom samples, we integrated an intact protein analysis workflow into a transcriptomics-guided bottom-up approach. The application of this workflow to snake individuals of a local population of V. kaznakovi revealed intraspecies variations in venom composition, which are primarily explained by the age of the animals, and highlighted svSP abundance to be one of the molecular drivers for the compositional differences observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Petras
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany; University of California San Diego, Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
| | - Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bayram Göçmen
- Zoology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Karis
- Zoology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gareth Whiteley
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Simon C Wagstaff
- Research Computing Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Heiss
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Ayse Nalbantsoy
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Bornova 35100, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Roderich D Süssmuth
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
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50
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Drukewitz SH, von Reumont BM. The Significance of Comparative Genomics in Modern Evolutionary Venomics. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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