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Adame M, Vázquez H, Juárez-López D, Corzo G, Amezcua M, López D, González Z, Schcolnik-Cabrera A, Morales-Martínez A, Villegas E. Expression and characterization of scFv-6009FV in Pichia pastoris with improved ability to neutralize the neurotoxin Cn2 from Centruroides noxius. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 275:133461. [PMID: 38945343 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133461] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Small single-chain variable fragments (scFv) are promising biomolecules to inhibit and neutralize toxins and to act as antivenoms. In this work, we aimed to produce a functional scFv-6009FV in the yeast Pichia pastoris, which inhibits the pure Cn2 neurotoxin and the whole venom of Centruroides noxius. We were able to achieve yields of up to 31.6 ± 2 mg/L in flasks. Furthermore, the protein showed a structure of 6.1 % α-helix, 49.1 % β-sheet, and 44.8 % of random coil by CD. Mass spectrometry confirmed the amino acid sequence and showed no glycosylation profile for this molecule. Purified scFv-6009FV allowed us to develop anti-scFvs in rabbits, which were then used in affinity columns to purify other scFvs. Determination of its half-maximal inhibitory concentration value (IC50) was 40 % better than the scFvs produced by E. coli as a control. Finally, we found that scFv-6009FV was able to inhibit ex vivo the pure Cn2 toxin and the whole venom from C. noxius in murine rescue experiments. These results demonstrated that under the conditions assayed here, P. pastoris is suited to produce scFv-6009FV that, compared to scFvs produced by E. coli, maintains the characteristics of an antibody and neutralizes the Cn2 toxin more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel Adame
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Hilda Vázquez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Daniel Juárez-López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Mónica Amezcua
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Daniela López
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Zuriel González
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | | | - Adriana Morales-Martínez
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Elba Villegas
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
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Khourcha S, Hilal I, Elbejjaj I, Karkouri M, Safi A, Hmyene A, Oukkache N. Insight into the Toxicological and Pathophysiological Effects of Moroccan Vipers' Venom: Assessing the Efficacy of Commercial Antivenom for Neutralization. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:302. [PMID: 37368720 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8060302] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Morocco is one of the richest countries in biodiversity in the Mediterranean region, especially in its ophidian fauna. In total, there are eight species of venomous snakes, with seven belonging to the Viperidae family, responsible for 67.2% of severe envenomation cases in the country. Cerastes cerastes, Daboia mauritanica and Bitis arietans are considered among the most venomous vipers whose bites cause high levels of morbidity, disability or mortality. Despite their wide distribution in the kingdom, the incidence of these snakebites remains poorly understood and largely underestimated. Moreover, intraspecific variations in the venom composition significantly affect the effectiveness of antivenoms. Due to the unavailability of locally produced antivenoms, we evaluated the efficacy of Inoserp-MENA, the only available antivenom in Morocco, against C. cerastes, D. mauritanica and B. arietans. First, we conducted a comprehensive characterization of these venoms, including an LD50 test to examine their toxicity and SDS-PAGE as a technique to analyze the enzymes responsible for biological activities, such as hemorrhagic and edematous activities and myotoxicity, which generate physiopathological effects in the skin, paws and muscles of envenomed mice. Then, we assessed the ability of Inoserp-MENA antivenom to neutralize the toxic activities of Moroccan vipers. Our results indicate that the venom of C. cerastes, D. mauritanica and B. arietans are toxic, causing severe alterations such as edema, myotoxicity, myonecrosis and significant hemorrhages with the formation of hemorrhagic foci. C. cerastes venom is more dangerous in terms of lethality and hemorrhages, while B. arietans venom is more edematous. The effects of C. cerastes venom were effectively neutralized, but Inoserp-MENA antivenom failed to protect mice against the toxic effects induced by B. arietans and D. mauritanica venom. The study reveals alarming shortcomings in the effectiveness of the current commercially available antivenom's dosage and neutralization capabilities, highlighting the urgent need to develop a region-specific viper envenomation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soukaina Khourcha
- Laboratory of Venoms and Toxins, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Environment and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Mohammedia, Mohammedia 20650, Morocco
| | - Ines Hilal
- Laboratory of Venoms and Toxins, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Environment and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Mohammedia, Mohammedia 20650, Morocco
| | - Iatimad Elbejjaj
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
| | - Mehdi Karkouri
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
| | - Amal Safi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Environment and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Mohammedia, Mohammedia 20650, Morocco
| | - Abdelaziz Hmyene
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Environment and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Mohammedia, Mohammedia 20650, Morocco
| | - Naoual Oukkache
- Laboratory of Venoms and Toxins, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
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Zeng L, Hou J, Ge C, Li Y, Gao J, Zhang C, Huang P, Du J, Mo Z, Liu Y, Zeng Z. Clinical study of anti-snake venom blockade in the treatment of local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra (Naja atra) bites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010997. [PMID: 36525460 PMCID: PMC9803274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficacy of anti-snake venom serum blockade in treating local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra (Naja atra) bites. METHODS Patients bitten by a Chinese cobra (Naja atra) (n = 50) that met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 25) and the control group (n = 25). The experimental group received regular as well as anti-snake venom serum blocking treatment, whereas regular treatment plus chymotrypsin blocking therapy was given to the control group. The necrotic volumes around snake wounds in these groups were detected on the first, third and seventh days. On the third day of treatment, some local tissues in the wounds were randomly selected for pathological biopsy, and the necrosis volume of the local tissue was observed. Furthermore, the amount of time required for wound healing was recorded. RESULTS On the third and seventh days post-treatment, the necrotic volume of the wound of the experimental group was much smaller than that of the control group, and the experimental group's wound healing time was shorter than that of the control group (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the pathological biopsies taken from the control group showed nuclear pyknosis, fragmentation, sparse nuclear density, and blurred edges, and the degree of necrosis was much higher than that of the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS Anti-snake venom blocking therapy is a new and improved therapy with good clinical effect on local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra bites; moreover, it is superior to conventional chymotrypsin blocking therapy in the treatment of cobra bites. It can better neutralize and prevent the spread of the toxin, reduce tissue necrosis, and shorten the course of the disease by promoting healing of the wound. Furthermore, this treatment plan is also applicable to wound necrosis caused by other snake toxins, such as tissue necrosis caused by elapidae and viper families. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, a primary registry of International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, World Health Organization (Registration No. ChiCTR2200059070; trial URL:http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=134353&htm=4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Linsheng Zeng
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingjing Hou
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cuihong Ge
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital,Guangzhou,China
| | - Yanjun Li
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianhua Gao
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Congcong Zhang
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peiying Huang
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Du
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhizhun Mo
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (YL); (ZZ)
| | - Zhongyi Zeng
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (YL); (ZZ)
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Li Q, Zeng L, Deng H, Liang Q. Adverse reactions to four types of monovalent antivenom used in the treatment of snakebite envenoming in South China. Toxicon 2022; 219:106935. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Alomran N, Chinnappan R, Alsolaiss J, Casewell NR, Zourob M. Exploring the Utility of ssDNA Aptamers Directed against Snake Venom Toxins as New Therapeutics for Snakebite Envenoming. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:469. [PMID: 35878207 PMCID: PMC9318713 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14070469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that causes considerable death and disability in the tropical world. Although snakebite can cause a variety of pathologies in victims, haemotoxic effects are particularly common and are typically characterised by haemorrhage and/or venom-induced consumption coagulopathy. Antivenoms are the mainstay therapy for treating the toxic effects of snakebite, but despite saving thousands of lives annually, these therapies are associated with limited cross-snake species efficacy due to venom variation, which ultimately restricts their therapeutic utility to particular geographical regions. In this study, we sought to explore the potential of ssDNA aptamers as toxin-specific inhibitory alternatives to antibodies. As a proof of principle model, we selected snake venom serine protease toxins, which are responsible for contributing to venom-induced coagulopathy following snakebite envenoming, as our target. Using SELEX technology, we selected ssDNA aptamers against recombinantly expressed versions of the fibrinogenolytic SVSPs ancrod from the venom of C. rhodostoma and batroxobin from B. atrox. From the resulting pool of specific ssDNA aptamers directed against each target, we identified candidates that exhibited low nanomolar binding affinities to their targets. Downstream aptamer-linked immobilised sorbent assay, fibrinogenolysis, and coagulation profiling experiments demonstrated that the candidate aptamers were able to recognise native and recombinant SVSP toxins and inhibit the toxin- and venom-induced prolongation of plasma clotting times and the consumption of fibrinogen, with inhibitory potencies highly comparable to commercial polyvalent antivenoms. Our findings demonstrate that rationally selected toxin-specific aptamers can exhibit broad in vitro cross-reactivity against toxin isoforms found in different snake venoms and are capable of inhibiting toxins in pathologically relevant in vitro and ex vivo models of venom activity. These data highlight the potential utility of ssDNA aptamers as novel toxin-inhibiting therapeutics of value for tackling snakebite envenoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nessrin Alomran
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.)
| | - Raja Chinnappan
- Department of Chemistry, Alfaisal University, Al Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Al Takhassusi Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia;
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Riyadh 12713, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jaffer Alsolaiss
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.)
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.)
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mohammed Zourob
- Department of Chemistry, Alfaisal University, Al Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Al Takhassusi Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia;
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Riyadh 12713, Saudi Arabia
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Alomran N, Blundell P, Alsolaiss J, Crittenden E, Ainsworth S, Dawson CA, Edge RJ, Hall SR, Harrison RA, Wilkinson MC, Menzies SK, Casewell NR. Exploring the Utility of Recombinant Snake Venom Serine Protease Toxins as Immunogens for Generating Experimental Snakebite Antivenoms. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:443. [PMID: 35878181 PMCID: PMC9319908 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14070443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that causes high rates of global mortality and morbidity. Although snakebite can cause a variety of pathologies in victims, haemotoxic effects are particularly common and are typically characterised by haemorrhage and/or venom-induced consumption coagulopathy. Despite polyclonal antibody-based antivenoms being the mainstay life-saving therapy for snakebite, they are associated with limited cross-snake species efficacy, as there is often extensive toxin variation between snake venoms, including those used as immunogens for antivenom production. This restricts the therapeutic utility of any antivenom to certain geographical regions. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using recombinantly expressed toxins as immunogens to stimulate focused, pathology-specific, antibodies in order to broadly counteract specific toxins associated with snakebite envenoming. Three snake venom serine proteases (SVSP) toxins, sourced from geographically diverse and medically important viper snake venoms, were successfully expressed in HEK293F mammalian cells and used for murine immunisation. Analyses of the resulting antibody responses revealed that ancrod and RVV-V stimulated the strongest immune responses, and that experimental antivenoms directed against these recombinant SVSP toxins, and a mixture of the three different immunogens, extensively recognised and exhibited immunological binding towards a variety of native snake venoms. While the experimental antivenoms showed some reduction in abnormal clotting parameters stimulated by the toxin immunogens and crude venom, specifically reducing the depletion of fibrinogen levels and prolongation of prothrombin times, fibrinogen degradation experiments revealed that they broadly protected against venom- and toxin-induced fibrinogenolytic functional activities. Overall, our findings further strengthen the case for the use of recombinant venom toxins as supplemental immunogens to stimulate focused and desirable antibody responses capable of neutralising venom-induced pathological effects, and therefore potentially circumventing some of the limitations associated with current snakebite therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nessrin Alomran
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Patricia Blundell
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Jaffer Alsolaiss
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Edouard Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Charlotte A. Dawson
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Rebecca J. Edge
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Steven R. Hall
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Robert A. Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mark C. Wilkinson
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Stefanie K. Menzies
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (N.A.); (J.A.); (E.C.); (S.A.); (C.A.D.); (R.J.E.); (S.R.H.); (R.A.H.); (M.C.W.); (S.K.M.)
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
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Computer-Aided Analysis of West Sub-Saharan Africa Snakes Venom towards the Design of Epitope-Based Poly-Specific Antivenoms. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14060418. [PMID: 35737079 PMCID: PMC9229730 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14060418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a neglected tropical disease that causes over 100,000 deaths each year. The only effective treatment consists of antivenoms derived from animal sera, but these have been deemed with highly variable potency and are usually inaccessible and too costly for victims. The production of antivenoms by venom-independent techniques, such as the immunization with multi-epitope constructs, could circumvent those drawbacks. Herein, we present a knowledge-based pipeline to prioritize potential epitopes of therapeutic relevance from toxins of medically important snakes in West Sub-Saharan Africa. It is mainly based on sequence conservation and protein structural features. The ultimately selected 41 epitopes originate from 11 out of 16 snake species considered of highest medical importance in the region and 3 out of 10 of those considered as secondary medical importance. Echis ocellatus, responsible for the highest casualties in the area, would be covered by 12 different epitopes. Remarkably, this pipeline is versatile and customizable for the analysis of snake venom sequences from any other region of the world.
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Correction: Pathology-specific experimental antivenoms for haemotoxic snakebite: The impact of immunogen diversity on the in vitro cross-reactivity and in vivo neutralisation of geographically diverse snake venoms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010511. [PMID: 35653339 PMCID: PMC9162300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Menzies SK, Clare RH, Xie C, Westhorpe A, Hall SR, Edge RJ, Alsolaiss J, Crittenden E, Marriott AE, Harrison RA, Kool J, Casewell NR. In vitro and in vivo preclinical venom inhibition assays identify metalloproteinase inhibiting drugs as potential future treatments for snakebite envenoming by Dispholidus typus. Toxicon X 2022; 14:100118. [PMID: 35321116 PMCID: PMC8935517 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming affects more than 250,000 people annually in sub-Saharan Africa. Envenoming by Dispholidus typus (boomslang) results in venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC), whereby highly abundant prothrombin-activating snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) consume clotting factors and deplete fibrinogen. The only available treatment for D. typus envenoming is the monovalent SAIMR Boomslang antivenom. Treatment options are urgently required because this antivenom is often difficult to source and, at US$6000/vial, typically unaffordable for most snakebite patients. We therefore investigated the in vitro and in vivo preclinical efficacy of four SVMP inhibitors to neutralise the effects of D. typus venom; the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors marimastat and prinomastat, and the metal chelators dimercaprol and DMPS. The venom of D. typus exhibited an SVMP-driven procoagulant phenotype in vitro. Marimastat and prinomastat demonstrated equipotent inhibition of the SVMP-mediated procoagulant activity of the venom in vitro, whereas dimercaprol and DMPS showed considerably lower potency. However, when tested in preclinical murine models of envenoming using mixed sex CD1 mice, DMPS and marimastat demonstrated partial protection against venom lethality, demonstrated by prolonged survival times of experimental animals, whereas dimercaprol and prinomastat failed to confer any protection at the doses tested. The preclinical results presented here demonstrate that DMPS and marimastat show potential as novel small molecule-based therapeutics for D. typus snakebite envenoming. These two drugs have been previously shown to be effective against Echis ocellatus VICC in preclinical models, and thus we conclude that marimastat and DMPS should be further explored as potentially valuable early intervention therapeutics to broadly treat VICC following snakebite envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie K. Menzies
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Rachel H. Clare
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Chunfang Xie
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Adam Westhorpe
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Steven R. Hall
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Rebecca J. Edge
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Jaffer Alsolaiss
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Edouard Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Amy E. Marriott
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Robert A. Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
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