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Herrera Y, Fuentes-Retamal S, Kemmerling U, Peichoto ME, Ortiz JC, Urra FA. Shedding Light on the Dentition and Venom Delivery System of the Rear-Fanged Snake, Galvarinus chilensis chilensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Tachymenini) from Chile. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121788. [PMID: 36552297 PMCID: PMC9775764 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although the rear-fanged snake Galvarinus chilensis chilensis (formerly named Tachymenis ch. chilensis) causes ophidian accidents with clinical importance in Chile, the anatomical and histological characterizations of the venom delivery system (venom gland and fang) of this species still remain unknown. This study describes the dentition and characteristics of fangs and their ontogenetic variations in G. ch. chilensis. Moreover, histological and histochemistry analyses of the venom glands of this species are presented. Using micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy, the dentitions of neonates, juveniles, and adults were analyzed, and no ontogenetic variations in teeth length and number present in the dentary and maxilla were observed. Moreover, we found three types of basic teeth, with distributional patterns conserved in all ontogenetic categories. The fangs exhibited a groove from the base to the middle. At the end of the groove, prominent ridges are formed. The fang and groove lengths were significantly distinct between ontogenetic categories. No differences between females and males were observed. Histologically, we found that the venom gland is close to the fangs and has a seromucous composition. Our results describe, for the first time, the distributional pattern and characteristics of the dentition and venom delivery system of the poorly studied snake G. ch. chilensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarela Herrera
- Metabolic Plasticity and Bioenergetics Laboratory, Program of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Network for Snake Venom Research and Drug Discovery, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Sebastián Fuentes-Retamal
- Metabolic Plasticity and Bioenergetics Laboratory, Program of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Network for Snake Venom Research and Drug Discovery, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Program of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - María Elisa Peichoto
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), National Institute of Tropical Medicine—National Administration of Laboratories and Health Institutes (ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G Malbrán”), Puerto Iguazú 9C59+8V, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Juan Carlos Ortiz
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural and Oceanographic Sciences, University of Concepcion, Concepción 4070032, Chile
| | - Félix A. Urra
- Metabolic Plasticity and Bioenergetics Laboratory, Program of Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Network for Snake Venom Research and Drug Discovery, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Correspondence:
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Badari JC, Díaz-Roa A, Teixeira Rocha MM, Mendonça RZ, da Silva Junior PI. Patagonin-CRISP: Antimicrobial Activity and Source of Antimicrobial Molecules in Duvernoy's Gland Secretion ( Philodryas patagoniensis Snake). Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:586705. [PMID: 33603660 PMCID: PMC7884886 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.586705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake venom contains a variety of toxins with a range of biological activity, among these toxins cysteine-rich secreted proteins (CRISPs) can be found. The proteins of this family have masses of 20-30 kDa and display homologous amino acid sequences containing 16 cysteine residues, forming eight disulfide bonds. Some of these proteins have been explored, characterized, and described in terms of their activity; however, little is known about their range of activities. A search for new antimicrobial molecules is ongoing, as the number of microbial strains resistant to available antibiotics is increasing. We identified antimicrobial activity in the secretion of Duvernoy's gland of the rear-fanged Philodryas patagoniensis. Fractions of this venom were subjected to reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and analyzed to determine their antimicrobial activity with a liquid broth inhibition assay. One of the fractions presented activity against a Gram-negative bacterium and a filamentous fungus. This fraction was analyzed with LC-MS/MS, and a protein of 24,848.8 Da was identified. Database searches allowed us to identify it as a CRISP due to the presence of some unique fragments in the molecule. We called it patagonin-CRISP, as the same protein in the venom of P. patagoniensis had previously been characterized as having a different biological activity. Patagonin-CRISP presented activity at very low concentrations and showed no cytotoxic activity. This is the first time that antimicrobial activity has been identified for P. patagoniensis venom or for a CRISP family protein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Díaz-Roa
- Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA) - Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling - CeTICS/CEPID Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente (ECAPMA), Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD), Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior
- Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA) - Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling - CeTICS/CEPID Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
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Evans AM, Choiniere JN, Alexander GJ. The cutting-edge morphology of the mole snake's dental apparatus. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6943. [PMID: 31211009 PMCID: PMC6557247 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mole snake (Pseudaspis cana) is capable of inflicting unusual bites in defence and during male combat that present as two parallel lacerations. We investigated the dental morphology of the mole snake by making SEM images, and by CT-scanning and digitally reconstructing the skulls of 14 specimens comprising both sexes. The lengths, volumes, shapes and positions of maxillary and dentary teeth were compared within individuals, between individuals, and between sexes. CT reconstructions show the occurrence of large, flat triangular teeth at the posterior end of the maxilla that are angled to point towards the posterior of the skull. SEM imagery highlights the presence of sharp ridges (carinae) on the posterior edges of the posterior dentary and maxillary teeth. Males have greater dental specialization, maxillary tooth variation, enlargement of the posterior-most maxillary teeth, and dentary teeth with posterior carinae. We hypothesize that mole snake dental specializations are adaptations for their particular form of male combat and possibly for subduing prey in the confines of underground burrows. Our findings reveal a complex dental morphology in mole snakes and provide impetus for further studies on the functional morphology of snake teeth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Evans
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jonah N Choiniere
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Graham J Alexander
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Unveiling toxicological aspects of venom from the Aesculapian False Coral Snake Erythrolamprus aesculapii. Toxicon 2019; 164:71-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Souto NM, Murta‐Fonseca RA, Machado AS, Lopes RT, Fernandes DS. Snakes as a model for measuring skull preparation errors in geometric morphometrics. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. M. Souto
- Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - R. A. Murta‐Fonseca
- Departamento de Vertebrados Museu Nacional Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - A. S. Machado
- Laboratório de Instrumentação Nuclear Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós‐Graduação e Pesquisa em Engenharia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - R. T. Lopes
- Laboratório de Instrumentação Nuclear Instituto Alberto Luiz Coimbra de Pós‐Graduação e Pesquisa em Engenharia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - D. S. Fernandes
- Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
- Departamento de Vertebrados Museu Nacional Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Moon BR, Penning DA, Segall M, Herrel A. Feeding in Snakes: Form, Function, and Evolution of the Feeding System. FEEDING IN VERTEBRATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13739-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Sánchez MN, Teibler GP, López CA, Mackessy SP, Peichoto ME. Assessment of the potential toxicological hazard of the Green Parrot Snake (Leptophis ahaetulla marginatus): Characterization of its venom and venom-delivery system. Toxicon 2018; 148:202-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Mackessy SP, Saviola AJ. Understanding Biological Roles of Venoms Among the Caenophidia: The Importance of Rear-Fanged Snakes. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:1004-1021. [PMID: 27639275 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Snake venoms represent an adaptive trophic response to the challenges confronting a limbless predator for overcoming combative prey, and this chemical means of subduing prey shows several dominant phenotypes. Many front-fanged snakes, particularly vipers, feed on various vertebrate and invertebrate prey species, and some of their venom components (e.g., metalloproteinases, cobratoxin) appear to have been selected for "broad-brush" incapacitation of different prey taxa. Using proteomic and genomic techniques, the compositional diversity of front-fanged snakes is becoming well characterized; however, this is not the case for most rear-fanged colubroid snakes. Because these species consume a high diversity of prey, and because venoms are primarily a trophic adaptation, important clues for understanding specific selective pressures favoring venom component composition will be found among rear-fanged snake venoms. Rear-fanged snakes typically (but not always) produce venoms with lower complexity than front-fanged snakes, and there are even fewer dominant (and, arguably, biologically most relevant) venom protein families. We have demonstrated taxon-specific toxic effects, where lizards and birds show high susceptibility while mammals are largely unaffected, for both Old World and New World rear-fanged snakes, strongly indicating a causal link between toxin evolution and prey preference. New data are presented on myotoxin a, showing that the extremely rapid paralysis induced by this rattlesnake toxin is specific for rodents, and that myotoxin a is ineffectual against lizards. Relatively few rear-fanged snake venoms have been characterized, and basic natural history data are largely lacking, but directed sampling of specialized species indicates that novel compounds are likely among these specialists, particularly among those species feeding on invertebrate prey such as scorpions and centipedes. Because many of the more than 2200 species of colubroid snakes are rear-fanged, and many possess a Duvernoy's venom gland, understanding the nature of their venoms is foundational to understanding venom evolution in advanced snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Mackessy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 501 20th St, Greeley, CO 80639-0017, USA
| | - Anthony J Saviola
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 501 20th St, Greeley, CO 80639-0017, USA
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