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de Castro KLP, Lopes-de-Souza L, de Oliveira D, Machado-de-Ávila RA, Paiva ALB, de Freitas CF, Ho PL, Chávez-Olórtegui C, Guerra-Duarte C. A Combined Strategy to Improve the Development of a Coral Antivenom Against Micrurus spp. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2422. [PMID: 31695693 PMCID: PMC6816313 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accidents involving Micrurus snakes are not the most common ones but are noteworthy due to their severity. Victims envenomed by Micrurus snakes are at high risk of death and therefore must be treated with coral antivenom. In Brazil, the immunization mixture used to fabricate coral antivenom contains Micrurus frontalis and Micrurus corallinus venoms, which are difficult to be obtained in adequate amounts. Different approaches to solve the venom limitation problem have been attempted, including the use of synthetic and recombinant antigens as substitutes. The present work proposes a combined immunization protocol, using priming doses of M. frontalis venom and booster doses of synthetic B-cell epitopes derived from M. corallinus toxins (four three-finger toxins-3FTX; and one phospholipase A2-PLA2) to obtain coral antivenom in a rabbit model. Immunized animals elicited a humoral response against both M. frontalis and M. corallinus venoms, as detected by sera reactivity in ELISA and Western Blot. Relevant cross-reactivity of the obtained sera with other Micrurus species (Micrurus altirostris, Micrurus lemniscatus, Micrurus spixii, Micrurus surinamensis) venoms was also observed. The elicited antibodies were able to neutralize PLA2 activity of both M. frontalis and M. corallinus venoms. In vivo, immunized rabbit sera completely protected mice from a challenge with 1.5 median lethal dose (LD50) of M. corallinus venom and 50% of mice challenged with 1.5 LD50 of M. frontalis venom. These results show that this combined protocol may be a suitable alternative to reduce the amount of venom used in coral antivenom production in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Letícia Lopes-de-Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Lopes-de-Souza L, Costal-Oliveira F, Stransky S, Fonseca de Freitas C, Guerra-Duarte C, Braga VMM, Chávez-Olórtegui C. Development of a cell-based in vitro assay as a possible alternative for determining bothropic antivenom potency. Toxicon 2019; 170:68-76. [PMID: 31494208 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Accidents with venomous snakes are a major health hazard in tropical countries. Bothrops genus is responsible for almost 80% of snakebites in Brazil. Immunotherapy is the only approved specific treatment against snake toxins and the production of therapeutic antivenoms requires quality control tests to determine their neutralizing potency. Currently, these controls are performed by in vivo lethality neutralization, however, the inhibition of particular events produced by bothropic venoms such as coagulopathy, hemorrhage, edema or cytotoxic effects are also required. The aim of this work is to develop an in vitro alternative assay for antivenom pre-clinical evaluation. In this sense, we designed a cell viability assay using different amounts (0.2-10 μL/well) of low and high potency anti-bothropic sera, previously classified by the traditional in vivo test, for assessing the antivenom capacity to protect the cells against B. jararaca venom cytotoxicity (5xEC50 = 58.95 μg/mL). We found that high potency sera are more effective in neutralizing B. jararaca venom cytotoxicity when compared to low potency sera, which is in accordance to their pre-determined in vivo potency. Considering sera in vitro inhibitory concentration able to prevent 50% cell death (IC50) and their known in vivo potency, a cut-off point was determined to discriminate low and high potency sera. Our data provide insights for the development of an in vitro method which can determine the anti-bothropic antivenom potency during its production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Lopes-de-Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Costal-Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Stephanie Stransky
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Clara Guerra-Duarte
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Vania M M Braga
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Rodrigues CR, Teixeira-Ferreira A, Vargas FFR, Guerra-Duarte C, Costal-Oliveira F, Stransky S, Lopes-de-Souza L, Dutra AAA, Yarlequé A, Bonilla C, Sanchez EF, Perales J, Chávez-Olórtegui C. Proteomic profile, biological activities and antigenic analysis of the venom from Bothriopsis bilineata smaragdina ("loro machaco"), a pitviper snake from Peru. J Proteomics 2018; 187:171-181. [PMID: 30048773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In order to determine Bothriopsis bilineata smaragdina venom (BbsV) composition, proteomic approaches were performed. Venom components were analyzed by RP-HPLC, SDS- PAGE and nano LC on line with LTQ Orbitrap XL. Results showed a total of 189 identified proteins, grouped into 11 different subgroups, which include snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs, 54.67%), snake C-type lectins (Snaclecs, 15.78%), snake venom serine proteinases (SVSPs, 14.69%), cystein-rich secretory proteins (CRISP, 2.61%), phospholipases A2 (PLA2, 1.14%), phosphodiesterase (PDE, 1.17%), venom endothelial growth factor (VEGF, 1.06%) 5'nucleotidases (0.33%), L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs, 0.28%) and other proteins. In vitro enzymatic activities (SVMP, SVSP, LAAO, Hyal and PLA2) of BbsV were also analyzed. BbsV showed high SVSP activity but low PLA2 activity, when compared to other Bothrops venoms. In vivo, BbsV induced hemorrhage and edema in mice and showed intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) of 92.74 (± 0.15) μg/20 g of mice. Furthermore, BbsV reduced cell viability when incubated with VERO cells. Peruvian and Brazilian bothropic antivenoms recognize BbsV proteins, as detected by ELISA and Western Blotting. Both antivenoms were able to neutralize in vivo edema and hemorrhage. SIGNIFICANCE In Peru, snakebite is a public health problem, especially in the rain forest, as a result of progressive colonization of this geographical area. This country is the second in Latin America, after Brazil, to exhibit the largest variety of venomous snakes. B. atrox and B. b. smaragdina snakes are sympatric species in Peruvian Amazon region and are responsible for approximately 95% of the envenomings reported in this region. B. b. smaragdina may cause a smaller share (3 to 38%) of those accidents, due to its arboreal habits, that make human encounters with these snakes less likely to happen. Despite B. b. smaragdina recognized medical importance, its venom composition and biological activities have been poorly studied. Furthermore, BbsV is not a component of the antigenic pool used to produce the corresponding Peruvian bothropic antivenom (P-BAV). Our results not only provide new insights on BbsV composition and biological activity, but also demonstrate that both P-BAV and B-BAV polyvalent antivenoms have a considerable recognition of proteins from BbsV and, more importantly, neutralized hemorrhage and edema, the main local effects of bothropic envenomation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rego Rodrigues
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - André Teixeira-Ferreira
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, 21040-360, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Clara Guerra-Duarte
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Costal-Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Stephanie Stransky
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Letícia Lopes-de-Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Alexandre Augusto Assis Dutra
- Faculdade de Medicina do Mucuri, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 39803-371, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | | | - Eladio Flores Sanchez
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Jonas Perales
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, 21040-360, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
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Stransky S, Costal-Oliveira F, Lopes-de-Souza L, Guerra-Duarte C, Chávez-Olórtegui C, Braga VMM. In vitro assessment of cytotoxic activities of Lachesis muta muta snake venom. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006427. [PMID: 29659601 PMCID: PMC5919693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Envenomation by the bushmaster snake Lachesis muta muta is considered severe, characterized by local effects including necrosis, the main cause of permanent disability. However, cellular mechanisms related to cell death and tissue destruction, triggered by snake venoms, are poorly explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect caused by L. m. muta venom in normal human keratinocytes and to identify the cellular processes involved in in cellulo envenomation. In order to investigate venom effect on different cell types, Alamar Blue assay was performed to quantify levels of cellular metabolism as a readout of cell viability. Apoptosis, necrosis and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated by flow cytometry, while induction of autophagy was assessed by expression of GFP-LC3 and analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. The cytotoxic potential of the venom is shown by reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. It was also observed the sequential appearance of cells undergoing autophagy (by 6 hours), apoptosis and necrosis (12 and 24 hours). Morphologically, incubation with L. m. muta venom led to a significant cellular retraction and formation of cellular aggregates. These results indicate that L. m. muta venom is cytotoxic to normal human keratinocytes and other cell lines, and this toxicity involves the integration of distinct modes of cell death. Autophagy as a cell death mechanism, in addition to apoptosis and necrosis, can help to unravel cellular pathways and mechanisms triggered by the venom. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie cellular damage and tissue destruction will be useful in the development of alternative therapies against snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Stransky
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Costal-Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Letícia Lopes-de-Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Clara Guerra-Duarte
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos Chávez-Olórtegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CCO); (VMMB)
| | - Vania Maria Martin Braga
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (CCO); (VMMB)
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