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Venom of the crotaline snake Atropoides nummifer (jumping viper) from Guatemala and Honduras: comparative toxicological characterization, isolation of a myotoxic phospholipase A(2) homologue and neutralization by two antivenoms.

Abstract
A comparative study was performed on the venoms of the crotaline snake Atropoides nummifer from Guatemala and Honduras. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, under reducing conditions, revealed a highly similar pattern of these venoms, and between them and the venom of the same species from Costa Rica. Similar patterns were also observed in ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Shephadex C-25, in which a highly basic myotoxic fraction was present. This fraction was devoid of phospholipase A(2) activity and strongly reacted, by enzyme-immunoassay, with an antiserum against Bothrops asper myotoxin II, a Lys-49 phospholipase A(2) homologue. A basic myotoxin of 16 kDa was isolated to homogeneity from the venom of A. nummifer from Honduras, showing amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence similar to those of Lys-49 phospholipase A(2) variants previously isolated from other crotaline snake venoms. Guatemalan and Honduran A. nummifer venoms have a qualitatively similar toxicological profile, characterized by: lethal; hemorrhagic; myotoxic; edema-forming; coagulant; and defibrinating activities, although there were significant quantitative variations in some of these activities between the two venoms. Neutralization of toxic activities by two commercially-available antivenoms in the region was studied. Polyvalent antivenom produced by Instituto Clodomiro Picado was effective in the neutralization of: lethal; hemorrhagic; myotoxic; coagulant; defibrinating; and phospholipase A(2) activities, but ineffective against edema-forming activity. On the other hand, MYN polyvalent antivenom neutralized: hemorrhagic; myotoxic; coagulant; defibrinating; and phospholipase A(2) activities, albeit with a lower potency than Instituto Clodomiro Picado antivenom. MYN antivenom failed to neutralize lethal and edema-forming activities of A. nummifer venoms.
AuthorsE Rojas, P Saravia, Y Angulo, V Arce, B Lomonte, J J Chávez, R Velásquez, M Thelestam, J M Gutiérrez
JournalComparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP (Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol) Vol. 129 Issue 2 Pg. 151-62 (Jun 2001) ISSN: 1532-0456 [Print] United States
PMID11423387 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Antivenins
  • Coagulants
  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Phospholipases A
Topics
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antivenins (pharmacology)
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Coagulants (antagonists & inhibitors)
  • Cross Reactions
  • Crotalid Venoms (administration & dosage, antagonists & inhibitors, enzymology, isolation & purification, toxicity)
  • Edema (chemically induced)
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Fibrinolysis (drug effects)
  • Guatemala
  • Hemorrhage (chemically induced)
  • Honduras
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Injections, Intradermal
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal (drug effects, pathology)
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Phospholipases A (chemistry, isolation & purification, toxicity)
  • Viperidae

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