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Araya X, Okumu M, Durán G, Gómez A, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Assessment of the Artemia salina toxicity assay as a substitute of the mouse lethality assay in the determination of venom-induced toxicity and preclinical efficacy of antivenom. Toxicon X 2024; 22:100195. [PMID: 38606385 PMCID: PMC11004356 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2024.100195] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mice are routinely used in snake venom research but are costly and subject to pain and suffering. The crustacean Artemia salina could be an alternative to mice, but data to support its adoption in snake venom research is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of A. salina as a surrogate of mice in assessing the toxicity of venoms and the preclinical efficacy of antivenoms. The toxicity of venoms from 22 snakes of medical importance in sub-Saharan Africa was evaluated in mice (intraperitoneally; i.p. and intravenously; i.v.) and in A. salina. Subsequently, the capacity of a commercial antivenom to neutralize the toxicity of these venoms in mice and A. salina was investigated. There was a positive correlation between the i.v. median lethal doses (LD50s) and the i.p. LD50s in mice (r = 0.804; p < 0.0001), a moderate correlation between the i.v. LD50s in mice and the median lethal concentrations (LC50s) in A. salina (r = 0.606; p = 0.003), and a moderate correlation between the i.p. LD50s in mice and the LC50s in A. salina (r = 0.426; p = 0.048). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the i.p. median effective doses (ED50s) and the i.v. ED50s in mice (r = 0.941, p < 0.0001), between the i.p. ED50s in mice and the ED50s in A. salina (r = 0.818, p < 0.0001), and between the i.v. ED50s in mice and the ED50s in A. salina (r = 0.972, p < 0.0001). These findings present A. salina as a promising candidate for reducing reliance on mice in snake venom research. Future investigations should build upon these findings, addressing potential limitations and expanding the scope of A. salina in venom research and antivenom development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Araya
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mitchel Okumu
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gina Durán
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- 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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Bittenbinder MA, van Thiel J, Cardoso FC, Casewell NR, Gutiérrez JM, Kool J, Vonk FJ. Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies. Commun Biol 2024; 7:358. [PMID: 38519650 PMCID: PMC10960010 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06019-6] [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] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is an important public health issue responsible for mortality and severe morbidity. Where mortality is mainly caused by venom toxins that induce cardiovascular disturbances, neurotoxicity, and acute kidney injury, morbidity is caused by toxins that directly or indirectly destroy cells and degrade the extracellular matrix. These are referred to as 'tissue-damaging toxins' and have previously been classified in various ways, most of which are based on the tissues being affected (e.g., cardiotoxins, myotoxins). This categorisation, however, is primarily phenomenological and not mechanistic. In this review, we propose an alternative way of classifying cytotoxins based on their mechanistic effects rather than using a description that is organ- or tissue-based. The mechanisms of toxin-induced tissue damage and their clinical implications are discussed. This review contributes to our understanding of fundamental biological processes associated with snakebite envenoming, which may pave the way for a knowledge-based search for novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mátyás A Bittenbinder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jory van Thiel
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Fernanda C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - José-María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Freek J Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Bahmani K, Abdollahnia A, Vatanpour H, Ghassempour A, Kaboli M, Shahidi MR. Evaluation of venom diversity and antivenom quality from the venom of long-term captive vs recently wild captured Pseudocerastes persicus snake: An In vitro and In vivo study. Toxicon 2024; 241:107662. [PMID: 38417708 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107662] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a life-threatening condition and antivenoms are used as the most effective treatment. Venom obtained from snakes in long-term captivity showed some variations in comparison to the venom of the wild snakes. The objective of this study is to compare the venom of the Pseudocerastes persicus under long-term captivity and wild conditions as well as the antivenom obtained from these venoms. We have analyzed venom samples and produced trivalent antivenoms using the venom of long-term captive (LTC) or recently wild-captured (RWC) Pseudocerastes persicus, and RWC Macrovipera lebetina, and Echis carinatus. The HPLC analysis revealed that the RWC snakes' venom had three peaks that were not present in the LTC snake's venom. Further analysis using MALDI-TOF and MS/MS showed that the fraction with a retention time (RT) of 14 min contained a toxin from the Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (KUT) class, while the fraction with RT 21 a peptide identified within the snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) class. The third peak was identified as a sphingolipid. Interestingly, the in vivo preclinical tests showed no significant differences in the effectiveness of the antivenoms. which could be due to the cross-immunogenicity or cross-reactivity between different toxins in the venom. According to our results, small variations in the venom composition of a species do not lead to a decrease in the efficacy of the polyvalent antivenom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiumars Bahmani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Adel Abdollahnia
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Vatanpour
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Kaboli
- College of Natural Resources and Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
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Rodríguez-Vargas A, Franco-Vásquez AM, Triana-Cerón M, Alam-Rojas SN, Escobar-Wilches DC, Corzo G, Lazcano-Pérez F, Arreguín-Espinosa R, Ruiz-Gómez F. Immunological Cross-Reactivity and Preclinical Assessment of a Colombian Anticoral Antivenom against the Venoms of Three Micrurus Species. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:104. [PMID: 38393182 PMCID: PMC10891627 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020104] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite accident treatment requires the administration of antivenoms that provide efficacy and effectiveness against several snake venoms of the same genus or family. The low number of immunogenic components in venom mixtures that allow the production of antivenoms consequently gives them partial neutralization and a suboptimal pharmacological response. This study evaluates the immunorecognition and neutralizing efficacy of the polyvalent anticoral antivenom from the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) of Colombia against the heterologous endemic venoms of Micrurus medemi, and M. sangilensis, and M. helleri by assessing immunoreactivity through affinity chromatography, ELISA, Western blot, and neutralization capability. Immunorecognition towards the venoms of M. medemi and M. sangilensis showed values of 62% and 68% of the protein composition according to the immunoaffinity matrix, respectively. The analysis by Western blot depicted the highest recognition patterns for M. medemi, followed by M. sangilensis, and finally by M. helleri. These findings suggest that the venom compositions are closely related and exhibit similar recognition by the antivenom. According to enzyme immunoassays, M. helleri requires a higher amount of antivenom to achieve recognition than the others. Besides reinforcing the evaluation of INS antivenom capability, this work recommends the use of M. helleri in the production of Colombian antisera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Rodríguez-Vargas
- Grupo de Investigación en Animales Ponzoñosos y sus Venenos, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (M.T.-C.); (S.N.A.-R.); (F.R.-G.)
| | - Adrián Marcelo Franco-Vásquez
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (A.M.F.-V.); (F.L.-P.); (R.A.-E.)
| | - Miguel Triana-Cerón
- Grupo de Investigación en Animales Ponzoñosos y sus Venenos, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (M.T.-C.); (S.N.A.-R.); (F.R.-G.)
- Bacterial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Research Department, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá 110121, Colombia
| | - Shaha Noor Alam-Rojas
- Grupo de Investigación en Animales Ponzoñosos y sus Venenos, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (M.T.-C.); (S.N.A.-R.); (F.R.-G.)
| | | | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico;
| | - Fernando Lazcano-Pérez
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (A.M.F.-V.); (F.L.-P.); (R.A.-E.)
| | - Roberto Arreguín-Espinosa
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (A.M.F.-V.); (F.L.-P.); (R.A.-E.)
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Gómez
- Grupo de Investigación en Animales Ponzoñosos y sus Venenos, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (M.T.-C.); (S.N.A.-R.); (F.R.-G.)
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Dingwoke EJ, Adamude FA, Salihu A, Abubakar MS, Sallau AB. Toxicological analyses of the venoms of Nigerian vipers Echis ocellatus and Bitis arietans. Trop Med Health 2024; 52:15. [PMID: 38282015 PMCID: PMC10823708 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-024-00581-9] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the medically important snakes in Nigeria, Echis ocellatus and Bitis arietans have the most lethal venom. These venoms were classified according to the presence of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2s), and snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs). Toxicological analyzes were performed to understand the significance of different protein families in venoms. METHODS Proteins were separated from venom using column chromatography. The skin and footpad of mice were used to determine hemorrhagic and edematogenic activities. Caprine blood plasma was used to test fibrinolytic activity in vitro. RESULTS The results showed that, compared to the crude venom, the SVMP fraction induced hemorrhagic effects with a diameter of 26.00 ± 1.00 mm in E. ocellatus and 21.33 ± 1.52 mm in B. arietans. Both SVSP and SVMP had anticoagulant effects; however, the SVSP fraction had a stronger effect, with a longer anticoagulation time of 30.00 ± 3.00 min in E. ocellatus and 26.00 ± 2.00 min in B. arietans. These main venom toxins, SVMPs, SVSPs, and PLA2, were found to have edema-forming effects that were optimal at 2 h after envenomation. PLA2s had the highest edema-inducing activity, with onset 30 min after envenomation. CONCLUSIONS Given the importance of SVMPs in altering the integrity of the membrane structure and impairing the blood coagulation system, an antivenom that can specifically neutralize its activity could inhibit the hemorrhage effects of the venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeka John Dingwoke
- Department of Tropical Diseases, UNESCO-International Center for Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
- Venom, Antivenom and Natural Toxins Research Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
| | - Fatima Adis Adamude
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
- Venom, Antivenom and Natural Toxins Research Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Aliyu Salihu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Mujitaba Suleiman Abubakar
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
- Venom, Antivenom and Natural Toxins Research Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Abdullahi Balarabe Sallau
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
- Venom, Antivenom and Natural Toxins Research Centre, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
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Thumtecho S, Burlet NJ, Ljungars A, Laustsen AH. Towards better antivenoms: navigating the road to new types of snakebite envenoming therapies. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2023; 29:e20230057. [PMID: 38116472 PMCID: PMC10729942 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2023-0057] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a significant global health challenge, and for over a century, traditional plasma-derived antivenoms from hyperimmunized animals have been the primary treatment against this infliction. However, these antivenoms have several inherent limitations, including the risk of causing adverse reactions when administered to patients, batch-to-batch variation, and high production costs. To address these issues and improve treatment outcomes, the development of new types of antivenoms is crucial. During this development, key aspects such as improved clinical efficacy, enhanced safety profiles, and greater affordability should be in focus. To achieve these goals, modern biotechnological methods can be applied to the discovery and development of therapeutic agents that can neutralize medically important toxins from multiple snake species. This review highlights some of these agents, including monoclonal antibodies, nanobodies, and selected small molecules, that can achieve broad toxin neutralization, have favorable safety profiles, and can be produced on a large scale with standardized manufacturing processes. Considering the inherent strengths and limitations related to the pharmacokinetics of these different agents, a combination of them might be beneficial in the development of new types of antivenom products with improved therapeutic properties. While the implementation of new therapies requires time, it is foreseeable that the application of biotechnological advancements represents a promising trajectory toward the development of improved therapies for snakebite envenoming. As research and development continue to advance, these new products could emerge as the mainstay treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suthimon Thumtecho
- Division of Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nick J. Burlet
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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da Silva WRGB, de Siqueira Santos L, Lira D, de Oliveira Luna KP, Fook SML, Alves RRN. Who are the most affected by Bothrops snakebite envenoming in Brazil? A Clinical-epidemiological profile study among the regions of the country. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011708. [PMID: 37856557 PMCID: PMC10617728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming represents an important Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that mainly affects tropical and subtropical developing countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As a priority issue in the tropics, it is estimated that accidental encounter between snakes and humans is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among all NTDs in the world. In Brazil, an extremely diverse country with continental dimensions, snakebite envenoming is the second leading cause of reported human envenoming. Treating the disease has been an unprecedented challenge for Brazilian Health Systems for decades. Despite access to Antivenom therapy and distributing it free of charge across the country, Brazil faces numerous issues regarding the notification process and accurate treatment targeting for at-risk populations. Thus, this study aimed to identify the temporal epidemiological dynamics of accidents caused by Bothrops snakes in Brazil, the country's major group of venomous snakes, based on secondary information from the online database provided by The Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). For this purpose, reported Bothrops snakebites between 2012 and 2021 were counted, then the data were analyzed. We looked at the frequency, occurrence, mortality rates, case fatality rate (CFR), age and gender distribution, and the time lapse between the incident and the initiation of Antivenom therapy. The data were also organized considering regional variations of the country. Throughout the studied period, a total of 202,604 cases of envenoming caused by Bothrops spp. were notified, resulting in 766 fatalities. These accidents were found to occur in variable proportions across different regions in Brazil, with notable concentrations observed in the North, Northeast, and Southeast regions. The epidemiological profile of patients varied greatly between the regions, revealing that snake envenoming is much more a social, economic, and ecological problem than a medical one. In conclusion, our study provides an overview of the clinical and epidemiological profile of envenoming by Bothrops snakes in Brazil. Notably, this is the first study to present such information in a country as vast and diverse as Brazil, encompassing a comparative analysis of its regions using SINAN data, that proves to be a very useful national tool to improve the control and management of envenoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weslley Ruan Guimarães Borges da Silva
- Department of Biology, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Lucas de Siqueira Santos
- Graduate Program in Geodetic Sciences and Geoinformation Technologies, Department of Cartographic Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Derick Lira
- Department of Biology, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Department of Biology, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Karla Patrícia de Oliveira Luna
- Department of Biology, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Science Teaching and Mathematics Education, Department of Biology, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Sayonara Maria Lia Fook
- Graduate Program in Public Health, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Department of Biology, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Department of Biology, Paraíba State University, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Patel RN, Clare RH, Ledsgaard L, Nys M, Kool J, Laustsen AH, Ulens C, Casewell NR. An in vitro assay to investigate venom neurotoxin activity on muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation and for the discovery of toxin-inhibitory molecules. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 216:115758. [PMID: 37604290 PMCID: PMC10570928 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that causes over 100,000 deaths annually. Envenomings result in variable pathologies, but systemic neurotoxicity is among the most serious and is currently only treated with difficult to access and variably efficacious commercial antivenoms. Venom-induced neurotoxicity is often caused by α-neurotoxins antagonising the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a ligand-gated ion channel. Discovery of therapeutics targeting α-neurotoxins is hampered by relying on binding assays that do not reveal restoration of receptor activity or more costly and/or lower throughput electrophysiology-based approaches. Here, we report the validation of a screening assay for nAChR activation using immortalised TE671 cells expressing the γ-subunit containing muscle-type nAChR and a fluorescent dye that reports changes in cell membrane potential. Assay validation using traditional nAChR agonists and antagonists, which either activate or block ion fluxes, was consistent with previous studies. We then characterised antagonism of the nAChR by a variety of elapid snake venoms that cause muscle paralysis in snakebite victims, before defining the toxin-inhibiting activities of commercial antivenoms, and new types of snakebite therapeutic candidates, namely monoclonal antibodies, decoy receptors, and small molecules. Our findings show robust evidence of assay uniformity across 96-well plates and highlight the amenability of this approach for the future discovery of new snakebite therapeutics via screening campaigns. The described assay therefore represents a useful first-step approach for identifying α-neurotoxins and their inhibitors in the context of snakebite envenoming, and it should provide wider value for studying modulators of nAChR activity from other sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit N Patel
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, UK; Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rachel H Clare
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, UK; Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Line Ledsgaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mieke Nys
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andreas H Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Chris Ulens
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, UK; Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, L3 5QA, UK.
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9
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Ratanabanangkoon K. Polyvalent Snake Antivenoms: Production Strategy and Their Therapeutic Benefits. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:517. [PMID: 37755943 PMCID: PMC10536913 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090517] [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] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Snake envenomation remains an important yet neglected medical problem in many countries, with around five million people affected, and over a hundred thousand deaths annually. Plasma-derived antivenoms are the main therapeutic agent available. Monovalent antivenoms are produced via the immunization of large animals, e.g., horses, with one venom, after which the horse serum can neutralize the homologous venom, with minimal or no cross neutralization against other venoms. It is necessary, therefore, for the culprit snake to be identified, so that the appropriate specific antivenom can be selected. Polyvalent antivenoms (pAVs) are produced via immunization with a number of snake venoms, and the serum can neutralize all the venoms used in its production. Thus, pAVs can be used to treat several venoms from a country/region, and the identification of the culprit snake is not necessary. There are various parameters and processes involved in the production of pAVs, depending on the requirements and resources available. Most commercial pAVs use a mixture of both elapid and viperid venoms as immunogens, while some pAVs use either elapid or viperid venoms. Some pAVs are produced through the mixing of more than one monovalent or polyvalent antivenom. These various types of pAVs have their own characteristics, and have benefits and drawbacks. The major benefits of pAVs are the wide coverage of many medically important venoms, including many heterologous venoms. They also remove the need to identify the culprit snake, and they can be produced at a lower cost than several monovalent antivenoms. Interesting polyvalent antivenoms, termed 'syndromic pAVs' (s-pAVs), have recently gained attention. They are produced for use according to the syndromes manifested in snakebite patients. The venoms that produce these syndromes are used as immunogens in the production of 'syndromic antivenoms'. For example, 'neurotoxic polyvalent antivenom' and 'hematotoxic polyvalent antivenom' are produced using the neurotoxic elapid and hematotoxic viperid venoms as immunogens, respectively. They were first marketed by the Thai Red Cross in 2012, and have since gained attention as a possible therapeutic modality to help solve the problem of snakebite envenomation globally. The merits of these s-pAVs, including their efficacy and wide paraspecificities, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavi Ratanabanangkoon
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Structural and functional studies of a snake venom phospholipase A 2-like protein complexed to an inhibitor from Tabernaemontana catharinensis. Biochimie 2023; 206:105-115. [PMID: 36273763 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Snake envenomation is an ongoing global health problem and tropical neglected disease that afflicts millions of people each year. The only specific treatment, antivenom, has several limitations that affects its proper distribution to the victims and its efficacy against local effects, such as myonecrosis. The main responsible for this consequence are the phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and PLA2-like proteins, such as BthTX-I from Bothrops jararacussu. Folk medicine resorts to plants such as Tabernaemontana catharinensis to palliate these and other snakebite effects. Here, we evaluated the effect of its root bark extract and one of its isolated compounds, 12-methoxy-4-methyl-voachalotine (MMV), against the in vitro paralysis and muscle damage induced by BthTX-I. Secondary and quaternary structures of BthTX-I were not modified by the interaction with MMV. Instead, this compound interacted in an unprecedented way with the region inside the toxin hydrophobic channel and promoted a structural change in Val31, loop 58-71 and Membrane Disruption Site. Thus, we hypothesize that MMV inhibits PLA2-like proteins by preventing entrance of fatty acid into the hydrophobic channel. These data may explain the traditional use of T. catharinensis extract and confirm MMV as a promising candidate to complement antivenom or a structural guide to develop more effective inhibitors.
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Patiño RSP, Salazar-Valenzuela D, Robles-Loaiza AA, Santacruz-Ortega P, Almeida JR. A retrospective study of clinical and epidemiological characteristics of snakebite in Napo Province, Ecuadorian Amazon. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2023; 117:118-127. [PMID: 35917814 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trac071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snakebite envenoming remains a relevant public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. In Ecuador, this is particularly true in an area of great diversity like the Amazon region. Nevertheless, there is scarce information about epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these accidents in this area. METHODS This was a descriptive and retrospective study of snakebite cases treated at a tertiary hospital in the Napo Province, Ecuadorian Amazon, from 2015 to 2019. We collected sociodemographic and snakebite-related information, clinical aspects and the use of antivenom and antibiotics from medical records. RESULTS Information from 133 snakebite accidents was reviewed in this time period. Reports of snakebite envenoming decreased over the years. In total, 67% of those bitten were from nearby indigenous communities, which were the most affected groups. When a species was identified, Bothrops atrox was responsible for the highest number of cases registered. Local clinical manifestations were more frequent than systemic signs, in keeping with the typical effects produced by bothropic venoms. Additionally, data showed that more antivenom vials were given than those suggested by the protocol of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, in proportion to the grade of severity. Finally, we identified a low incidence of adverse reactions with antivenom administration, as well as a frequent use of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS The profile of snakebite accidents in the Napo Province is very similar to that described for other localities in the Amazon region of Ecuador and neighboring countries, with its challenges and limitations. Such aspects underlie the importance of establishing a robust and science-based public health program to respond to this frequent, but neglected, tropical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo S P Patiño
- Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo 150150, Ecuador.,Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Centro Nacional de Acuicultura e Investigaciones Marinas (CENAIM), Guayaquil 090211, Ecuador
| | - David Salazar-Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb) e Ingeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito 170103, Ecuador
| | | | - Paola Santacruz-Ortega
- Escola de Educação Permanente, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403010, Brasil
| | - José R Almeida
- Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo 150150, Ecuador
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Carter RW, Gerardo CJ, Samuel SP, Kumar S, Kotehal SD, Mukherjee PP, Shirazi FM, Akpunonu PD, Bammigatti C, Bhalla A, Manikath N, Platts-Mills TF, Lewin MR. The BRAVO Clinical Study Protocol: Oral Varespladib for Inhibition of Secretory Phospholipase A2 in the Treatment of Snakebite Envenoming. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 15:22. [PMID: 36668842 PMCID: PMC9862656 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Snakebite is an urgent, unmet global medical need causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Varespladib is a potent inhibitor of venom secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) that can be administered orally via its prodrug, varespladib-methyl. Extensive preclinical data support clinical evaluation of varespladib as a treatment for snakebite envenoming (SBE). The protocol reported here was designed to evaluate varespladib-methyl for SBE from any snake species in multiple geographies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS BRAVO (Broad-spectrum Rapid Antidote: Varespladib Oral for snakebite) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of oral varespladib-methyl plus standard of care (SoC) vs. SoC plus placebo in patients presenting with acute SBE by any venomous snake species. Male and female patients 5 years of age and older who meet eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned 1:1 to varespladib-methyl or placebo. The primary outcome is the Snakebite Severity Score (SSS) that has been modified for international use. This composite outcome is based on the sum of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, nervous, hematologic, and renal systems components of the updated SSS. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol was submitted to regulatory authorities in India and the US. A Clinical Trial No Objection Certificate from the India Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Drug Controller General-India, and a Notice to Proceed from the US Food and Drug Administration have been obtained. The study protocol was approved by properly constituted, valid institutional review boards or ethics committees at each study site. This study is being conducted in compliance with the April 1996 ICH Guidance for Industry GCP E6, the Integrated Addendum to ICH E6 (R2) of November 2016, and the applicable regulations of the country in which the study is conducted. The trial is registered on Clinical trials.gov, NCT#04996264 and Clinical Trials Registry-India, 2021/07/045079 000062.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles J. Gerardo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Surendra Kumar
- Department of Medicine, Sardar Patel Medical College, PBM Hospital, Bikaner 334001, India
| | - Suneetha D. Kotehal
- Department of Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore 570001, India
| | - Partha P. Mukherjee
- Department of General Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata 700014, India
| | - Farshad M. Shirazi
- Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center, College of Pharmacy and University of Arizona College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Peter D. Akpunonu
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Chanaveerappa Bammigatti
- Department of Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry 605006, India
| | - Ashish Bhalla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Neeraj Manikath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Government Medical College, Kozhikode 673008, India
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Romo E, Torres M, Martin-Solano S. Current situation of snakebites envenomation in the Neotropics: Biotechnology, a versatile tool in the production of antivenoms. BIONATURA 2022. [DOI: 10.21931/rb/2022.07.04.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people around the world with a great impact on health and the economy. Unfortunately, public health programs do not include this kind of disease as a priority in their social programs. Cases of snakebite envenomations in the Neotropics are inaccurate due to inadequate disease management from medical records to the choice of treatments. Victims of snakebite envenomation are primarily found in impoverished agricultural areas where remote conditions limit the availability of antivenom. Antivenom serum is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment used up to date. However, it has several disadvantages in terms of safety and effectiveness. This review provides a comprehensive insight dealing with the current epidemiological status of snakebites in the Neotropics and technologies employed in antivenom production. Also, modern biotechnological tools such as transcriptomic, proteomic, immunogenic, high-density peptide microarray and epitope mapping are highlighted for producing new-generation antivenom sera. These results allow us to propose strategic solutions in the Public Health Sector for managing this disease.
Keywords: antivenom, biotechnology, neglected tropical disease, omics, recombinant antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Romo
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador
| | - Marbel Torres
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Humana (GISAH), Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Immunology and Virology Laboratory, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Center, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas, ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador
| | - Sarah Martin-Solano
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Humana (GISAH), Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública, Universidad Central del Ecuador
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Mora-Obando D, Lomonte B, Pla D, Guerrero-Vargas JA, Ayerbe-González S, Gutiérrez JM, Sasa M, Calvete JJ. Half a century of research on Bothrops asper venom variation: Biological and biomedical implications. Toxicon 2022; 221:106983. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Hung WH, Sung J, Chen WY, Chiu LT, Yip HT, Wei JCC, Hung YM, Chang R. Risk of stroke with antivenom usage after venomous snakebite in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study. QJM 2022; 115:587-595. [PMID: 34613415 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcab259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Stroke is a rare complication of snakebites, but may lead to serious sequelae. We aimed to explore the relationship between venomous snakebite and the risk for acute stroke, in a nationwide population-based cohort study. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used claims data between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012, from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The study included data of patients aged 18 years or older with venomous snakebite (n = 535), matched for propensity score with controls without venomous snakebite (n = 2140). The follow-up period was the duration from the initial diagnosis of venomous snakebite and administration of antivenom to the date of an acute stroke, or until 31 December 2013. The competing risk model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of stroke, ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke, after adjusting for demographic and other possible stroke risk factors. RESULTS The adjusted HR for the venomous snakebite group compared with the control group was 2.68 for hemorrhagic stroke (95% CI = 1.35-5.33). Stratified analysis showed that the older age group (>65 years old) had a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. A 2.72-fold significant increase in the risk for hemorrhagic stroke was observed following venomous snakebite with antivenom usage (95% CI = 1.41-5.26). CONCLUSION Venomous snakebite is associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke after the use of antivenom. Further study of the underlying mechanism is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- W-H Hung
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - J Sung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospitals, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - W-Y Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - L-T Chiu
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - H-T Yip
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - J C-C Wei
- Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Y-M Hung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospitals, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - R Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Recreation and Sports Management, Tajen University, Pingtung, Taiwan
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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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Jones L, Youngman NJ, Neri-Castro E, Guadarrama-Martínez A, Lewin MR, Carter R, Frank N, Fry BG. Differential Antivenom and Small-Molecule Inhibition of Novel Coagulotoxic Variations in Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium American Viperid Snake Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080511. [PMID: 35893753 PMCID: PMC9332056 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Within Neotropical pit-vipers, the Mexican/Central-American clade consisting of Atropoides, Cerrophidion, Metlapilcoatlus, and Porthidium is a wide-ranging, morphologically and ecologically diverse group of snakes. Despite their prevalence, little is known of the functional aspects of their venoms. This study aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding coagulotoxic effects and to examine the potential of different therapeutic approaches. As a general trait, the venoms were shown to be anticoagulant but were underpinned by diverse biochemical actions. Pseudo-procoagulant activity (i.e., thrombin-like), characterized by the direct cleavage of fibrinogen to form weak fibrin clots, was evident for Atropoides picadoi, Cerrophidiontzotzilorum, Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus, M. nummifer, M. occiduus, M. olmec, and Porthidium porrasi. In contrast, other venoms cleaved fibrinogen in a destructive (non-clotting) manner, with C. godmani and C. wilsoni being the most potent. In addition to actions on fibrinogen, clotting enzymes were also inhibited. FXa was only weakly inhibited by most species, but Cerrophidion godmani and C. wilsoni were extremely strong in their inhibitory action. Other clotting enzymes were more widely inhibited by diverse species spanning the full taxonomical range, but in each case, there were species that had these traits notably amplified relatively to the others. C. godmani and C. wilsoni were the most potent amongst those that inhibited the formation of the prothrombinase complex and were also amongst the most potent inhibitors of Factor XIa. While most species displayed only low levels of thrombin inhibition, Porthidium dunni potently inhibited this clotting factor. The regional polyvalent antivenom produced by Instituto Picado Clodomiro was tested and was shown to be effective against the diverse anticoagulant pathophysiological effects. In contrast to the anticoagulant activities of the other species, Porthidium volcanicum was uniquely procoagulant through the activation of Factor VII and Factor XII. This viperid species is the first snake outside of the Oxyuranus/Pseudonaja elapid snake clade to be shown to activate FVII and the first snake venom of any kind to activate FXII. Interestingly, while small-molecule metalloprotease inhibitors prinomastat and marimastat demonstrated the ability to prevent the procoagulant toxicity of P. volcanicum, neither ICP antivenom nor inhibitor DMPS showed this effect. The extreme variation among the snakes here studied underscores how venom is a dynamic trait and how this can shape clinical outcomes and influence evolving treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Jones
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.G.F.)
| | - Nicholas J. Youngman
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (E.N.-C.); (A.G.-M.)
| | - Alid Guadarrama-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico; (E.N.-C.); (A.G.-M.)
| | | | - Rebecca Carter
- Ophirex Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA; (M.R.L.); (R.C.)
| | | | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (B.G.F.)
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Puzari U, Fernandes PA, Mukherjee AK. Pharmacological re-assessment of traditional medicinal plants-derived inhibitors as antidotes against snakebite envenoming: A critical review. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 292:115208. [PMID: 35314419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Traditional healers have used medicinal plants to treat snakebite envenomation worldwide; however, mostly without scientific validation. There have been many studies on the therapeutic potential of the natural products against snake envenomation. AIM OF THE STUDY This review has highlighted snake venom inhibitory activity of bioactive compounds and peptides from plants that have found a traditional use in treating snakebite envenomation. We have systematically reviewed the scenario of different phases of natural snake venom inhibitors characterization covering a period from 1994 until the present and critically analysed the lacuna of the studies if any, and further scope for their translation from bench to bedside. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medicinal plant-derived compounds used against snakebite therapy were reviewed from the available literature in public databases (Scopus, MEDLINE) from 1994 till 2020. The search words used were 'natural inhibitors against snakebite,' 'natural products as therapeutics against snakebite,' 'natural products as antidote against snake envenomation,' ' snake venom toxin natural inhibitors,' 'snake venom herbal inhibitors'. However, the scope of this review does not include computational (in silico) predictions without any wet laboratory validation and snake venom inhibitory activity of the crude plant extracts. In addition, we have also predicted the ADMET properties of the identified snake venom inhibitors to highlight their valuable pharmacokinetics for future clinical studies. RESULTS The therapeutic application of plant-derived natural inhibitors to treat snakebite envenomation as an auxiliary to antivenom therapy has been gaining significant momentum. Pharmacological reassessment of the natural compounds derived from traditional medicinal plants has demonstrated inhibition of the principal toxic enzymes of snake venoms at various extents to curb the lethal and/or deleterious effects of venomous snakebite. Nevertheless, such molecules are yet to be commercialized for clinical application in the treatment of snakebite. There are many obstacles in the marketability of the plant-derived natural products as snake envenomation antidote and strategies must be explored for the translation of these compounds from drug candidates to their clinical application. CONCLUSION In order to minimize the adverse implications of snake envenomation, strategies must be developed for the smooth transition of these plant-derived small molecule inhibitors from bench to bedside. In this article we have presented an inclusive review and have critically analysed natural products for their therapeutic potential against snake envenomation, and have proposed a road map for use of natural products as antidote against snakebite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasana Puzari
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India
| | - Pedro Alexandrino Fernandes
- LAQV@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade De Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua Do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India; Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, 781035, Assam, India.
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Laustsen A, Gless BH, Jenkins TP, Meyhoff-Madsen M, Bjärtun J, Munk AS, Oscoz S, Fernández J, Gutiérrez JM, Lomonte B, Lohse B. In Vivo Neutralization of Myotoxin II, a Phospholipase A 2 Homologue from Bothrops asper Venom, Using Peptides Discovered via Phage Display Technology. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:15561-15569. [PMID: 35571794 PMCID: PMC9096979 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many snake venom toxins cause local tissue damage in prey and victims, which constitutes an important pathology that is challenging to treat with existing antivenoms. One of the notorious toxins that causes such effects is myotoxin II present in the venom of the Central and Northern South American viper, Bothrops asper. This Lys49 PLA2 homologue is devoid of enzymatic activity and causes myotoxicity by disrupting the cell membranes of muscle tissue. To improve envenoming therapy, novel approaches are needed, warranting the discovery and development of inhibitors that target key toxins that are currently difficult to neutralize. Here, we report the identification of a new peptide (JB006), discovered using phage display technology, that is capable of binding to and neutralizing the toxic effects of myotoxin II in vitro and in vivo. Through computational modeling, we further identify hypothetical binding interactions between the toxin and the peptide to enable further development of inhibitors that can neutralize myotoxin II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas
H. Laustsen
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical
University of Denmark, Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Bengt H. Gless
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical
University of Denmark, Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Maria Meyhoff-Madsen
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Johanna Bjärtun
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Andreas S. Munk
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical
University of Denmark, Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Saioa Oscoz
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical
University of Denmark, Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto
Clodomiro Picado, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San
José 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto
Clodomiro Picado, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San
José 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto
Clodomiro Picado, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San
José 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Brian Lohse
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
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20
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Mender MM, Bolton F, Berry C, Young M. Antivenom: An immunotherapy for the treatment of snakebite envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 129:435-477. [PMID: 35305724 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming (SBE) leads to significant morbidity and mortality, resulting in over 90,000 deaths and approximately 400,000 amputations annually. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) alone, SBE accounts for over 30,000 deaths per annum. Since 2017, SBE has been classified as a priority Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The major species responsible for mortality from SBE within SSA are from the Bitis, Dendroaspis, Echis and Naja genera. Pharmacologically active toxins such as metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, 3-finger toxins, kunitz-type toxins, and phospholipase A2s are the primary snake venom components. These toxins induce cytotoxicity, coagulopathy, hemorrhage, and neurotoxicity in envenomed victims. Antivenom is currently the only available venom-specific treatment for SBE and contains purified equine or ovine polyclonal antibodies, collected from donor animals repeatedly immunized with low doses of adjuvanted venom. The resulting plasma or serum contains a high titre of specific antibodies, which can then be collected and stored until required. The purified antibodies are either whole IgG, monovalent fragment antibody (Fab) or divalent fragment antibody F(ab')2. Despite pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences, all three are effective in the treatment of SBE. No antivenom is without adverse reactions but, the level of their impact and severity varies from benign early adverse reactions to the rarely occurring fatal anaphylactic shock. However, the major side effects are largely reversible with immediate administration of adrenaline and corticosteroids. There are 16 different antivenoms marketed within SSA, but the efficacy and safety profiles are only published for less than 50% of these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mender M Mender
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Department of Research and Development, MicroPharm Ltd, Newcastle Emlyn, United Kingdom.
| | - Fiona Bolton
- Department of Research and Development, MicroPharm Ltd, Newcastle Emlyn, United Kingdom
| | - Colin Berry
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Young
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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21
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Ruiz-Campos M, Sanz L, Bonilla F, Sasa M, Lomonte B, Zaruma-Torres F, Terán M, Fernández J, Calvete JJ, Caldeira CAS, Da Silva SL. Venomics of the poorly studied hognosed pitvipers Porthidium arcosae and Porthidium volcanicum. J Proteomics 2021; 249:104379. [PMID: 34534714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We report the first proteomics analyses of the venoms of two poorly studied snakes, the Manabi hognosed pitviper Porthidium arcosae endemic to the western coastal province of Manabí (Ecuador), and the Costa Rican hognosed pitviper P. volcanicum with distribution restricted to South Pacific Costa Rica and western Panamá. These venom proteomes share a conserved compositional pattern reported in four other congeneric species within the clade of South American Porthidium species, P. nasutum, P. lansbergii, P. ophryomegas, and P. porrasi. The paraspecific immunorecognition profile of antivenoms produced in Costa Rica (ICP polyvalent), Perú (Instituto Nacional de Salud) and Brazil (soro antibotrópico pentavalente, SAB, from Instituto Butantan) against the venom of P. arcosae was investigated through a third-generation antivenomics approach. The maximal venom-binding capacities of the investigated antivenoms were 97.1 mg, 21.8 mg, and 25.7 mg of P. arcosae venom proteins per gram of SAB, ICP, and INS-PERU antibody molecules, respectively, which translate into 28.4 mg, 13.1 mg, and 15.2 mg of total venom proteins bound per vial of SAB, ICP, and INS-PERU AV. The antivenomics results suggest that 21.8%, 7.8% and 6.1% of the SAB, ICP, and INS-PERU antibody molecules recognized P. arcosae venom toxins. The SAB antivenom neutralized P. arcosae venom's lethality in mice with an ED50 of 31.3 mgV/g SAB AV. This preclinical neutralization paraspecificity points to Brazilian SAB as a promising candidate for the treatment of envenomings by Ecuadorian P. arcosae. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Assessing the preclinical efficacy profile of antivenoms against homologous and heterologous medically relevant snake venoms represents an important goal towards defining the biogeographic range of their clinical utility. This is particularly relevant in regions, such as Mesoamerica, where a small number of pharmaceutical companies produce antivenoms against the venoms of a small number of species of maximum medical relevance among the local rich herpetofauna, leaving a wide range of snakes of secondary medical relevance, but also causing life-threatening human envenomings without nominal clinical coverage. This work is part of a larger project aiming at mapping the immunological characteristics of antivenoms generated in Latin American countries towards venoms of such poorly studied snakes of the local and neighboring countries' herpetofauna. Here we report the proteomics characterization of the Manabi hognosed pitviper Porthidium arcosae endemic to the western coastal province of Manabí (Ecuador), and the Costa Rican hognosed pitviper P. volcanicum with distribution restricted to southwestern Costa Rica, the antivenomics assessment of three bothropoid commercial antivenoms produced in Costa Rica, Perú, and Brazil against the venom components of P. arcosae, and the in vivo capacity of the Brazilian soro antibotrópico pentavalente (SAB) from Instituto Butantan to neutralize the murine lethality of P. arcosae venom. The preclinical paraspecific ED50 of 31.3 mg of P. arcosae venom per gram of antivenom points to Brazilian SAB as a promising candidate for the treatment of envenomings by the Manabi hognosed pitviper P. arcosae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ruiz-Campos
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Libia Sanz
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Fabián Bonilla
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica; Centro Investigaciones, Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Fausto Zaruma-Torres
- College of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
| | - Maria Terán
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública (INSPI), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
| | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Cleópatra A S Caldeira
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas a Saúde CEBio/FIOCRUZ/UNIR, Rua da Beira 7671, Lagoa, CEP 76820-245 Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental (PGBIOEXP), Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, rede BIONORTE, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil.
| | - Saulo L Da Silva
- College of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
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22
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Puzari U, Fernandes PA, Mukherjee AK. Advances in the Therapeutic Application of Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Repurposed Drugs against Snakebite. J Med Chem 2021; 64:13938-13979. [PMID: 34565143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization has declared snakebite as a neglected tropical disease. Antivenom administration is the sole therapy against venomous snakebite; however, several limitations of this therapy reinforce the dire need for an alternative and/or additional treatment against envenomation. Inhibitors against snake venoms have been explored from natural resources and are synthesized in the laboratory; however, repurposing of small-molecule therapeutics (SMTs) against the principal toxins of snake venoms to inhibit their lethality and/or obnoxious effect of envenomation has been garnering greater attention owing to their established pharmacokinetic properties, low-risk attributes, cost-effectiveness, ease of administration, and storage stability. Nevertheless, SMTs are yet to be approved and commercialized for snakebite treatment. Therefore, we have systematically reviewed and critically analyzed the scenario of small synthetic inhibitors and repurposed drugs against snake envenomation from 2005 to date and proposed novel approaches and commercialization strategies for the development of efficacious therapies against snake envenomation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasana Puzari
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur-784028, Assam, India
| | - Pedro Alexandrino Fernandes
- LAQV@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua Do Campo Alegre S/N, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur-784028, Assam, India.,Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Vigyan Path Garchuk, Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati-781035, Assam, India
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23
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Moreira-Soto A, Arguedas M, Brenes H, Buján W, Corrales-Aguilar E, Díaz C, Echeverri A, Flores-Díaz M, Gómez A, Hernández A, Herrera M, León G, Macaya R, Kühne A, Molina-Mora JA, Mora J, Sanabria A, Sánchez A, Sánchez L, Segura Á, Segura E, Solano D, Soto C, Stynoski JL, Vargas M, Villalta M, Reusken CBEM, Drosten C, Gutiérrez JM, Alape-Girón A, Drexler JF. High Efficacy of Therapeutic Equine Hyperimmune Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:735853. [PMID: 34552949 PMCID: PMC8451950 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.735853] [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: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern show reduced neutralization by vaccine-induced and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies; therefore, treatment alternatives are needed. We tested therapeutic equine polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) that are being assessed in clinical trials in Costa Rica against five globally circulating variants of concern: alpha, beta, epsilon, gamma and delta, using plaque reduction neutralization assays. We show that equine pAbs efficiently neutralize the variants of concern, with inhibitory concentrations in the range of 0.146–1.078 μg/mL, which correspond to extremely low concentrations when compared to pAbs doses used in clinical trials. Equine pAbs are an effective, broad coverage, low-cost and a scalable COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Moreira-Soto
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Mauricio Arguedas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Hebleen Brenes
- Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud, Ministry of Health, Tres Ríos, Costa Rica
| | - Willem Buján
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica.,Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Cecilia Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica.,School of Medicine, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Ann Echeverri
- Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Marietta Flores-Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Andrés Hernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - María Herrera
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Román Macaya
- Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Arne Kühne
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - José Arturo Molina-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Javier Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | | | - Andrés Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Álvaro Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Eduardo Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Daniela Solano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Claudio Soto
- Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud, Ministry of Health, Tres Ríos, Costa Rica
| | - Jennifer L Stynoski
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Mariángela Vargas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Mauren Villalta
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Chantal B E M Reusken
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Alberto Alape-Girón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica.,School of Medicine, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Associated Partner Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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24
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Alfaro-Chinchilla A, Segura Á, Gómez A, Díaz C, Corrales G, Chacón D, Arguedas M, Estrada R, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Expanding the neutralization scope of the Central American antivenom (PoliVal-ICP) to include the venom of Crotalus durissus pifanorum. J Proteomics 2021; 246:104315. [PMID: 34216808 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The proteomic, enzymatic, toxicological, and immunogenic profiles of the venom of C. d. pifanorum were studied. It was found that venom of C. d. pifanorum is composed of 63% phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), 13% serine proteinases (SVSPs), 8% bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), 4% L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs), 3% metalloproteinases (SVMPs), and other minor components. This composition allows the venom to exert lethal, PLA2, myotoxic, coagulant and defibrinogenating activities, but no azocaseinolytic or hemorrhagic activities. The addition of C. d. pifanorum venom to the group of venoms used as immunogens to produce the Central American antivenom PoliVal-ICP (i.e., venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys) resulted in 1) the expansion of the neutralization scope of the antivenom to cover the venom of C. d. pifanorum and other antigenically related venom (i.e., C. s. scutulatus venom), 2) improvement of the neutralizing potency towards the venom of C. simus, and 3) no significant reduction of the neutralization of venoms of B. asper and L. stenophrys. It was concluded that supplementation of the immunogens used to produce PoliVal-ICP with the venom of C. d. pifanorum is a viable alternative to expand the neutralization scope of the antivenom. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The venom of Crotalus durissus pifanorum from Venezuela has a proteomic profile like those of other subspecies of the South American rattlesnake C. durissus, with predominance of phospholipases A2 (especially crotoxin) and serine proteinases. This explains a toxicological profile characterized by neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, and coagulopathies, but being devoid of hemorrhagic activity. The antivenom used in Central America (PoliVal-ICP) includes the venom of C. simus, which has a different composition, in the immunizing strategy. Accordingly, this antivenom does not neutralize C. d. pifanorum venom. The addition of C. d. pifanorum venom to the immunizing mixture of PoliVal-ICP expands the neutralizing scope of this antivenom, to cover additional rattlesnake venoms, while not affecting the response to C. simus, Bothrops asper and Lachesis stenophrys venoms. This represents an improvement of the current PoliVal-ICP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Alfaro-Chinchilla
- 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
| | - Aarón Gómez
- 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
| | - Greivin Corrales
- 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
| | - Mauricio Arguedas
- 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
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- 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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25
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Di Nicola MR, Pontara A, Kass GEN, Kramer NI, Avella I, Pampena R, Mercuri SR, Dorne JLCM, Paolino G. Vipers of Major clinical relevance in Europe: Taxonomy, venom composition, toxicology and clinical management of human bites. Toxicology 2021; 453:152724. [PMID: 33610611 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Snakebites in Europe are mostly due to bites from Viperidae species of the genus Vipera. This represents a neglected public health hazard with poorly defined incidence, morbidity and mortality. In Europe, fourteen species of "true vipers" (subfamily Viperinae) are present, eleven of which belong to the genus Vipera. Amongst these, the main medically relevant species due to their greater diffusion across Europe and the highest number of registered snakebites are six, namely: Vipera ammodytes, V. aspis, V. berus, V. latastei, V. seoanei and V. ursinii. Generally speaking, viper venom composition is characterised by many different toxin families, like phospholipases A2, snake venom serine proteases, snake venom metalloproteases, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, C-type lectins, disintegrins, haemorrhagic factors and coagulation inhibitors. A suspected snakebite is often associated with severe pain, erythema, oedema and, subsequently, the onset of an ecchymotic area around one or two visible fang marks. In the field, the affected limb should be immobilised and mildly compressed with a bandage, which can then be removed once the patient is being treated in hospital. The clinician should advise the patient to remain calm to reduce blood circulation and, therefore, decrease the spread of the toxins. In the case of pain, an analgesic therapy can be administered, the affected area can be treated with hydrogen peroxide or clean water. However, anti-inflammatory drugs and disinfection with alcohol or alcoholic substances should be avoided. For each patient, clinical chemistry and ECG are always a pre-requisite as well as the evaluation of the tetanus immunisation status and for which immunisation may be provided if needed. The treatment of any clinical complication, due to the envenomation, does not differ from treatments of emergency nature. Antivenom is recommended when signs of systemic envenomation exist or in case of advanced local or systemic progressive symptoms. Recommendations for future work concludes. The aim of this review is to support clinicians for the clinical management of viper envenomation, through taxonomic keys for main species identification, description of venom composition and mode of action of known toxins and provide a standardised clinical protocol and antivenom administration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Pontara
- Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - George E N Kass
- European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Committee and Emerging Risks unit, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Nynke I Kramer
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ignazio Avella
- CIBIO/InBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal; Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia - CSIC, Calle Jaime Roig 11, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Riccardo Pampena
- Centro Oncologico ad Alta Tecnologia Diagnostica, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Jean Lou C M Dorne
- European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Committee and Emerging Risks unit, 43126 Parma, Italy
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26
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Patiño RSP, Salazar-Valenzuela D, Medina-Villamizar E, Mendes B, Proaño-Bolaños C, da Silva SL, Almeida JR. Bothrops atrox from Ecuadorian Amazon: Initial analyses of venoms from individuals. Toxicon 2021; 193:63-72. [PMID: 33503404 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Bothrops atrox is the most clinically relevant snake species within the Amazon region, which includes Ecuadorian territories. It comprises a large distribution, which could contribute to the genetic and venomic variation identified in the species. The high variability and protein isoform diversity of its venom are of medical interest, since it can influence the clinical manifestations caused by envenomation and its treatment. However, in Ecuador there is insufficient information on the diversity of venomic phenotypes, even of relevant species such as B. atrox. Here, we characterized the biochemical and toxicological profiles of the venom of six B. atrox individuals from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Differences in catalytic activities of toxins, elution profiles in liquid chromatography, electrophoretic patterns, and toxic effects among the analyzed samples were identified. Nonetheless, in the preclinical testing of antivenom, two samples from Mera (Pastaza) required a higher dose to achieve total neutralization of lethality and hemorrhage. Taken together, these data highlight the importance of analyzing individual venoms in studies focused on the outcomes of envenoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo S P Patiño
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador; Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Centro Nacional de Acuicultura e Investigaciones Marinas (CENAIM), Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - David Salazar-Valenzuela
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb) e Ingeniería en Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Facultad de Ciencias de Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Evencio Medina-Villamizar
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Bruno Mendes
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Proaño-Bolaños
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Saulo L da Silva
- Escuela de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador; Centro de Innovación de la Salud - EUS/EP, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador; Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; LAQV - REQUIMTE, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José R Almeida
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador.
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Pan-American Lancehead Pit-Vipers: Coagulotoxic Venom Effects and Antivenom Neutralisation of Bothrops asper and B. atrox Geographical Variants. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13020078. [PMID: 33499001 PMCID: PMC7911261 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The toxin composition of snake venoms and, thus, their functional activity, can vary between and within species. Intraspecific venom variation across a species’ geographic range is a major concern for antivenom treatment of envenomations, particularly for countries like French Guiana that lack a locally produced antivenom. Bothrops asper and Bothrops atrox are the most medically significant species of snakes in Latin America, both producing a variety of clinical manifestations, including systemic bleeding. These pathophysiological actions are due to the activation by the venom of the blood clotting factors Factor X and prothrombin, thereby causing severe consumptive coagulopathy. Both species are extremely wide-ranging, and previous studies have shown their venoms to exhibit regional venom variation. In this study, we investigate the differential coagulotoxic effects on human plasma of six venoms (four B. asper and two B. atrox samples) from different geographic locations, spanning from Mexico to Peru. We assessed how the venom variation of these venom samples affects neutralisation by five regionally available antivenoms: Antivipmyn, Antivipmyn-Tri, PoliVal-ICP, Bothrofav, and Soro Antibotrópico (SAB). The results revealed both inter- and intraspecific variations in the clotting activity of the venoms. These variations in turn resulted in significant variation in antivenom efficacy against the coagulotoxic effects of these venoms. Due to variations in the venoms used in the antivenom production process, antivenoms differed in their species-specific or geographical neutralisation capacity. Some antivenoms (PoliVal-ICP, Bothrofav, and SAB) showed species-specific patterns of neutralisation, while another antivenom (Antivipmyn) showed geographic-specific patterns of neutralisation. This study adds to current knowledge of Bothrops venoms and also illustrates the importance of considering evolutionary biology when developing antivenoms. Therefore, these results have tangible, real-world implications by aiding evidence-based design of antivenoms for treatment of the envenomed patient. We stress that these in vitro studies must be backed by future in vivo studies and clinical trials before therapeutic guidelines are issued regarding specific antivenom use in a clinical setting.
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da Silva GM, de Souza DHB, Waitman KB, Ebram MC, Fessel MR, Zainescu IC, Portaro FC, Heras M, de Andrade SA. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of Bothrops venom serine protease peptidic inhibitors. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20200066. [PMID: 33488681 PMCID: PMC7810238 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In Central and South America, snakebite envenomation is mainly caused by
Bothrops spp. snakes, whose venoms feature significant
biochemical richness, including serine proteases. The available bothropic
antivenoms are efficient in avoiding fatalities, but do not completely
neutralize venom serine proteases, which are co-responsible for some
disorders observed during envenomation. Methods: In order to search for tools to improve the antivenom’s, 6-mer peptides were
designed based on a specific substrate for Bothrops
jararaca venom serine proteases, and then synthesized, with the
intention to selectively inhibit these enzymes. Results: Using batroxobin as a snake venom serine protease model, two structurally
similar inhibitor peptides were identified. When tested on B.
jararaca venom, one of the new inhibitors displayed a good
potential to inhibit the activity of the venom serine proteases. These
inhibitors do not affect human serine proteases as human factor Xa and
thrombin, due to their selectivity. Conclusion: Our study identified two small peptides able to inhibit bothropic serine
proteases, but not human ones, can be used as tools to enhance knowledge of
the venom composition and function. Moreover, one promising peptide (pepC)
was identified that can be explored in the search for improving
Bothrops spp. envenomation treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karoline B Waitman
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Melissa R Fessel
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda C Portaro
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Montse Heras
- Laboratory of Innovation in Processes and Products of Organic Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Montilivi Campus, Girona, Spain
| | - Sonia A de Andrade
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Chiaradia E, Miller I. In slow pace towards the proteome of equine body fluids. J Proteomics 2020; 225:103880. [PMID: 32569818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Equine medicine represents a relevant field of veterinary science and the horse industry generates a significant economic impact. Horses can be involved in different sport disciplines, meat production, work and recreational purposes. Horses are also important for human health as they can be used as animal models for studying human diseases and in equine-assisted therapy. This review summarizes the data related to body fluids such as plasma/serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, saliva, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peritoneal fluid obtained using proteomic analysis. Horse body fluid proteome analysis under various physiological and pathological conditions is a useful method for identifying new biomarkers for horse diseases which are still difficult to diagnose, but with serious consequences on equine health and welfare. The findings reported here reveal that further proteomic studies on equine body fluids collected from diseased animals are required. SIGNIFICANCE: Body fluids are sources of potential protein biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic target identification. Indeed, they contain proteins that play a crucial role in cell functions and whose presence or relative abundance are indicative of the health status of tissues/organs. The review reports the data on the equine body fluids obtained using proteomic analysis, including those which are commonly used to obtain a correct diagnosis and prognosis of horse diseases which still pose a significant challenge. For equine medicine, new biomarkers are needed to formulate early diagnosis and to distinguish among diseases with similar clinical signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Chiaradia
- Laboratory of proteomics, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via San Costanzo, 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Ingrid Miller
- Institut für Medizinische Biochemie, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria.
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Pinto LJ, Lee Fernández L, Gutiérrez JM, Simón DS, Ceballos Z, Aguilar LF, Sierra M. Case Report: Hemothorax in Envenomation by the Viperid Snake Bothrops asper. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 100:714-716. [PMID: 30594282 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Bothrops asper, a highly venomous pit viper distributed from Colombia and northwestern Peru in South America to southern Mexico, is responsible for most snake bites in Central America, affecting especially young agricultural workers. A 17-year-old male from a rural area in northern Honduras was admitted at San Francisco Hospital after a B. asper bite that had occurred 3 days earlier. The puncture wounds were located on the first toe of the right foot. On the second day of admission, the patient developed dyspnea. A physical examination revealed hypoventilation of the left lung with dullness on 75% of the left lung. Left pleural effusion, approximately 90%, was observed on the chest X-ray. The patient was diagnosed with hemothorax, and a thoracostomy drained 1,350 mL of serosanguineous fluid, followed by the installation of a wet suction control system (Pleur-evac®). After 10 days, the patient was discharged. This case illustrates the diversity of hemorrhagic manifestations in envenomations by B. asper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Manuel Sierra
- Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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Jorge RJB, Martins RD, Araújo RM, da Silva MA, Monteiro HSA, Ximenes RM. Plants and Phytocompounds Active Against Bothrops Venoms. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:2003-2031. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190723153925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
:
Snakebite envenomation is an important health problem in tropical countries, with severe
human and social consequences. In Latin America, the Bothrops species constitute the main threat to
humans, and the envenomation caused by these species quickly develops into severe local tissue damage,
including swelling, hemorrhaging, myonecrosis, skin ulceration, and pain. The systemic effects of
envenomation are usually neutralized by antivenom serum therapy, despite its intrinsic risks. However,
neutralization of local tissue damage remains a challenge. To improve actual therapy, two major alternatives
are proposed: the rational design of new specific antibodies for most of the tissue damaging/
poor immunogenic toxins, or the search for new synthetic or natural compounds which are able to
inhibit these toxins and complement the serum therapy. Natural compounds isolated from plants,
mainly from those used in folk medicine to treat snakebite, are a good choice for finding new lead
compounds to improve snakebite treatment and minimize its consequences for the victims. In this article,
we reviewed the most promising plants and phytocompounds active against bothropic venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Jeane Bezerra Jorge
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - René Duarte Martins
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helena Serra Azul Monteiro
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rafael Matos Ximenes
- Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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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] [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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Méndez R, Bonilla F, Sasa M, Dwyer Q, Fernández J, Lomonte B. Proteomic profiling, functional characterization, and immunoneutralization of the venom of Porthidium porrasi, a pitviper endemic to Costa Rica. Acta Trop 2019; 193:113-123. [PMID: 30831113 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The genus Porthidium includes nine pitviper species inhabiting Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Porthidium porrasi is a species endemic to the Southwest of Costa Rica, for which no information on its venom was available. In this study, the proteomic composition and functional activities of P. porrasi venom are described. The most abundant venom proteins were identified as metalloproteinases (36.5%). In descending order of abundance, proteins belonging to the disintegrin, phospholipase A2, serine proteinase, C-type lectin/lectin-like, vascular endothelial growth factor, Cysteine-rich secretory protein, L-amino acid oxidase, phospholipase B, and phosphodiesterase families were also identified. P. porrasi venom showed a weak lethal potency in mice (10 μg/g body weight by intraperitoneal route), induced marked hemorrhage and edema, and weak myotoxic effect. These in vivo activities, as well as those assayed in vitro (proteolytic and phospholipase A2 activities) correlated with compositional data. A comparison of P. porrasi venom with those of three other Porthidium species studied to date reveals a generally conserved compositional and functional pattern in this pitviper genus. Importantly, the lethal effect of P. porrasi venom in mice was adequately cross-neutralized by a heterospecific polyvalent antivenom, supporting its use in the treatment of eventual envenomings by this species.
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Gutiérrez JM. Global Availability of Antivenoms: The Relevance of Public Manufacturing Laboratories. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 11:toxins11010005. [PMID: 30586868 PMCID: PMC6356591 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a serious global public health problem, and international initiatives, under the coordination of the World Health Organization and its regional offices, are being developed to reduce the impact of this neglected tropical disease. The global availability of safe and effective antivenoms is one of the key aspects in this global strategy. This review discusses the role of public antivenom manufacturing laboratories for ensuring the supply of antivenoms. The difficulties faced by public laboratories are discussed, together with some tasks that need to be implemented for strengthening them. In addition, the concept of ‘redundancy’ in the supply of antivenoms is emphasized, as a way to cope with the risks associated with the provision of antivenoms by few manufacturers. In general, the public sector should play a leading role, in antivenom availability and other aspects as well, within the global struggle to reduce the mortality and morbidity caused by snakebite envenoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
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Lewin MR, Gilliam LL, Gilliam J, Samuel SP, Bulfone TC, Bickler PE, Gutiérrez JM. Delayed LY333013 (Oral) and LY315920 (Intravenous) Reverse Severe Neurotoxicity and Rescue Juvenile Pigs from Lethal Doses of Micrurus fulvius (Eastern Coral Snake) Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:E479. [PMID: 30453607 PMCID: PMC6265968 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10110479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is a clear, unmet need for effective, lightweight, shelf-stable and economical snakebite envenoming therapies that can be given rapidly after the time of a snake's bite and as adjuncts to antivenom therapies in the hospital setting. The sPLA2 inhibitor, LY315920, and its orally bioavailable prodrug, LY333013, demonstrate surprising efficacy and have the characteristics of an antidote with potential for both field and hospital use. METHODS The efficacy of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (LY315920) and its prodrug (LY333013) to treat experimental, lethal envenoming by Micrurus fulvius (Eastern coral snake) venom was tested using a porcine model. Inhibitors were administered by either intravenous or oral routes at different time intervals after venom injection. In some experiments, antivenom was also administered alone or in conjunction with LY333013. RESULTS 14 of 14 animals (100%) receiving either LY315920 (intravenous) and/or LY333013 (oral) survived to the 120 h endpoint despite, in some protocols, the presence of severe neurotoxic signs. The study drugs demonstrated the ability to treat, rescue, and re-rescue animals with advanced manifestations of envenoming. CONCLUSIONS Low molecular mass sPLA2 inhibitors were highly effective in preventing lethality following experimental envenoming by M. fulvius. These findings suggest the plausibility of a new therapeutic approach to snakebite envenoming, in this example, for the treatment of a coral snake species for which there are limitations in the availability of effective antivenom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Lewin
- Ophirex, Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA.
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA.
| | - Lyndi L Gilliam
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
| | - John Gilliam
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
| | - Stephen P Samuel
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA.
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4ET, UK.
| | - Tommaso C Bulfone
- Ophirex, Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA.
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA.
| | - Philip E Bickler
- Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
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Bermúdez-Méndez E, Fuglsang-Madsen A, Føns S, Lomonte B, Gutiérrez JM, Laustsen AH. Innovative Immunization Strategies for Antivenom Development. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10110452. [PMID: 30400220 PMCID: PMC6265855 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10110452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakes, scorpions, and spiders are venomous animals that pose a threat to human health, and severe envenomings from the bites or stings of these animals must be treated with antivenom. Current antivenoms are based on plasma-derived immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments from hyper-immunized animals. Although these medicines have been life-saving for more than 120 years, opportunities to improve envenoming therapy exist. In the later decades, new biotechnological tools have been applied with the aim of improving the efficacy, safety, and affordability of antivenoms. Within the avenues explored, novel immunization strategies using synthetic peptide epitopes, recombinant toxins (or toxoids), or DNA strings as immunogens have demonstrated potential for generating antivenoms with high therapeutic antibody titers and broad neutralizing capacity. Furthermore, these approaches circumvent the need for venom in the production process of antivenoms, thereby limiting some of the complications associated with animal captivity and venom collection. Finally, an important benefit of innovative immunization approaches is that they are often compatible with existing antivenom manufacturing setups. In this review, we compile all reported studies examining venom-independent innovative immunization strategies for antivenom development. In addition, a brief description of toxin families of medical relevance found in snake, scorpion, and spider venoms is presented, as well as how biochemical, bioinformatic, and omics tools could aid the development of next-generation antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Albert Fuglsang-Madsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 København N, Denmark.
| | - Sofie Føns
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Andreas Hougaard Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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Guiding recombinant antivenom development by omics technologies. N Biotechnol 2018; 45:19-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Antibody Cross-Reactivity in Antivenom Research. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10100393. [PMID: 30261694 PMCID: PMC6215175 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10100393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivenom cross-reactivity has been investigated for decades to determine which antivenoms can be used to treat snakebite envenomings from different snake species. Traditionally, the methods used for analyzing cross-reactivity have been immunodiffusion, immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), enzymatic assays, and in vivo neutralization studies. In recent years, new methods for determination of cross-reactivity have emerged, including surface plasmon resonance, antivenomics, and high-density peptide microarray technology. Antivenomics involves a top-down assessment of the toxin-binding capacities of antivenoms, whereas high-density peptide microarray technology may be harnessed to provide in-depth knowledge on which toxin epitopes are recognized by antivenoms. This review provides an overview of both the classical and new methods used to investigate antivenom cross-reactivity, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and examples of studies using the methods. A special focus is given to antivenomics and high-density peptide microarray technology as these high-throughput methods have recently been introduced in this field and may enable more detailed assessments of antivenom cross-reactivity.
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Preclinical assessment of the neutralizing efficacy of snake antivenoms in Latin America and the Caribbean: A review. Toxicon 2018; 146:138-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Calvete JJ, Rodríguez Y, Quesada-Bernat S, Pla D. Toxin-resolved antivenomics-guided assessment of the immunorecognition landscape of antivenoms. Toxicon 2018; 148:107-122. [PMID: 29704534 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming represents a major issue in rural areas of tropical and subtropical regions across sub-Saharan Africa, South to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Oceania. Antivenoms constitute the only scientifically validated therapy for snakebite envenomings, provided they are safe, effective, affordable, accessible and administered appropriately. However, the lack of financial incentives in a technology that has remained relatively unchanged for more than a century, has contributed to some manufacturers leaving the market and others downscaling production or increasing the prices, leading to a decline in the availability and accessibility for these life-saving antidotes to millions of rural poor most at risk from snakebites in low income countries. The shortage of antivenoms can be significantly alleviated by optimizing the use of current antivenoms (through the assessment of their specific and paraspecific efficacy against the different medically relevant homologous and heterologous snake venoms) and by generating novel polyspecific antivenoms exhibiting broad clinical spectrum and wide geographic distribution range. Research on venoms has been continuously enhanced by advances in technology. Particularly, the last decade has witnessed the development of omics strategies for unravelling the toxin composition of venoms ("venomics") and to assess the immunorecognition profile of antivenoms ("antivenomics"). Here, we review recent developments and reflect on near future innovations that promise to revolutionize the mutually enlightening relationship between evolutionary and translational venomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Calvete
- Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia, Spain.
| | - Yania Rodríguez
- Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Sarai Quesada-Bernat
- Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Davinia Pla
- Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia, Spain.
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Soares KSR, Gláucia-Silva F, Daniele-Silva A, Torres-Rêgo M, Araújo NKD, Menezes YASD, Damasceno IZ, Tambourgi DV, da Silva-Júnior AA, Fernandes-Pedrosa MDF. Antivenom Production against Bothrops jararaca and Bothrops erythromelas Snake Venoms Using Cross-Linked Chitosan Nanoparticles as an Immunoadjuvant. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10040158. [PMID: 29659491 PMCID: PMC5923324 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10040158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, envenomation by snakes of the genus Bothrops is clinically relevant, particularly for the species Bothrops jararaca and B. erythromelas. The most effective treatment for envenomation by snakes is the administration of antivenoms associated with adjuvants. Novel adjuvants are required to reduce side effects and maximize the efficiency of conventional serum and vaccine formulations. The polymer chitosan has been shown to have immunoadjuvant properties, and it has been used as a platform for delivery systems. In this context, we evaluated the potential immunoadjuvant properties of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) loaded with B. jararaca and B. erythromelas venoms in the production of sera against these venoms. Stable CNPs were obtained by ionic gelation, and mice were immunized subcutaneously for 6 weeks with 100 µL of each snake venom at concentrations of 5.0 or 10.0% (w/w), encapsulated in CNPs or associated with aluminium hydroxide (AH). The evaluation of protein interactions with the CNPs revealed their ability to induce antibody levels equivalent to those of AH, even with smaller doses of antigen. In addition, the CNPs were less inflammatory due to their modified release of proteins. CNPs provide a promising approach for peptide/protein delivery from snake venom and will be useful for new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Samara Rocha Soares
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Fiamma Gláucia-Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Alessandra Daniele-Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Manoela Torres-Rêgo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Nathália Kelly de Araújo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Yamara Arruda Silva de Menezes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
| | - Igor Zumba Damasceno
- Department of Materials Engineering, Technology Center, University Campus, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, Brazil.
| | | | - Arnóbio Antônio da Silva-Júnior
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59012-570, Brazil.
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Solano G, Gómez A, Corrales G, Chacón D, Estrada R, León G. Contributions of the snake venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys to the paraspecificity of the Central American polyspecific antivenom (PoliVal-ICP). Toxicon 2018; 144:1-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Identification of Immunoreactive Peptides of Toxins to Simultaneously Assess the Neutralization Potency of Antivenoms against Neurotoxicity and Cytotoxicity of Naja atra Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 10:toxins10010010. [PMID: 29295601 PMCID: PMC5793097 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the neutralization capability of nonlethal but medically relevant toxins in venom has been a challenging task. Nowadays, neutralization efficacy is evaluated based simply on the survival rates of animals injected with antivenom together with a predefined dose of venom, which can determine potency against neurotoxicity but not validate the capability to neutralize cytotoxin-induced complications. In this study, a high correlation with in-vivo and in-vitro neutralization assays was established using the immunoreactive peptides identified from short-chain neurotoxin and cytotoxin A3. These peptides contain conserved residues associated with toxin activities and a competition assay indicated that these peptides could specifically block the antibody binding to toxin and affect the neutralization potency of antivenom. Moreover, the titers of peptide-specific antibody in antivenoms or mouse antisera were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) simultaneously, and the results indicated that Taiwanese bivalent antivenom (BAV) and Vietnamese snake antivenom-Naja (SAV-Naja) exhibited superior neutralization potency against the lethal effect of short-chain neurotoxin (sNTX) and cytotoxicity of cardiotoxin/cytotoxin (CTX), respectively. Thus, the reported peptide ELISA shows not only its potential for antivenom prequalification use, but also its capability of justifying the cross-neutralization potency of antivenoms against Naja atra venom toxicity.
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Rogalski A, Soerensen C, Op den Brouw B, Lister C, Dashevsky D, Arbuckle K, Gloria A, Zdenek CN, Casewell NR, Gutiérrez JM, Wüster W, Ali SA, Masci P, Rowley P, Frank N, Fry BG. Differential procoagulant effects of saw-scaled viper (Serpentes: Viperidae: Echis) snake venoms on human plasma and the narrow taxonomic ranges of antivenom efficacies. Toxicol Lett 2017; 280:159-170. [PMID: 28847519 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2017.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Saw-scaled vipers (genus Echis) are one of the leading causes of snakebite morbidity and mortality in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and vast regions of Asia, constituting a public health burden exceeding that of almost any other snake genus globally. Venom-induced consumption coagulopathy, owing to the action of potent procoagulant toxins, is one of the most relevant clinical manifestations of envenomings by Echis spp. Clinical experience and prior studies examining a limited range of venoms and restricted antivenoms have demonstrated for some antivenoms an extreme lack of antivenom cross-reactivity between different species of this genus, sometimes resulting in catastrophic treatment failure. This study undertook the most comprehensive testing of Echis venom effects upon the coagulation of human plasma, and also the broadest examination of antivenom potency and cross-reactivity, to-date. 10 Echis species/populations and four antivenoms (two African, two Asian) were studied. The results indicate that the venoms are, in general, potently procoagulant but that the relative dependence on calcium or phospholipid cofactors is highly variable. Additionally, three out of the four antivenoms tested demonstrated only a very narrow taxonomic range of effectiveness in preventing coagulopathy, with only the SAIMR antivenom displaying significant levels of cross-reactivity. These results were in conflict with previous studies using prolonged preincubation of antivenom with venom to suggest effective cross-reactivity levels for the ICP Echi-Tab antivenom. These findings both inform upon potential clinical effects of envenomation in humans and highlight the extreme limitations of available treatment. It is hoped that this will spur efforts into the development of antivenoms with more comprehensive coverage for bites not only from wild snakes but also from specimens widely kept in zoological collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymeric Rogalski
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Christoffer Soerensen
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Bianca Op den Brouw
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Callum Lister
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Daniel Dashevsky
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Kevin Arbuckle
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Alexandra Gloria
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory (MEFGL), School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Syed A Ali
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia; HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Paul Masci
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul Rowley
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | | | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Australia.
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Arroyo C, Solano S, Segura Á, Herrera M, Estrada R, Villalta M, Vargas M, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Cross-reactivity and cross-immunomodulation between venoms of the snakes Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys, and its effect in the production of polyspecific antivenom for Central America. Toxicon 2017; 138:43-48. [PMID: 28803057 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A mixture of the venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys is used as immunogen to produce the polyspecific Central American antivenom (PoliVal-ICP). In this work, we studied the ability of each of these venoms to modulate the antibody response induced by the other two venoms included in the immunization mixture. For that, equine monospecific, bispecific and polyspecific antivenoms were prepared and compared regarding their ability to neutralize the phospholipase A2, coagulant and lethal activities of each venom, and their anti-venom antibodies concentration. Results indicate that there is low cross-reactivity and cross-neutralization between venoms of B. asper, C. simus and L. stenophrys, hence justifying the use of all of them as immunogens for the production of the Central American antivenom. It was also found that the venom of B. asper reduces the anti-crotalic response while the venom of C. simus does not affect the anti-bothropic response. On the other hand, the venoms of B. asper and C. simus increase the anti-lachesic response, and L. stenoprhys venom reduced both the anti-bothropic and anti-crotalic responses. On the basis of these results, the immunization strategy can be adjusted by preventing or taking advantage of cross-immunomodulation between venoms, in order to maximize the antibody response towards all venoms. Immune responses can be improved by injecting horses with several immunogen mixtures, composed by one or two of the three venoms, and administering them at different times during the immunization, eventually generating a high titer against the three venoms. Our results suggest that addressing the issue of immunomodulation by venoms might improve antivenom manufacture worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Arroyo
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Sergio Solano
- 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
| | - María Herrera
- 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
| | - Mauren Villalta
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mariángela Vargas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- 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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Cross-reactivity, antivenomics, and neutralization of toxic activities of Lachesis venoms by polyspecific and monospecific antivenoms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005793. [PMID: 28787445 PMCID: PMC5560760 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bothrops, Crotalus and Lachesis represent the most medically relevant genera of pitvipers in Central and South America. Similarity in venom phenotype and physiopathological profile of envenomings caused by the four nominal Lachesis species led us to hypothesize that an antivenom prepared against venom from any of them may exhibit paraspecificity against all the other congeneric taxa. Methods To assess this hypothesis, in this work we have applied antivenomics and immunochemical methods to investigate the immunoreactivity of three monovalent antivenoms and two polyvalent antivenoms towards the venoms from different geographic populations of three different Lachesis species. The ability of the antivenoms to neutralize the proteolytic, hemorrhagic, coagulant, and lethal activities of the seven Lachesis venoms was also investigated. Results A conspicuous pattern of immunorecognition and cross-neutralization for all effects was evident by the polyspecific antivenoms, indicating large immunoreactive epitope conservation across the genus during more than 10 million years since the Central and South American bushmasters diverged. Conclusions Despite the broad geographic distribution of Lachesis, antivenoms against venoms of different species are effective in the neutralization of congeneric venoms not used in the immunization mixture, indicating that they can be used equivalently for the clinical treatment of any lachesic envenoming. General significance This study demonstrates that antivenoms raised against venom of different Lachesis species are indistinctly effective in the neutralization of congeneric venoms not used in the immunization mixture, indicating that antivenoms against conspecific venoms may be used equivalently for the clinical treatment of envenomings caused by any bushmaster species. Snakebite envenoming is a neglected public health problem in many developing countries and antivenom administration constitutes the mainstay in the treatment of such envenomings. Therapeutic antivenoms contain animal-derived antibodies against venom toxins and are produced by immunizing animals with the venom from one or several snake species from a defined geographical area. Defining the geographic boundaries of the efficiency of an antivenom therefore has implications for its rational and efficient use. In Central and South America most accidents are caused by pitvipers of the genus Bothrops, Crotalus and Lachesis. There are four Lachesis species distributed in a variety of habitats ranging from the Caribbean coast of Central America to the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. Lachesis species cause severe envenomings in humans due to the toxicity of their venoms and also to the large amount of venom they inject into their victims. In this work we investigate the capability of several antivenoms to neutralize the toxic activities of a panel of Lachesis venoms. The results demonstrate that antivenoms raised by immunizing horses with the venoms of different Lachesis species are effective at neutralizing congeneric venoms not used in the immunization, indicating that they could be used equivalently for the clinical treatment of any lachesic envenoming.
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Engmark M, Lomonte B, Gutiérrez JM, Laustsen AH, De Masi F, Andersen MR, Lund O. Cross-recognition of a pit viper (Crotalinae) polyspecific antivenom explored through high-density peptide microarray epitope mapping. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005768. [PMID: 28708892 PMCID: PMC5529020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite antivenom is a 120 years old invention based on polyclonal mixtures of antibodies purified from the blood of hyper-immunized animals. Knowledge on antibody recognition sites (epitopes) on snake venom proteins is limited, but may be used to provide molecular level explanations for antivenom cross-reactivity. In turn, this may help guide antivenom development by elucidating immunological biases in existing antivenoms. In this study, we have identified and characterized linear elements of B-cell epitopes from 870 pit viper venom protein sequences by employing a high-throughput methodology based on custom designed high-density peptide microarrays. By combining data on antibody-peptide interactions with multiple sequence alignments of homologous toxin sequences and protein modelling, we have determined linear elements of antibody binding sites for snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs), phospholipases A2s (PLA2s), and snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs). The studied antivenom antibodies were found to recognize linear elements in each of the three enzymatic toxin families. In contrast to a similar study of elapid (non-enzymatic) neurotoxins, these enzymatic toxins were generally not recognized at the catalytic active site responsible for toxicity, but instead at other sites, of which some are known for allosteric inhibition or for interaction with the tissue target. Antibody recognition was found to be preserved for several minor variations in the protein sequences, although the antibody-toxin interactions could often be eliminated completely by substitution of a single residue. This finding is likely to have large implications for the cross-reactivity of the antivenom and indicate that multiple different antibodies are likely to be needed for targeting an entire group of toxins in these recognized sites. Although snakebite antivenom is a 120-year-old invention, saving lives and limbs of thousands of snakebite victims every year, little is known about the mechanisms and molecular interactions of how antivenoms neutralize snake toxins. Antivenoms are produced by immunizing large animals with cocktails of snake venoms resulting in antibodies recognizing toxic as well as non-toxic venom proteins to variable degrees. As a result, high doses of antivenom are needed for treating a snakebite victim, causing more severe adverse reactions due to a high burden of heterologous antivenom proteins. For the first time, we have characterized the antibody recognition sites on hundreds of pit viper toxins using high-throughput peptide microarray technology and an antivenom specific for three pit vipers inflicting a high number of bites in Central America. Most pit viper toxins are enzymes known to have a catalytic site important for toxicity. However, our results suggest that the employed antivenom generally does not target such sites, but instead inhibits toxicity by binding to alternative sites, possibly causing conformational shifts in the toxin structures or interference with toxin-target recognition. The identification of these toxin-specific recognition sites may explain why the antivenom is effective against certain snakebites from pit vipers whose venoms are not part of the immunization mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Engmark
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Federico De Masi
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mikael R. Andersen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ole Lund
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Gutiérrez JM, Solano G, Pla D, Herrera M, Segura Á, Vargas M, Villalta M, Sánchez A, Sanz L, Lomonte B, León G, Calvete JJ. Preclinical Evaluation of the Efficacy of Antivenoms for Snakebite Envenoming: State-of-the-Art and Challenges Ahead. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9050163. [PMID: 28505100 PMCID: PMC5450711 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9050163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal-derived antivenoms constitute the mainstay in the therapy of snakebite envenoming. The efficacy of antivenoms to neutralize toxicity of medically-relevant snake venoms has to be demonstrated through meticulous preclinical testing before their introduction into the clinical setting. The gold standard in the preclinical assessment and quality control of antivenoms is the neutralization of venom-induced lethality. In addition, depending on the pathophysiological profile of snake venoms, the neutralization of other toxic activities has to be evaluated, such as hemorrhagic, myotoxic, edema-forming, dermonecrotic, in vitro coagulant, and defibrinogenating effects. There is a need to develop laboratory assays to evaluate neutralization of other relevant venom activities. The concept of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in Toxinology is of utmost importance, and some advances have been performed in their implementation. A significant leap forward in the study of the immunological reactivity of antivenoms against venoms has been the development of “antivenomics”, which brings the analytical power of mass spectrometry to the evaluation of antivenoms. International partnerships are required to assess the preclinical efficacy of antivenoms against snake venoms in different regions of the world in order to have a detailed knowledge on the neutralizing profile of these immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Gabriela Solano
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Davinia Pla
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia 46010, Spain.
| | - María Herrera
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
- Sección de Química Analítica, Escuela de Química, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Álvaro Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Mariángela Vargas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Mauren Villalta
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Andrés Sánchez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Libia Sanz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia 46010, Spain.
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia 46010, Spain.
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Teixeira-Araújo R, Castanheira P, Brazil-Más L, Pontes F, Leitão de Araújo M, Machado Alves ML, Zingali RB, Correa-Netto C. Antivenomics as a tool to improve the neutralizing capacity of the crotalic antivenom: a study with crotamine. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2017; 23:28. [PMID: 28507562 PMCID: PMC5427561 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-017-0118-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Snakebite treatment requires administration of an appropriate antivenom that should contain antibodies capable of neutralizing the venom. To achieve this goal, antivenom production must start from a suitable immunization protocol and proper venom mixtures. In Brazil, antivenom against South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) bites is produced by public institutions based on the guidelines defined by the regulatory agency of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, ANVISA. However, each institution uses its own mixture of rattlesnake venom antigens. Previous works have shown that crotamine, a toxin found in Crolatus durissus venom, shows marked individual and populational variation. In addition, serum produced from crotamine-negative venoms fails to recognize this molecule. Methods In this work, we used an antivenomics approach to assess the cross-reactivity of crotalic antivenom manufactured by IVB towards crotamine-negative venom and a mixture of crotamine-negative/crotamine-positive venoms. Results We show that the venom mixture containing 20% crotamine and 57% crotoxin produced a strong immunogenic response in horses. Antivenom raised against this venom mixture reacted with most venom components including crotamine and crotoxin, in contrast to the antivenom raised against crotamine-negative venom. Conclusions These results indicate that venomic databases and antivenomics analysis provide a useful approach for choosing the better venom mixture for antibody production and for the subsequent screening of antivenom cross-reactivity with relevant snake venom components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Teixeira-Araújo
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Patrícia Castanheira
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil
| | - Leonora Brazil-Más
- Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Francisco Pontes
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Moema Leitão de Araújo
- Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia de Porto Alegre (NOPA), Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Dr. Salvador França, 1427, Porto Alegre, RS Brasil
| | - Maria Lucia Machado Alves
- Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia de Porto Alegre (NOPA), Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Dr. Salvador França, 1427, Porto Alegre, RS Brasil
| | - Russolina Benedeta Zingali
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil
| | - Carlos Correa-Netto
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
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Pla D, Rodríguez Y, Calvete JJ. Third Generation Antivenomics: Pushing the Limits of the In Vitro Preclinical Assessment of Antivenoms. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9050158. [PMID: 28489039 PMCID: PMC5450706 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9050158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Second generation antivenomics is a translational venomics approach designed to complement in vivo preclinical neutralization assays. It provides qualitative and quantitative information on the set of homologous and heterologous venom proteins presenting antivenom-recognized epitopes and those exhibiting impaired immunoreactivity. In a situation of worrying antivenom shortage in many tropical and sub-tropical regions with high snakebite mortality and morbidity rates, such knowledge has the potential to facilitate the optimal deployment of currently existing antivenoms and to aid in the rational design of novel broad specificity antidotes. The aim of the present work was to expand the analytical capability of the immunoaffinity second-generation antivenomics platform, endowing it with the ability to determine the maximal binding capacity of an antivenom toward the different toxins present in a venom, and to quantify the fraction of venom-specific antibodies present in a given antivenom. The application of this new platform, termed third generation (3G) antivenomics, in the preclinical evaluation of antivenoms is illustrated in this paper for the case of antivenom EchiTAb-Plus-ICP® reactivity towards the toxins of homologous (B. arietans) and heterologous (N. melanoleuca) venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davinia Pla
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Yania Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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