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González C, Ballesteros-Mejia L, Díaz-Díaz J, Toro-Vargas DM, Amarillo-Suarez AR, Gey D, León C, Tovar E, Arias M, Rivera N, Buitrago LS, Pinto-Moraes RH, Sano Martins IS, Decaëns T, González MA, Kitching IJ, Rougerie R. Deadly and venomous Lonomia caterpillars are more than the two usual suspects. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011063. [PMID: 36821543 PMCID: PMC9949635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Caterpillars of the Neotropical genus Lonomia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) are responsible for some fatal envenomation of humans in South America inducing hemostatic disturbances in patients upon skin contact with the caterpillars' spines. Currently, only two species have been reported to cause hemorrhagic syndromes in humans: Lonomia achelous and Lonomia obliqua. However, species identifications have remained largely unchallenged despite improved knowledge of venom diversity and growing evidence that the taxonomy used over past decades misrepresents and underestimates species diversity. Here, we revisit the taxonomic diversity and distribution of Lonomia species using the most extensive dataset assembled to date, combining DNA barcodes, morphological comparisons, and geographical information. Considering new evidence for seven undescribed species as well as three newly proposed nomenclatural changes, our integrative approach leads to the recognition of 60 species, of which seven are known or strongly suspected to cause severe envenomation in humans. From a newly compiled synthesis of epidemiological data, we also examine the consequences of our results for understanding Lonomia envenomation risks and call for further investigations of other species' venom activities. This is required and necessary to improve alertness in areas at risk, and to define adequate treatment strategies for envenomed patients, including performing species identification and assessing the efficacy of anti-Lonomia serums against a broader diversity of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila González
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- * E-mail: ;
| | - Liliana Ballesteros-Mejia
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, EPHE, Sorbonne Université, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
- CESAB, Centre de synthèse et d’Analyse sur la Biodiversité, Montpellier, France
| | - Juana Díaz-Díaz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diana M. Toro-Vargas
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Delphine Gey
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, EPHE, Sorbonne Université, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Cielo León
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Eduardo Tovar
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mónica Arias
- CIRAD, UMR PHIM, Montpellier, France
- PHIM, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Nazario Rivera
- Secretaría de Salud de Casanare. Area de Salud Pública, Yopal, Colombia
| | | | | | | | - Thibaud Decaëns
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Mailyn A. González
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Rodolphe Rougerie
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, EPHE, Sorbonne Université, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
- * E-mail: ;
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Epidemiological characterization of lonomism in South America. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106777. [PMID: 36502887 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106777] [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: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Lonomism is the envenomation caused by accidental contact with Lonomia caterpillars, and this is a public health priority in South America since it is relatively common but remains underestimated. This study presents an updated and integrative analysis of reliable global data from 1960 to 2020 on the epidemiology of this envenomation in the whole continent. A total of 13,186 notifications were recorded for South America: 13,056 (99.01%) in Brazil, 49 (0.37%) in Argentina, 43 (0.33%) in Colombia, 29 (0.22%) in Venezuela, 6 (0.05%) in Peru and 3 (0.02%) in French Guiana. The number of new locations reporting accidents has increased since the first formally notifications at the middle of the last century. Most of these locations are situated in Brazil, the pioneer in deeply researching the Lonomia genus and its impacts in public health. Most victims were males, in the economically productive age group, and accidental contact occurred more frequently in the upper limbs while doing activities outdoors in urban/rural areas. Regarding the determinants of clinical outcome, countries where patients received delayed medical care were associated with a higher number of moderate and/or severe cases, as well as a higher chance of progressing to death. Additionally, the longer the delay for accessing medical care, the higher the risk of developing systemic complications, thereby increasing the need for specific treatment. Our study also shows that accidents globally occurred more frequently in the summer months and in the beginning of autumn. Although having identified several shortcomings in the documents selected and verified that notifications are strongly biased by public policies adopted by each South American country, this study provides the first comprehensive assessment of lonomism in South America, demonstrating the increase in the number of accidents, and their expansion to other areas of the continent over time. Our findings will undoubtedly help guide the appropriate allocation of resources and implementation of prevention strategies and define priority criteria for epidemiological surveillance of this neglected tropical disease.
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Villa-Ruano N, Becerra-Martínez E, Cunill-Flores JM, Torres-Castillo JA, Horta-Valerdi GM, Pacheco-Hernández Y. 1H NMR Profiling of the Venom from Hylesia continua: Implications of Small Molecules for Lepidopterism. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15020101. [PMID: 36828416 PMCID: PMC9962855 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Lepidopterism caused by caterpillar contact is considered a public health problem around the world. The local and systemic responses of this pathology include short- and long-term inflammatory events. Although the proteolytic activity of the venoms from caterpillars is strongly associated with an inflammatory response in humans and murine models, fast and acute symptoms such as a burning sensation, itching, and pain should be related to the presence of low-weight hydrophilic molecules which easily influence cell metabolism. This investigation reports on the 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) profiling of the venom from the larva of Hylesia continua, a caterpillar linked to frequent cases of lepidopterism in the northern highlands of Puebla, Mexico. According to one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR data, the venom of H. continua contained 19 compounds with proven pain-inducing activity (i.e., acetic acid, lactic acid, formic acid, succinic acid, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, ethanol, and glutamate), inflammatory activity (i.e., cadaverine, putrescine, and acetoin), as well as natural immunosuppressive activity (i.e., O-phosphocholine and urocanic acid). The levels of the 19 compounds were calculated using quantitative-NMR (qNMR) and extensively discussed on the basis of their toxic properties which partially explain typical symptoms of lepidopterism caused by the larvae of H. continua. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation reporting a complex mixture of small molecules with inflammatory properties dissolved in the venom of a lepidopteran larva.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemesio Villa-Ruano
- CONACyT-Centro Universitario de Vinculación y Transferencia de Tecnología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico
| | - Elvia Becerra-Martínez
- Centro de Nanociencias y Micro y Nanotecnologías, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Luis Enrique Erro s/n, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Mexico City 07738, Mexico
| | - José María Cunill-Flores
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica Metropolitana de Puebla, Popocatépetl s/n, Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl, Tres Cerritos, Puebla 72480, Mexico
| | - Jorge Ariel Torres-Castillo
- Instituto de Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Ave. División del Golfo 356, Colonia Libertad, Ciudad Victoria 87019, Mexico
| | - Guillermo M. Horta-Valerdi
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica Metropolitana de Puebla, Popocatépetl s/n, Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl, Tres Cerritos, Puebla 72480, Mexico
| | - Yesenia Pacheco-Hernández
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica Metropolitana de Puebla, Popocatépetl s/n, Reserva Territorial Atlixcáyotl, Tres Cerritos, Puebla 72480, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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Seldeslachts A, Peigneur S, Mebs D, Tytgat J. Unraveling the venom chemistry with evidence for histamine as key regulator in the envenomation by caterpillar Automeris zaruma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:972442. [PMID: 36091066 PMCID: PMC9448982 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.972442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, envenomation by caterpillars of Automeris spp. became an increasing health problem in Latin America. Accidental contact with the stinging spines of these caterpillars cause acute local pain, itching, inflammation and skin rashes that persists for days. Even when the cause is obvious, the exact molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed symptoms are yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe for the first time, an active compound in the venom and the study of the bioactivity of the venom extracted from the spines of the caterpillar Automeris zaruma. Electrophysiological screening of a library of membrane proteins important for pain and itch enabled us to investigate and reveal the mode of action of the venom of A. zaruma. Further mass spectrometric analysis (Q-TOF-MS) made it possible to establish a link between the bioactivity and the components found in the venom. We show that the spine extract of A. zaruma contains histamine that potently activates the four types of the human histamine receptors (H1R, H2R, H3R and H4R) with a selectivity preference towards H3R and H4R. Furthermore, a modulation of the target MRGPRX2 was found. Together, these findings are the first to explain the symptomology of A. zaruma envenomation, enabling us a better understanding of caterpillar envenomation and predict that the hurdle of the scarce efficacy of the currently used antihistaminic drugs can be overcome by including H3R and H4R blockers in the clinical used medication. Such an approach might be used for other caterpillar envenomation in the world and represent a significant improvement for the well-being of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dietrich Mebs
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Jan Tytgat,
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Alvarez AM, Alvarez-Flores MP, DeOcesano-Pereira C, Goldfeder MB, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM, Moreira V, Teixeira C. Losac and Lopap Recombinant Proteins from Lonomia obliqua Bristles Positively Modulate the Myoblast Proliferation Process. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:904737. [PMID: 35847970 PMCID: PMC9280836 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.904737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pursuit of better therapies for disorders creating deficiencies in skeletal muscle regeneration is in progress, and several biotoxins are used in skeletal muscle research. Since recombinant proteins derived from Lonomia obliqua bristles, recombinant Lonomia obliqua Stuart-factor activator (rLosac) and recombinant Lonomia obliqua prothrombin activator protease (rLopap) act as cytoprotective agents and promote cell survival, we hypothesize that both rLosac and rLopap favour the skeletal muscle regeneration process. In the present work, we investigate the ability of these recombinant proteins rLosac and rLopap to modulate the production of key mediators of the myogenic process. The expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), cell proliferation, the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the protein expression of cyclooxygenases COX-1 and COX-2 were evaluated in C2C12 mouse myoblasts pre-treated with rLosac and rLopap. We found an increased proliferation of myoblasts, stimulated by both recombinant proteins. Moreover, these proteins modulated PGE2 release and MRFs activities. We also found an increased expression of the EP4 receptor in the proliferative phase of C2C12 cells, suggesting the involvement of this receptor in the effects of PGE2 in these cells. Moreover, the recombinant proteins inhibited the release of IL-6 and PGE2, which is induced by an inflammatory stimulus by IL-1β. This work reveals rLopap and rLosac as promising proteins to modulate processes involving tissue regeneration as occurs during skeletal muscle injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela María Alvarez
- Centre of Excellence in New Target Discovery -CENTD-, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Pharmacology Department, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mauricio Barbugiani Goldfeder
- Centre of Excellence in New Target Discovery -CENTD-, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Innovation and Development Labororatory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi
- Centre of Excellence in New Target Discovery -CENTD-, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Innovation and Development Labororatory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Moreira
- Centre of Excellence in New Target Discovery -CENTD-, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Pharmacology Department, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Vanessa Moreira, ; Catarina Teixeira,
| | - Catarina Teixeira
- Centre of Excellence in New Target Discovery -CENTD-, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Vanessa Moreira, ; Catarina Teixeira,
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Moura-da-Silva AM. Celebrating 120 Years of Butantan Institute Contributions for Toxinology. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14020076. [PMID: 35202104 PMCID: PMC8878039 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Moura-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, São Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil
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