Biological and Biochemical Properties of Venoms from Medically Important Loxosceles (Araneae) Species in Brazil

Abstract

Abstract1. The biological, immunochemical and biochemical properties of venoms from Loxosceles gaucho, L. laeta and L. intermedia were studied.2. Venom from Loxosceles sp causes typical dermonecrotic lesion in bitten patients and rabbits but not in mice.3. The dermonecrotic and lethal activities of the L. gaucho venom were located in its higher mol. wt components (33.000–35.000).4. The higher molecular component of the venom is the most immunogenic component in both patients and rabbits.5. Analysis by SDS-PAGE showed the existence of many common components in the three venoms but no individual antigen was found.6. Antiserum to each one of these venoms was able to neutralize the dermonecrotic and lethal activities of all three venoms.7. Venom from L. gaucho has a significant adjuvant effect that was associated with its higher mol. wt components.8. The amino terminal sequence of 35 residues of L. gaucho active component was determined. A high level of identity (60%) and similarity (86%) was found between th...