Abstract
Wasp stings have been arising to be a severe public health problem in China in recent years. However, molecular information about lethal or toxic factors in wasp venom is extremely lacking. In this study, we used two pyrosequencing platforms to analyze the transcriptome of Vespa velutina, the most common wasp species native in China. Besides the substantial amount of transcripts encoding for allergens usually regarded as the major lethal factor of wasp sting, a greater abundance of hemostasis-impairing toxins and neurotoxins in the venom of V. velutina were identified, implying that toxic reactions and allergic effects are envenoming strategy for the dangerous outcomes. The pattern of differentially expressed genes before and after venom extraction clearly indicates that the manifestation of V. velutina stings depends on subtle regulations in the metabolic pathway required for toxin recruitment. This comparative analysis offers timely clues for developing clinical treatments for wasp envenoming in China and around the world.
Highlights
Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Deciphering the Venomic Transcriptome of Killer-Wasp Vespa velutina
As a common wasp species in China, V. velutina has surprisingly not been extensively studied in its native environment and no reference could be found on its venom
Most patients with multiple wasp stings suffer from multiple organ dysfunctions caused by toxic reactions rather than an anaphylactic reaction, which means that the wasp venom toxicity can be attributed to hemolytic, myotoxic, neurotoxic, vasodilatory, nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic enzymes[7]
Summary
Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Deciphering the Venomic Transcriptome of Killer-Wasp Vespa velutina. We used two pyrosequencing platforms to analyze the transcriptome of Vespa velutina, the most common wasp species native in China. The pattern of differentially expressed genes before and after venom extraction clearly indicates that the manifestation of V. velutina stings depends on subtle regulations in the metabolic pathway required for toxin recruitment. This comparative analysis offers timely clues for developing clinical treatments for wasp envenoming in China and around the world. As a common wasp species in China, V. velutina has surprisingly not been extensively studied in its native environment and no reference could be found on its venom. The differential expression of certain components of wasp venom in the ‘‘active’’ state (before venom injection) versus the ‘‘replenishing’’ state (after venom injection) has never been investigated[8]
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