Immunological cross-reactivity of phospholipase A2 from snake venoms.

Abstract

The immunological cross-reactivity of phospholipase A2 (PEA2) from the venoms of snakes with a variety of family, genus and species was investigated by immunodifffusion, precipitin reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and inhibition test. PEA2 from the venoms of same species of snakes, such as Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra) and Indian cobra (Nala naja) showed a considerable degree of antigenic resemblance, whereas no immunological cross-reactivity was observed among the PLA2 enzymes from a different family and genus. However, a partial cross-reactivity was observed between the antibody against Naja naja atra PLA2 and PLA2 from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus, and CMS-5, the acidic PLA2 from Nafa nigricollis venom by ELISA. Both PEA2 enzymes from Naja naja atra and Naja naja venoms exhibit three common antigenic sites, althougi the latter had lower affinity toward the antibody against the former PLA2.