Abstract
Snake species within genus Bothrops are responsible for more than 80% of the snakebites occurring in South America. The species that cause most envenomings in Argentina, B. diporus, is widely distributed throughout the country, but principally found in the Northeast, the region with the highest rates of snakebites. The venom proteome of this medically relevant snake was unveiled using a venomic approach. It comprises toxins belonging to fourteen protein families, being dominated by PI- and PIII-SVMPs, PLA2 molecules, BPP-like peptides, L-amino acid oxidase and serine proteinases. This toxin profile largely explains the characteristic pathophysiological effects of bothropic snakebites observed in patients envenomed by B. diporus. Antivenomic analysis of the SAB antivenom (Instituto Vital Brazil) against the venom of B. diporus showed that this pentabothropic antivenom efficiently recognized all the venom proteins and exhibited poor affinity towards the small peptide (BPPs and tripeptide inhibitors of PIII-SVMPs) components of the venom.
Highlights
Bothrops diporus [1], commonly known as “yarará chica”, is a venomous terrestrial lancehead pit viper endemic to South America
Fenwick and co-workers have proposed an alternative taxonomic arrangement [4]. These authors proposed a new genus, Bothropoides to include B. alcatraz, B. diporus, B. erythromelas, B. insularis, B. jararaca, B. lutzi, B. mattogrossensis, B. neuwiedi, B. pubescens, and B. pauloensis
The venom of B. diporus was fractionated into 38 RP-HPLC fractions (Figure 1)
Summary
Bothrops diporus [1], commonly known as “yarará chica”, is a venomous terrestrial lancehead pit viper endemic to South America. Fenwick and co-workers have proposed an alternative taxonomic arrangement [4] These authors proposed a new genus, Bothropoides (derived from the Greek bothros and ops referring to the facial pit, and the term oides meaning “similar to”) to include B. alcatraz, B. diporus, B. erythromelas, B. insularis, B. jararaca, B. lutzi, B. mattogrossensis, B. neuwiedi, B. pubescens, and B. pauloensis. Taxonomical revisions may have an important impact in the medical area because a correct identification of the species responsible for snakebite accidents in a given area is of applied importance for the production and efficient use of the antivenoms. Previous studies have demonstrated a high degree of cross-neutralization of antivenoms produced in several Latin American countries, in other cases antivenoms were ineffective in the neutralization of some activities of heterologous venoms [20]. We have assessed the cross-immunorecognition of the bothropic antivenom produced by Instituto Vital Brazil against the venom toxins of B. diporus
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