Cross-neutralization of the coagulant activity of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom from the northeast of Argentina by bivalent bothropic antivenom

Rodríguez JP (1), Gay CC (1), Fusco LS (1), Gauna MC (1), Acosta OC (2), Leiva LC (1)

(1) Laboratory of Protein Research, School of Exact and Natural Sciences and Land Surveying, National University of the Northeast (UNNE), Corrientes, Argentina; (2) Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Sciences, National University of the Northeast (UNNE), Corrientes, Argentina.

Abstract: Cross-neutralization of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom coagulant activity was tested using bivalent horse antivenom against Bothrops alternatus and Bothrops diporus venoms. Our in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that bothropic antivenom neutralizes the thrombin-like activity of crotalic snake venom and this cross-reaction was demonstrated by immunoassays either with whole venom or a purified thrombin-like enzyme. These results suggest common antigenic properties and, consequently, similar molecular structure among venom thrombin-like enzymes. Besides, they provide information that could be further used in the development of new antivenom formulations.

Key words: thrombin-like enzyme, snake venom, antivenoms, immunological cross-reaction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Dr. Juan Pablo Zanin for bibliographic assistance.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: July 1, 2011.

Accepted: November 3, 2011.

Abstract published online: November 3, 2011.

Full paper published online: February 28, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

This work was financially supported by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICTO-2007-00143); Secretaría General de Ciencia y Técnica (PI B013-2010), Universidad Nacional del Nordeste and Proyecto Federal de Innovación Productiva 2005 (PEFIP-COFECyT). Moreover, J. P. Rodriguez and C. C. Gay are recipients of postdoctoral scholarships from CONICET - UNNE.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the Ethics and Biosafety Committee of the School of Veterinary Science, Northeast National University, Argentina.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Laura C. Leiva, Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas (LabInPro), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Av. Libertad 5400 (3400), Corrientes, Argentina. Phone: +54 379 4457996, ext. 112. Email: lcleiva@exa.unne.edu.ar.