Proteomic and biochemical characterization of Bothrops pubescens (Serpentes: Viperidae) venom

IF 2.8 4区医学 Q2 PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY

Toxicon Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-15 DOI:10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108953

Patricia Berasain , Antonio Pinto , André Zelanis , Mikaela Cúparo , Silvana Baletta , Santiago Carreira , Charley Staats , Carlos Termignoni , Jolene K. Diedrich , John Yates III , Victor Morais

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Abstract

Bothrops pubescens is a clinically significant viperid snake species in Uruguay, accounting for over 60 cases of human envenomation annually, alongside Bothrops alternatus. Formerly classified within the Bothrops neuwiedi complex, recent taxonomic revisions now restrict its distribution to Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and Uruguay. This species is not very robust, with a body length ranging from 22 to 92 cm and displays a distinctive dorsolateral pattern consisting of dark brown trapezoidal blotches on each side.

The venom of B. pubescens exhibits toxicological properties typical of the Bothrops genus, including coagulopathy and severe local tissue damage, which may result in limb amputation in extreme cases. As in other Bothrops species, metalloproteinases are the most abundant toxins, accompanied by high levels of phospholipase A₂, serine proteases, L-amino acid oxidases, and C-type lectins. Minor venom components include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), hyaluronidases, and cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs).

Recent studies suggest that B. pubescens and B. diporus share a common evolutionary lineage and display highly similar venom compositions. In our study, biochemical and proteomic analyses revealed a venom profile in Uruguayan B. pubescens closely resembling that of B. diporus from Argentina yet differing slightly from B. pubescens specimens in Brazil.

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短毛蝮蛇毒液的蛋白质组学和生化特征。

在乌拉圭，短毛Bothrops是一种临床意义重大的毒蛇，每年与交替Bothrops一起造成60多例人类中毒。以前被归类为Bothrops newwiedi复合体，最近的分类修订现在将其分布限制在巴西和乌拉圭。这种鱼不是很健壮，体长从22到92厘米不等，背部两侧有独特的深棕色梯形斑点。短毛蛇的毒液具有典型的Bothrops属毒理学特性，包括凝血功能和严重的局部组织损伤，在极端情况下可能导致肢体截肢。与其他Bothrops物种一样，金属蛋白酶是最丰富的毒素，伴随着高水平的磷脂酶A2，丝氨酸蛋白酶，l -氨基酸氧化酶和c型凝集素。毒液的次要成分包括血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、神经生长因子（NGF）、透明质酸酶和富含半胱氨酸的分泌蛋白（CRISPs）。最近的研究表明，短毛小蠊和diporus具有共同的进化谱系，并显示出高度相似的毒液成分。在我们的研究中，生化和蛋白质组学分析显示，乌拉圭短毛短芽孢杆菌的毒液特征与阿根廷的短毛短芽孢杆菌非常相似，但与巴西的短毛短芽孢杆菌略有不同。

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来源期刊

Toxicon 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

10.70%

发文量

358

审稿时长

68 days

期刊介绍： Toxicon has an open access mirror Toxicon: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. An introductory offer Toxicon: X - full waiver of the Open Access fee. Toxicon''s "aims and scope" are to publish: -articles containing the results of original research on problems related to toxins derived from animals, plants and microorganisms -papers on novel findings related to the chemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and immunological properties of natural toxins -molecular biological studies of toxins and other genes from poisonous and venomous organisms that advance understanding of the role or function of toxins -clinical observations on poisoning and envenoming where a new therapeutic principle has been proposed or a decidedly superior clinical result has been obtained. -material on the use of toxins as tools in studying biological processes and material on subjects related to venom and antivenom problems. -articles on the translational application of toxins, for example as drugs and insecticides -epidemiological studies on envenoming or poisoning, so long as they highlight a previously unrecognised medical problem or provide insight into the prevention or medical treatment of envenoming or poisoning. Retrospective surveys of hospital records, especially those lacking species identification, will not be considered for publication. Properly designed prospective community-based surveys are strongly encouraged. -articles describing well-known activities of venoms, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and analgesic activities of arachnid venoms, without any attempt to define the mechanism of action or purify the active component, will not be considered for publication in Toxicon. -review articles on problems related to toxinology. To encourage the exchange of ideas, sections of the journal may be devoted to Short Communications, Letters to the Editor and activities of the affiliated societies.