Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Immunogenic potential and neutralizing ability of a heterologous version of the most abundant three-finger toxin from the coral snake <i>Micrurus mipartitus</i>.","authors":"Luz Elena Romero Giraldo, Sergio Pulido, Mario Andrés Berrío, María Fernanda Flórez, Paola Rey-Suárez, Vitelbina Núñez-Rangel, Mónica Saldarriaga Córdoba, Jaime Andrés Pereañez","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0074","DOIUrl":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> <i>Micrurus mipartitus</i> is a coral snake of public health concern in Colombia. Its venom is mainly composed of three-finger toxins (3FTxs), Mipartoxin-1 being the most abundant protein partially responsible for its lethal effect. In this work, we present the production of Mipartoxin-1 in a recombinant form and evaluate its immunogenic potential. <b>Methods:</b> A genetic construct HisrMipartoxin-1 was cloned into the pET28a vector and heterologous expression was obtained in <i>E. coli</i> BL21 (DE3). The recombinant HisrMipartoxin-1 protein was extracted from inclusion bodies, refolded <i>in vitro</i>, and isolated by affinity and RP-HPLC chromatography. The lethal effect of HisrMipartoxin-1 was tested, and antibodies against HisrMipartoxin-1 were produced by immunization in rabbits. The antibody titers were monitored by an ELISA test. The neutralizing ability of the antibodies, against the lethal effect of native toxins and <i>M. mipartitus</i> venom, was also assessed. <b>Results:</b> HisrMipartoxin-1 was detected on SDS-PAGE, with a molecular mass of around 11 kDa. The retention time was 16.0 minutes. HisrMipartoxin-1 did not exhibit lethality in mice; however, antibodies against HisrMipartoxin-1 recognized the native toxin, the whole venom of <i>M. mipartitus</i>, and a 3FTx from another species within the <i>Micrurus</i> genus. Furthermore, antibodies against HisrMipartoxin-1 completely neutralized the lethal effect of native Mipartoxin-1 in mice but not <i>M. mipartitus</i> whole venom. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings indicate that HisrMipartoxin-1 might be used as an immunogen to develop anticoral antivenoms or complement them. This work is the first report of the heterologous expression of 3FTx from <i>M. mipartitus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20230074"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11614397/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142770254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spinal antinociceptive effect of the PnTx4(5-5) peptide is possibly mediated by the NMDA autoreceptors.","authors":"Mariana Murta de Abreu, Nancy Scardua Binda, Marcos Paulo Ferreira Corrêa Alves Reis, Danuza Montijo Diniz, Marta do Nascimento Cordeiro, Márcia Helena Borges, Maria Elena de Lima, Fabíola Mara Ribeiro, Marcus Vinícius Gomez, Juliana Figueira da Silva","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medications currently used to treat pain are frequently associated with serious adverse effects and rapid development of tolerance. Thus, there is a need to develop more effective, and safer medicines for the population. Blocking NMDA receptors (NMDAR) has shown to be a promising target for the development of new drugs. That statement is due to NMDAR activation and glutamate release in the spinal cord which affects chronic pain modulation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible spinal antinociceptive activity of PnTx4(5-5) toxin. The peptide is purified from the venom of the spider <i>P. nigriventer</i> and its affinity for NMDAR and sodium channels Nav1.2-1.6 has already been established.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We compared its effect and safety with MK-801 (NMDAR antagonist) and evaluated its influence on glutamate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in CSF. PnTx4(5-5) was administered intrathecally in the Formalin test and co-administered with NMDA in the Spontaneous pain test. After three minutes of observation, mice cerebrospinal fluid was collected to measure glutamate and ROS levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The spider peptide inhibited nociception as post-treatment in the inflammatory phase of the Formalin test. Furthermore, it inhibited spontaneous nociception induced by NMDA, being more potent and effective than MK-801 in both models tested. A glutamate rise level in the CSF of mice was significantly reduced by the toxin, but ROS increase was not affected. The animals' motor skills were not affected by the tested doses of NMDAR inhibitors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, the results suggest PnTx4(5-5) may mediate its antinociceptive effect in the spinal cord not only by inhibiting postsynaptic receptors but probably also by acting on autoreceptors. This effect does not affect the motricity of mice at the highest dose tested, which suggests that it has therapeutic potential and safety for use as a painkiller.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20230103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11649190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142837325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation and cDNA cloning of four peptide toxins from the sea anemone <i>Heteractis aurora</i>.","authors":"Tomohiro Homma, Masami Ishida, Yuji Nagashima, Kazuo Shiomi","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sea anemones are well known to contain multiple peptide toxins. However, of more than 1100 species of sea anemones distributed worldwide, only a little over 50 have been studied for peptide toxins. Therefore, innumerable unique and novel peptide toxins remain to be discovered in unstudied sea anemones.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Isolation of peptide toxins in the sea anemone <i>Heteractis aurora</i> was attempted by gel filtration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, using the toxicity to crabs as an index. The amino acid sequences of the isolated four toxins (Hau I-IV) and their precursors were determined using a combination of protein sequencing and cDNA cloning.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hau I and IV were potently lethal to crabs, whereas Hau II and III were only paralytic. The precursor proteins of the four toxins were commonly composed of a signal peptide, a propart, and the remaining region including a mature peptide. Interestingly, four and two copies of the mature peptide were present in the precursor proteins of Hau II and III, respectively. Homology searches revealed that Hau I (30 amino acid residues) is a novel peptide toxin, although it has the same cysteine pattern CXXC-C-C as the boundless β-hairpin (BBH) family. Hau II (27 amino acid residues) and III (28 amino acid residues) were homologous with the BBH family, whereas Hau IV (49 amino acid residues) was a new member of the well-known type 1 sodium channel toxin family.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study showed that a novel class of toxin (Hau I), two BBH family toxins (Hau II and III), and a type 1 sodium channel toxin (Hau IV) are present in the toxin of the sea anemone <i>H. aurora</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20240019"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11552618/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142622647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human visceral leishmaniasis and polymorphisms in interleukin-coding genes: a systematic review.","authors":"Amanda Virginia Batista Vieira, Manuela Rocha de Menezes, Pablo Cantalice Santos Farias, Elis Dionísio da Silva, Gilberto Silva Nunes Bezerra, Walter Lins Barbosa, Zulma Maria de Medeiros","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0018","DOIUrl":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected disease that is typical of tropical and subtropical parts of the world and is caused by the trypanosomatid <i>Leishmania donovani</i> complex. This disease is a multifactorial condition that involves parasitic, environmental, and immunogenetic characteristics. Genetic changes in genes encoding cytokines may be associated with changes in their expression and, consequently, with the development of clinical resistance or susceptibility to the disease. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin genes influence the clinical consequences of visceral leishmaniasis infection. To this end, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis with structured searches in the EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science databases without time restrictions. Two independent reviewers examined the studies, performed data extraction, and assessed quality by assigning scores. If there were any discrepancies, a third reviewer with more experience was consulted. After the screening process, 28 articles were included in the systematic review and 9 in the final analysis of the meta-analysis. Statistical analyses were carried out using various genetic models. The odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the associations. Overall, the main clinical outcomes were classified as not associated or associated when they presented susceptibility, resistance, risk, or protective factors for the development of the disease. Associations between IFN-γ +874T/A polymorphisms in the dominant model (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.13-2.38, I² = 0%, p < 0.01) and heterozygous model (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.15-2.57, I² = 0%, p < 0.01) and IL-18 -137G/C in the recessive model (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.02-1.71, I² = 9%, p = 0.03) and VL were observed. For the IL-10 gene SNPs, there was no significant association. Our findings suggest that SNPs in the IFN-γ and IL-18 genes may be associated with the risk of developing VL.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20240018"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11493340/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142468868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of elephantiasis, an overlooked disease in Southern Africa: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Siphamandla Qhubekani Lamula, Elizabeth Bosede Aladejana, Emmanuel Adebowale Aladejana, Lisa Valencia Buwa-Komoreng","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Elephantiasis, also known as lymphatic filariasis (LF), is a debilitating condition characterized by the thickening of the skin and muscles, primarily affecting the limbs, genitalia, and female breasts. Lymphatic filariasis is a major global health concern, affecting approximately 120 million people worldwide and having a significant impact on people's quality of life, mobility, and socio-economic status. Although LF is endemic in many parts of the world, including Africa, it is a neglected issue in Southern Africa, with little information available. According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 882.5 million people in 44 countries worldwide are at risk of contracting LF, making it the second most common vector-borne disease after malaria. The primary goal of this review was to assess the prevalence of elephantiasis in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in four of the sixteen SADC countries, three countries have administered MDA to the population that required it and they are now under post-intervention surveillance, while LF is no longer a public health problem in Malawi. Global efforts to eliminate LF have been hampered by the non-availability of MDA in some SADC countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Despite the implementation of mass drug administration programs, a review of the literature reveals gaps in knowledge about LF prevalence cases in SADC countries. Each country faces unique challenges and successes in combating LF due to varying levels of available data and healthcare infrastructure. Some SADC countries continue to bear the burden of LF-related diseases, necessitating ongoing disease prevention and elimination efforts. This review emphasizes the importance of ongoing research, data collection, and novel policies to combat the spread of elephantiasis disease in the SADC region and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20240007"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11477232/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142468869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Snake venom bioprospecting as an approach to finding potential anti-glioblastoma molecules.","authors":"Javier Orozco-Mera, Alejandro Montoya-Gómez, Daiana Silva Lopes, Eliécer Jiménez-Charris","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2024-0015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common type of malignant tumor of the central nervous system, responsible for significant morbidity and with a 5-year overall relative survival of only 6.8%. Without advances in treatment in the last twenty years, the standard of care continues to be maximum safe resection, Temozolomide (TMZ), and radiotherapy. Many new trials are ongoing, and despite showing increased progression-free survival, these trials did not improve overall survival. They did not consider the adverse effects of these therapies. Therefore, an increasing number of bioprospecting studies have used snake venom molecules to search for new strategies to attack GB selectively without producing side effects. The present review aims to describe GB characteristics and current and new approaches for treatment considering their side effects. Besides, we focused on the antitumoral activity of snake venom proteins from the Viperidae family against GB, exploring the potential for drug design based on <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. In January 2024, a systematic search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from January 2000 to December 2023. Search terms were selected based on the population/exposure/outcome (PEO) framework and combined using Boolean operators (\"AND\", \"OR\"). The search strategy used these terms: glioblastoma, glioma, high-grade glioma, WHO IV glioma, brain cancer, snake venom, Viperidae, and bioprospection. We identified 10 <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> studies with whole and isolated proteins from Viperidae venom that could have antitumor activity against glioblastoma. Studies in bioprospecting exploring the advantage of snake venom proteins against GB deserve to be investigated due to their high specificity, small size, inherent bioactivity, and few side effects to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to reach the tumor microenvironment.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20240015"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11404105/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunomodulatory effect of <i>Tityus</i> sp. in mononuclear cells extracted from the blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients.","authors":"Cindy Gabriela Rivera Tobar, Yisel Del Mar Morales Urmendiz, Marcela Alejandra Vallejo, Diego Felipe Manquillo, Victoria Eugenia Niño Castaño, Ana Isabel Ospina Caicedo, Leydy Lorena Mendoza Tobar, Jimmy Alexander Guerrero Vargas, Rosa Amalia Dueñas Cuellar","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pathophysiological mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis arise because of a proinflammatory environment, generated by the interaction of autoreactive lymphocytes and proinflammatory mediators. Current strategies to mitigate the progression of the disease produce adverse effects, so there is a need for new therapeutic strategies and molecular targets to treat this disease. In this context, evidence suggests that scorpion venoms could modulate the immune response and some important cellular mechanisms of pharmacological interest. To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the venom of <i>Tityus</i> sp. (a possible new species close to <i>Tityus metuendus</i>) peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women diagnosed with RA were compared to cells of a control group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A case-control study was conducted with a sample of 10 women with a confirmed diagnosis of RA and controls matched by sex and age. The cytotoxicity of the venom was evaluated to find sublethal concentrations of the venom, and subsequently, their immunomodulatory capacity in terms of percentage of proliferation, cell activation, and cytokines production.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the venom of <i>Tityus</i> sp. produced a decrease in the percentage of proliferation in the CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, and CD3⁺CD8⁺ cell subpopulations of RA patients and healthy controls, at concentrations of 252 and 126 µg/mL. However, the venom did not induce significant differences in the percentage of cell activation markers. The venom caused a decrease in IL-10 at a concentration of 252 µg/mL compared to untreated cells from patients and controls. The remaining cytokines did not show significant differences.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>the venom of <i>Tityus</i> sp. is a potential source of molecules with immunomodulatory ability in CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. This result directs venom characterization studies to identify pharmacological targets with immunomodulatory capacity in T lymphocytes to enhance research in the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as RA.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20230064"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11498904/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142502995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrophysiological evaluation of the effect of peptide toxins on voltage-gated ion channels: a scoping review on theoretical and methodological aspects with focus on the Central and South American experience.","authors":"Jessica Rojas-Palomino, Alejandro Gómez-Restrepo, Cristian Salinas-Restrepo, César Segura, Marco A Giraldo, Juan C Calderón","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0048","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effect of peptide toxins on voltage-gated ion channels can be reliably assessed using electrophysiological assays, such as the patch-clamp technique. However, much of the toxinological research done in Central and South America aims at purifying and characterizing biochemical properties of the toxins of vegetal or animal origin, lacking electrophysiological approaches. This may happen due to technical and infrastructure limitations or because researchers are unfamiliar with the techniques and cellular models that can be used to gain information about the effect of a molecule on ion channels. Given the potential interest of many research groups in the highly biodiverse region of Central and South America, we reviewed the most relevant conceptual and methodological developments required to implement the evaluation of the effect of peptide toxins on mammalian voltage-gated ion channels using patch-clamp. For that, we searched MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO databases with different combinations of these descriptors: \"electrophysiology\", \"patch-clamp techniques\", \"Ca²⁺ channels\", \"K⁺ channels\", \"cnidarian venoms\", \"cone snail venoms\", \"scorpion venoms\", \"spider venoms\", \"snake venoms\", \"cardiac myocytes\", \"dorsal root ganglia\", and summarized the literature as a scoping review. First, we present the basics and recent advances in mammalian voltage-gated ion channel's structure and function and update the most important animal sources of channel-modulating toxins (e.g. cnidarian and cone snails, scorpions, spiders, and snakes), highlighting the properties of toxins electrophysiologically characterized in Central and South America. Finally, we describe the local experience in implementing the patch-clamp technique using two models of excitable cells, as well as the participation in characterizing new modulators of ion channels derived from the venom of a local spider, a toxins' source less studied with electrophysiological techniques. Fostering the implementation of electrophysiological methods in more laboratories in the region will strengthen our capabilities in many fields, such as toxinology, toxicology, pharmacology, natural products, biophysics, biomedicine, and bioengineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20230048"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11389830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification and analgesic activity study of analgesic protein Ⅶ-2 from <i>Naja naja atra</i> venom.","authors":"Yao Sun, Gen-Bao Zhang, Shu Li, Xiao-Yu Liu, Lei Chen, Peng-Ju Bao","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) plays a critical role in physiological and pathological processes. To further elucidate the biological functions of ASICs and their relationships with disease occurrence and development, it is advantageous to investigate and develop additional regulatory factors for ASICs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, cation exchange chromatography was used to separate seven chromatographic components from <i>Naja naja atra</i> venom. Capillary electrophoresis was employed to detect that Ⅶ peak component containing a main protein Ⅶ-2, which could bind to ASIC1a. The analgesic effects of Ⅶ-2 protein were determined using hot plate methods, and ASIC1a expression in spinal cord tissue from rats with inflammatory pain was detected using western blot.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The purified Ⅶ-2 protein named <i>Naja naja atra</i> venom-Ⅶ-2 (NNAV-Ⅶ-2) was obtained by Sephadex G-50 gel filtration, which exhibited a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 6.7 kD. Remarkably, the NNAV-Ⅶ-2 protein demonstrated a significant analgesic effect and downregulated ASIC1a expression in the spinal cord tissue of rats with inflammatory pain.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The analgesic mechanism of the NNAV-Ⅶ-2 protein may be associated with its binding to ASIC1a, consequently downregulating ASIC1a expression in neural tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20230099"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11398835/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Cupiennius</i> spiders (Trechaleidae) from southern Mexico: DNA barcoding, venomics, and biological effect.","authors":"Montserrat Padilla-Villavicencio, Gerardo Corzo, Karina Guillén-Navarro, Guillermo Ibarra-Núñez, Iván Arenas, Fernando Zamudio, Elia Diego-García","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0098","DOIUrl":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0098","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Members of the genus <i>Cupiennius</i> Simon, 1891 are categorized as wandering spiders and are part of the family Trechaleidae. The genomics and proteomics of <i>Cupiennius</i> spiders from North America remain uncharacterized. The present study explores for the first time molecular data from the endemic species <i>Cupiennius chiapanensis</i> Medina, 2006, and also presents new data for <i>Cupiennius salei</i> (Keyserling, 1878), both collected in southern Mexico.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 88 <i>Cupiennius</i> specimens were collected from southern Mexico and morphologically identified. DNA was extracted and the mitochondrial COI fragment was amplified. COI sequences were analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was inferred for species from the Americas. Genetic diversity was analyzed using haplotype networks and gene distances. Venom was obtained from <i>C. chiapanensis</i> and <i>C. salei</i> by electrostimulation. The venom was separated by HPLC, visualized using SDS-PAGE, and quantified for use in toxicity bioassays in mice and insects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of COI sequences from <i>C. chiapanensis</i> showed 94% identity with <i>C. salei</i>, while <i>C. salei</i> exhibited 94-97% identity with sequences from Central and South American conspecifics. The venom from <i>C. chiapanensis</i> exhibited toxic activity against crickets. Venoms from <i>C. chiapanensis</i> and <i>C. salei</i> caused death in <i>Anastrepha obliqua</i> flies. Analysis of venom fractions from <i>C. salei</i> and <i>C. chiapanensis</i> revealed molecular masses of a similar size as some previously reported toxins and neurotoxic components. We determined the amino acid sequences of ChiaTx1 and ChiaTx2, toxins that are reported here for the first time and which showed toxicity against mice and insects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our work is the first to report COI-based DNA barcoding sequences from southern Mexican <i>Cupiennius</i> spiders. Compounds with toxic activity were identified in venom from both species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"30 ","pages":"e20230098"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11333084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142004514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}