Gene expression analysis by ESTs sequencing of the Brazilian frog Phyllomedusa nordestina skin glands

AbstractThe subfamily Phyllomedusinae has attracted a great interest of many researchers mainly due to the high diversity of these frog species and plethora of pharmacological activities frequently observed for their skin secretions. Despite of this fact, mainly for new species, limited information is available regarding the molecular composition of these skin secretions and the cellular components involved in their production. Phyllomedusa nordestina is a recently described Brazilian frog species also popularly known as ‘tree-frogs’. Aiming at contributing to the biological knowledge of this species, we show here the gene expression profile of this frog skin secretion using a global ESTs analysis of a cDNA library. The marked aspect of this analysis revealed a significant higher transcriptional level of the opioid peptide dermorphins in P. nordestina skin secretion than in Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, which is its closest related species, belonging both to the same phylogenetic group. Precursors of bioactive peptides as dermaseptins, phylloseptins, tryptophyllins, and bradykinin-like peptideswere also found in this library. Transcripts encoding proteins related to ordinary cellular functions and pathways were also described. Some of them are chiefly involved in the production of the skin secretion. Taken together, the data reported here constitute a contribution to the characterization of the molecular diversity of gene-encoded polypeptides with potential possibility of pharmacological exploitation. The transcriptional composition of the skin secretion may also help to give the necessary support for the definition of P. nordestina as a new species, which actually relies basically on frog morphological characteristics and geographical distribution

Pathological Changes In Muscle Caused By Haemorrhagic And Proteolytic Factors From Bothrops Jararaca Snake Venom

Haemorrhagic factor HF2 and bothropasin, two metalloproteins isolated from the venom of Bothrops jararaca, caused haemorrhage followed by myonecrosis and arterial necrosis after i.m. injection in mice. The effects of HF2 were qualitatively similar to those of bothropasin and crude B. jararaca venom, but its potency was about 20 times higher. The haemorrhagic and necrotizing actions of these components are unrelated to their proteolytic activity on casein. © 1985.232341345NSERC; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaBrazil, (1914) La Défense Contre l'Ophidisme, , 2nd Edn., Pocai & Weiss, São PauloHoussay, Acción local de los venenos de serpientes (1923) Revta Asoc. méd. Argent., 36, p. 39de Lacerda, (1881) Provas Experimentaes de que a Peçonha das Cobras é um Succo Digestivo, , Museu Nacional, Rio de JaneiroMandelbaum, Reichl, Assakura, Some physical and biochemical characteristics of HF2, one of the hemorrhagic factors in the venom of Bothrops jararaca (1976) Animal, Plant and Microbial Toxins, 1, p. 111. , A. Ohsaka, K. Hayashi, Y. Saway, Plenum Press, LondonMandelbaum, Reichl, Assakura, Isolation and characterization of a proteolytic enzyme from the venom of the snake Bothrops jararaca (jararaca) (1982) Toxicon, 20, p. 955Ownby, Bjarnason, Tu, Hemorrhagic toxins from rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) venom (1978) Pathogenesis of hemorrhage induced by three purified toxins, 93, p. 201. , Am. J. PathQueiroz, Santo Neto, Rodrigues-Simioni, Prado-Franceschi, Muscle necrosis and regeneration after envenomation by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom (1984) Toxicon, 22, p. 339Queiroz, Santo Neto, Brandeburgo, Simioni, Giglio, Histopathological changes caused by a myotoxin from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom (1985) Comparison with the effects of whole venom. Abstract, 23, p. 17. , Toxico

Muscular Lesions Induced By A Hemorrhagic Factor From Bothrops Neuwiedi Snake Venom

The local tissue effects of crude Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom and of its hemorrhagic factor (NHF) were studied on mouse tibialis anterior muscle in vivo. After 6 h, 8 days and 6 weeks the muscles were examined in paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Both NHF and crude venom produced hemorrhage and myonecrosis, later followed by muscle fiber regeneration. Intramuscular arteries also suffered necrosis. The minimal dose of NHF necessary to produce detectable hemorrhage and myonecrosis was 50 ng, while the minimal venom dose needed to produce the same effect was 20 times higher. The results indicate that NHF is one of the major factors responsible for the local effects of B. neuwiedi venom.18333734

The in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activity of Boiga dendrophila (mangrove catsnake) venom

10.1111/j.1474-8673.2004.00322.xAutonomic and Autacoid Pharmacology244107-113AAPU

Envenomation by the neotropical colubrid Boiruna maculata (Boulenger, 1896): a case report Envenenamento por Colubrídeo Neotropical Boiruna maculata (Boulenger, 1896): registro de um caso

This is a case report of a Boiruna maculata snake bite in a child admitted to the Hospital Municipal de Pronto Socorro de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. The patient was bitten on the lower left limb, and exhibited pronounced local manifestations of envenomation. She was treated with Bothrops antivenom and was discharged from the hospital five days later with marked improvement of envenomation.<br>Este trabalho relata o envenenamento por serpente do gênero Boiruna maculata em criança admitida e posteriormente hospitalizada no Hospital Municipal de Pronto Socorro de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. A paciente foi mordida no membro inferior esquerdo e apresentou sinais de envenenamento local pronunciado, foi tratada como acidente botrópico e permaneceu no hospital por cinco dias, recebendo alta após melhora