IMMUNOLOGICAL COMPARISON OF HEMORRHAGIC PRINCIPLES PRESENT IN VENOMS OF THE CROTALINAE AND VIPERINAE SUBFAMILIES

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MUSCULAR LESIONS INDUCED BY A HEMORRHAGIC FACTOR FROM BOTHROPS-NEUWIEDI SNAKE-VENOM

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Characterization of a myotoxin from the Duvernoy's gland secretion of the xenodontine colubrid Philodryas olfersii (green snake): Effects on striated muscle and the neuromuscular junction

A myotoxin has been isolated from the Duvernoy's gland (DG) secretion of the xenodontine colubrid Philodryas olfersii (green snake) by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 SF. Under non-reducing and reducing conditions in SDS-PAGE, the myotoxin migrates as a single band with a mel. wt, of 20 000, The toxin has 182 amino acid residues (approximately 20% acidic), a pi of 4.8 and a blocked N-terminal, In the chick biventer cervicis preparation, P, olfersii myotoxin partially blocks potassium-evoked contractures without affecting either the twitch-tension resulting from indirect stimulation or the contractures evoked by acetylcholine, Both the DG secretion and the myotoxin increase the serum creatine kinase (CK) levels of mice and stimulate the release of CK from the biventer cervicis preparation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The varying degrees of muscle cell lysis and extensive widening of the intercellular spaces caused by the DG secretion are reproduced by the myotoxin, with the exception that in the latter the partial or total loss of transverse muscle striations is restricted to the muscle periphery. This myotoxin is the first such protein to be characterized from a DG secretion. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.36101407142

Experimental ophitoxemia produced by the opisthoglyphous lora snake (Philodryas olfersii) venom Ofitoxemia experimental produzida pelo veneno da serpente opistoglifa lora (Philodryas olfersii)

Several colubrid snakes produce venomous oral secretions. In this work, the venom collected from Venezuelan opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) Philodryas olfersii snake was studied. Different proteins were present in its venom and they were characterized by 20% SDS-PAGE protein electrophoresis. The secretion exhibited proteolytic (gelatinase) activity, which was partially purified on a chromatography ionic exchange mono Q2 column. Additionally, the haemorrhagic activity of Philodryas olfersii venom on chicken embryos, mouse skin and peritoneum was demonstrated. Neurotoxic symptoms were demonstrated in mice inoculated with Philodryas olfersii venom. In conclusion, Philodryas olfersii venom showed proteolytic, haemorrhagic, and neurotoxic activities, thus increasing the interest in the high toxic action of Philodryas venom.<br>Várias serpentes da família Colubridae produzem secreções orais venenosas. Neste trabalho, foi estudado o veneno coletado da presa posterior da serpente opistóglifa venezuelana Philodryas olfersii. Deferentes proteínas estavam presentes no veneno, sendo caracterizadas pela eletroforese de proteínas (SDS-PAGE) a 20%. A secreção mostrou atividade proteolítica (gelatinase) a qual foi parcialmente purificada em uma coluna de intercâmbio iônico (mono Q2). Adicionalmente, a atividade hemorrágica do veneno de Philodryas olfersii foi demonstrada em embriões de galinha, pele e peritônio de rato. Os sintomas neurológicos foram demonstrados em camundongos inoculados com veneno de Philodryas olfersii. Em conclusão, o veneno da Philodryas olfersii mostrou atividade proteolítica, hemorrágica, e neurotóxica, assim aumentando o interesse na elevada ação tóxica do veneno da Philodryas olfersii