Venom ontogenetic profile and bioprospecting potential of the three-finger toxins of the Naja kaouthia snake

• Grant number: 24/02642-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Grantee: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Aparecida Sadae Tanaka ; Caroline TOKARSKI ; Kathleen Fernandes Grego ; Patrícia Léo ; Sávio Stefanini Sant Anna ; Tiago Fleming de Oliveira Outeiro

Abstract

Snake envenomation was reintroduced as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 and represents a serious public health problem for tropical and subtropical regions of developing countries. Naja kaoutia is a snake considered category 1 of medical importance by the WHO. Its venom has a prominent neurotoxic effect due to the two main protein families present in this venom: the three-finger toxins (3FTx) and the phospholipases A2. The lethality of N. kaouthia venom is mainly associated with 3FTx, which are poorly recognized by current snake antivenoms due to their low immunogenicity. There is an increase in cases of accidents with N. kaouthia due to the breeding of exotic snakes, leading to the problem of there being no specific antivenoms for these species in hospital units. Snake venom presents considerable heterogeneity that may be a function of the factors that led to molecular evolution. Variations in the composition of the venom of snakes of the same species can be determined according to genetics, diet, gender, geographic distribution, age or even seasonality. It is worth mentioning that snake venom is considered a valuable source for the bioprospecting of molecules with therapeutic potential, therefore, components of these venoms are widely studied for biotechnological applications, mainly in the pharmaceutical area. Therefore, the objective of this work is the biochemical investigation of the venoms of young and adult snakes of the species N. kaouthia in order to analyze the variations in the biochemical composition, biological and immunoenzymatic activities of the toxins present in their venom. In addition, a bioprospecting study will be carried out on cytotoxins from the 3FTx family with biotechnological potential. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CHIARELLI, TASSIA; HAYASHI, JACKELINNE Y.; GALIZIO, NATHALIA DA COSTA; CASIMIRO, FERNANDA M. S.; TORQUATO, RICARDO; TANAKA, APARECIDA S.; MORAIS-ZANI, KAREN DE; TANAKA-AZEVEDO, ANITA M.; TASHIMA, ALEXANDRE K.. Enhancing the Bothropic Antivenom through a Reverse Antivenomics Approach. JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH, v. 24, n. 2, p. 10-pg., 2025-01-22. (24/02642-4, 22/13850-1, 17/21052-0, 13/07914-8, 21/05975-6, 21/07627-5, 23/00670-8, 17/20106-9, 20/07268-2)

KOPEL, BEATRIZ; SERINO-SILVA, CAROLINE; JANTSCH, REBECA BARCELOS; SORILA, IGOR CASTELLAR; SANT'ANNA, SAVIO S.; GREGO, KATHLEEN FERNANDES; TANAKA-AZEVEDO, ANITA MITICO. Analysis of Naja kaouthia snake venom composition and in-vitro enzymatic activities of 29 specimens in captivity: Highlighting the importance of individual variation in venom pool production. Toxicon, v. 252, p. 9-pg., 2024-12-01. (21/11707-4, 24/02642-4, 22/13137-3, 22/13820-5, 21/05405-5)