| Grant number: | 11/23273-7 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | March 01, 2012 |
| End date: | February 28, 2014 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology |
| Principal Investigator: | Katia Cristina Barbaro Nogueira |
| Grantee: | Katia Cristina Barbaro Nogueira |
| Host Institution: | Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
Abstract
The clinical picture caused by Loxosceles spider venom is characterized initially by an intense local inflammatory reaction and subsequent presence of dermonecrosis at the bite site. In previous studies it was found that phospholipases D with molecular mass of approximately 35 kDa are the main activities responsible for dermonecrotic, hemolytic and nephrotoxic activities. In addition, several enzymes that have activity on extracellular matrix are also present in Loxosceles gaucho venom contributing to local inflammatory reaction observed in loxoscelism. However, the purification and isolation of these toxins are very difficult due to the small amount of components and the presence of isoforms, which makes difficult, in many cases, more detailed study of these toxins. The isolation of genes of these toxins with subsequent expression in heterologous systems represents an interesting approach that not only allows obtaining large quantities of these toxins, but also will promote genetic manipulation in future studies. Thus, the objective of this project is to isolate, clone and express genes for toxins of the venom gland of L. gaucho spider in order to characterize these toxins. In this sense, the recombinant molecules obtained may contribute greatly to the understanding of the pathophysiology of loxoscelism allowing the identification of the relationship between structure and function, interaction with antibodies, and an eventual characterization of molecules for biotechnological and clinical interest. The production of antibodies against recombinant toxins may clarify the actual role of these molecules in the envenoming, giving subsides to incorporate them in the immunization pool used for the production of antiserum, opening new prospects for treatments to reduce morbidity mainly caused by these accidents. (AU)
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