Transcriptome, cloning, expression and evaluation of the biological activities of the main toxins of Cryptops iheringi venom

• Grant number: 17/13812-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2017
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Geraldo Santana Magalhães
• Grantee: Lhiri Hanna de Lucca Caetano
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chilopoda are a class of venomous arthropods widely distributed throughout the world. Because they are well adapted to live in urban and domestic areas several cases of humans bitten have been reported. Despite the poor medical relevance, human envenomation with centipedes can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms such as burning pain, paresthesia, edema and superficial necrosis at the bite site. Rare cases, progress to a serious condition. A clinical study with patients attended at Hospital Vital Brazil, Butantan Institute, showed that the majority of accidents with centipedes were caused by the genus Cryptops and Otostigmus representing about 90% of the cases. Based upon symptoms induced by centipede envenomation, it has been suggested that the centipede venom comprises a diverse set of proteins, peptides, and enzymes with a variety of biological activities. In this regard, it has been reported in the literature several bioactive compounds, some of which have potential therapeutic interest. However, despite the significant pharmacological importance, very little is known about the active components of the venom of these animals. Therefore, the venom of centipedes can be an excellent source of toxins still unknown and with untapped biotechnological potential. Considering that the genus Cryptops is one of the most associated to accidents in humans and that to the present moment there is no literature on the toxins of its venom, in this project we intend to perform a transcriptomic analysis of the venom gland of Cryptops iheringi in order to obtain a profile of the toxins of this species. The most abundant and interesting biotechnological toxins genes will be expressed in bacteria and their biological activities will be evaluated. (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)

CAETANO, LHIRI HANNA DE LUCCA; NISHIYAMA-JR, MILTON YUTAKA; TAVORA, BIANCA DE CARVALHO LINS FERNANDES; DE OLIVEIRA, URSULA CASTRO; JUNQUEIRA-DE-AZEVEDO, INACIO DE LOIOLA MEIRELLES; FAQUIM-MAURO, ELIANA L.; MAGALHAES, GERALDO SANTANA. Recombinant Production and Characterization of a New Toxin from Cryptops iheringi Centipede Venom Revealed by Proteome and Transcriptome Analysis. TOXINS, v. 13, n. 12, DEC 2021. (17/13812-4, 17/16999-8, 13/07467-1)