Venomic and biological function assessment of Lachesis muta muta and Lachesis muta rhombeata venoms

• Grant number: 24/09356-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Felipe Gobbi Grazziotin
• Grantee: Bárbara Santos Teixeira Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/12660-4 - Recovering, modernizing and expanding the collection of herpetology at Butantan Institute through integrative studies on systematics and evolution of neotropical snakes, AP.BTA.JP

Abstract

The species Lachesis muta is one of the most medically important snake species in Brazil, as it has great lethality and severity in snakebites, and has two subspecies in the country: L. m. muta; and L. m. rhombeata. The objective of the work is to analyze the venomics and the biological function of the two subspecies, to make a comparison between the toxins present. Furthermore, an antivenom efficacy test will be carried out with the L. m. rhombeata using pentavalent serum, which contains L. m. muta venom. The analyzes will be carried out with the venom of three specimens of each subspecies. Transcriptomics will be analyzed using Illumina's TruSeqTM RNA Sample Preparation Kits v2. Proteomics will be evaluated using the mass spectrometry method. An enzymatic assay will be carried out with the main families of toxins present in the venoms of the subspecies. An antivenom efficacy test will be carried out with the pentavalent serum, to evaluate the neutralization of the L. m. rhombeatha venom, in tests of hemorrhagic and lethal activity.