From birth to adulthood: An analysis of the Brazilian lancehead (Bothrops moojeni) venom at different life stages

Author(s):Show less -

Hatakeyama, Daniela Miki ^{[1, 2]} ; Tasima, Lidia Jorge ^{[1, 2]} ; Galizio, Nathalia da Costa ^{[1, 2]} ; Serino-Silva, Caroline ^{[1, 2]} ; Fabri Bittencourt Rodrigues, Caroline ^{[1, 2]} ; Stuginski, Daniel Rodrigues ^[1] ; Sant'Anna, Savio Stefanini ^[1] ; Grego, Kathleen Fernandes ^[1] ; Tashima, Alexandre Keiji ^[3] ; Nishiduka, Erika Sayuri ^[3] ; de Morais-Zani, Karen ^{[1, 2]} ; Tanaka-Azevedo, Anita Mitico ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Butantan, Lab Herpetol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Pesquisas Tecnol, Inst Butantan, Interunidades Biotecnol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Bioquim, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 16, n. 6 JUN 10 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The Brazilian lancehead (Bothrops moojeni) has a wide distribution in Brazil and represents a serious public health hazard. Previous works reported that the symptoms of snakebites caused by B. moojeni juveniles' bites were mainly related to coagulation, while those caused by adults' bites had a more prominent local damage. In this work, we analyzed the venoms of B. moojeni at different life stages to better understand the ontogeny shift in this species. Snakes were grouped by age and sex, and venom pools were formed accordingly. Compositional analyses by one-dimensional electrophoresis (1-DE), chromatography, and mass spectrometry revealed that ontogenetic changes might be mostly related to phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and metalloproteases. Regarding the venoms functional aspect, proteolytic, L-amino acid oxidase, PLA(2), and coagulant in vitro activities were assayed, but only the first and the last ones showed age-related changes, with the venom of snakes up to 1 year-old displaying lower proteolytic and higher coagulant activities, while those from 2 years-old onward presented the opposite relation. The venoms of 3 years-old snakes were exceptions to the compositional and functional pattern of adults as both venoms presented profiles similar to neonates. Sex-related differences were observed in specific groups and were not age-related. In vivo experiments (median lethal dose and hemorrhagic activity) were statistically similar between neonates and adults, however we verified that the adult venom killed mice faster comparing to the neonates. All venoms were mostly recognized by the antibothropic serum and displayed similar profiles to 1-DE in western blotting. In conclusion, the Brazilian lancehead venom showed ontogenetic shift in its composition and activities. Furthermore, this change occurred in snakes from 1 to 2 years-old, and interestingly the venom pools from 3 years-old snakes had particular characteristics, which highlights the importance of comprehensive studies to better understand venom variability. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/16908-2 - Proteomic characterization and enzymatic and pathophysiological activities of the venom of the snake species that compose the Bothrops neuwiedi group
• Grantee: Karen de Morais Zani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/20106-9 - Peptidomics of Brazilian snake and spider venoms
• Grantee: Alexandre Keiji Tashima
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/25786-0 - Phospholipase A2 inhibitors (PLIs) present in venomous and non-venomous snake plasmas and evaluation of the neutralizing activity of these inhibitors on the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities of snake venoms
• Grantee: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/25899-0 - Analysis of the ontogenetic variability of the snake venom Bothrops pauloensis
• Grantee: Lidia Jorge Tasima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/14724-4 - Proteomic and functional characterization of the venom of two species of snakes of the genus Bothrops submitted to diet change
• Grantee: Nathália da Costa Galizio
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master