Fibrinogenolytic potential of venoms of medically important Brazilian snakes

Author(s)

de Lima, Eduardo Oliveira Venancio ; Tasima, Lidia Jorge ; Grego, Kathleen Fernandes ; Tanaka-Azevedo, Anita Mitico

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY; v. 287, p. 5-pg., 2024-09-05.

Abstract

One of the main clinical manifestations presented by victims of snake bite envenoming are coagulation disorders. Considering that fibrinogen is a key molecule for crosslinked fibrin clot formation, the objective of this work was the quantitative analysis of the fibrinogenolytic activity of snakes of medical importance in Brazil and neutralization by specific antivenom. For this, pools of three genera of medical importance (Bothrops, Crotalus and Lachesis) that are used for the production of antivenom were used, and three pools of species of the genus Bothrops that are not part of the pool for the production of antivenom. The Lachesis pool had the highest fibrinogenolytic activity, even demonstrating partial cleavage (42.9 % consumption) of the fibrinogen gamma chain. The Bothrops genus venom pools have shown subtle variations between them. The Crotalus pool, despite not showing total cleavage of any fibrinogen chain, began cleavage of fibrinogen by the beta chain. The specific antivenoms used were able to delay the cleavage of fibrinogen in all the venoms used, which could be the first step towards implementing previous in vitro tests to analyze the quality of the batches of antivenoms produced, thus potentially reducing the use of animals used in this process. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/15660-5 - Ontogenetic study of the venom of Bothrops alternatus snakes and analysis of phospholipase A2 inhibitors as a complementary therapy to serum therapy in bothropic accidents
• Grantee: Eduardo Oliveira Venancio de Lima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/11707-4 - Evaluation of alternative in vitro methods to the use of animals for in vivo tests in the study of snake venoms: principle of the 3R's
• Grantee: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/04287-9 - Correlation between in vitro assays and in vivo assays: search for approaches in the study of snake venoms that dispense with the use of animals following the 3R's principle
• Grantee: Lidia Jorge Tasima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 22/13137-3 - Analysis of the geographic variation (insular and continental region) of the venom of the genus Bothrops of greatest medical importance in the Brazilian North region: a public health and environmental education issue
• Grantee: Kathleen Fernandes Grego
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/14327-3 - 3R'S AND VENOMICS: EVALUATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE IN VITRO METHOD TO THE USE OF ANIMALS IN THE STUDY OF SNAKE VENOMS
• Grantee: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants