African Twig Snake versus Boomslang venom research
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:32 pm
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 0169900051
Boomslang envenomation research.
versus African Twig snake i(also a colubrid.)
AFRICAN TWIG SNAKE:
S Afr Med J. 1980 Dec 20;58(25):1007-11.
Clinical features of twig snake (Thelotornis capensis) envenomation.
Atkinson PM, Bradlow BA, White JA, Greig HB, Gaillard MC.
Abstract
A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a 13-year-old-boy caused by a bite from a twig snake (Thelatornis kirtlandii capensis) is described. The coagulant enzyme was found to be a single-chain mole-activate prothrombin and factor X as well as weakly accelerating fibrinolysis. Its action on synthetic chromogenic substrates is described. Boomslang antivenom was unable to block twig snake venom, and the implications of this as regards treatment are discussed.
...................................................................................................................................................
BOOMSLANG:
Volume 7, Issue 3, November 1969, Pages 189–194
(It costs $35.95 if you are not a subscrber)
Abstract
The venom of Dispholidus typus displays proteolytic activity towards casein, and amino-acid esterase activity towards tosylarginine methyl ester and benzoylarginine ethyl ester. No activity towards N-acetyltyrosine ethyl ester could be found. Gel-filtration chromatography of the venom is described.
...................................................
Boomslang bite with haemorrhage and activation of complement by the alternate pathway
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article ... 22/?page=5
(A 1974 case paper, all 5 pages.)
............................................
The proteases - specifically metalloproteases - are also confirmed in more recent research in Boomslang venom below:
........................................
Toxicon. 2000 Nov;38(11):1613-20.
Mass spectrophotometric evidence for P-III/P-IV metalloproteinases in the venom of theBoomslang (Dispholidus typus).
Kamiguti AS1, Theakston RD, Sherman N, Fox JW.
Abstract
The Boomslang, Dispholidus typus, is a mid- to rear-fanged arboreal colubrid widely distributed throughout much of the African continent. Envenoming by this species is rare although deaths have been recorded. Typical symptoms associated with envenoming include diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by fibrinogen consumption and consequent incoagulable blood together with haemorrhage into tissues such as muscle and brain; together, these procoagulant and haemorrhagic effects of the venom result in a very poor prognosis in patients who receive a large dose of venom and who are not treated with antivenom. Renal failure may also result from acute tubular necrosis resulting from pigment nephropathy. Little is known about the toxic components present in the venom; however, proteolytic activity has been reported although the proteinases involved have not been identified. In this study we provide LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry) data supporting the presence of class P-III/P-IV snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) in Boomslang venom. Using a polyclonal antibody raised against the P-III haemorrhagic toxin (Jararhagin) obtained from the venom of the Brazilian pit viper, Bothrops jararaca, we identified by western blot a 65 kDa protein from Boomslang venom which cross-reacted with the jararhagin antibody. A corresponding band from SDS-PAGE was subjected to tryptic digestion followed by LC/MS/MS sequence analysis of the digestion mixture. A variety of peptide sequences were identified in the digest, one of which was clearly homologous with a highly conserved region of the disintegrin-like domains of P-III/P-IV SVMPs. These data provide the first structural evidence for the presence of SVMPs in Boomslang venom; it is possible that SVMPs may also be present in the venoms of other colubrids, which cause similar symptoms in envenomed humans. In other snake venoms, most notably those of the Viperinae and Crotalinae subfamilies, many of the coagulopathic and haemorrhagic syndromes associated with systemic and local envenoming are attributed to SVMPs. The identification of a P-III/P-IV SVMP sequence in D. typus venom suggests that many of the pathological signs resulting from envenoming by this species may also be due to the presence of SVMPs in the venom. It is hoped that these results may accelerate research into colubrid venoms and may provide new insights into novel and more efficacious treatments for colubrid envenoming.
....................................................
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."
Boomslang envenomation research.
versus African Twig snake i(also a colubrid.)
AFRICAN TWIG SNAKE:
S Afr Med J. 1980 Dec 20;58(25):1007-11.
Clinical features of twig snake (Thelotornis capensis) envenomation.
Atkinson PM, Bradlow BA, White JA, Greig HB, Gaillard MC.
Abstract
A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a 13-year-old-boy caused by a bite from a twig snake (Thelatornis kirtlandii capensis) is described. The coagulant enzyme was found to be a single-chain mole-activate prothrombin and factor X as well as weakly accelerating fibrinolysis. Its action on synthetic chromogenic substrates is described. Boomslang antivenom was unable to block twig snake venom, and the implications of this as regards treatment are discussed.
...................................................................................................................................................
BOOMSLANG:
Volume 7, Issue 3, November 1969, Pages 189–194
(It costs $35.95 if you are not a subscrber)
Abstract
The venom of Dispholidus typus displays proteolytic activity towards casein, and amino-acid esterase activity towards tosylarginine methyl ester and benzoylarginine ethyl ester. No activity towards N-acetyltyrosine ethyl ester could be found. Gel-filtration chromatography of the venom is described.
...................................................
Boomslang bite with haemorrhage and activation of complement by the alternate pathway
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article ... 22/?page=5
(A 1974 case paper, all 5 pages.)
............................................
The proteases - specifically metalloproteases - are also confirmed in more recent research in Boomslang venom below:
........................................
Toxicon. 2000 Nov;38(11):1613-20.
Mass spectrophotometric evidence for P-III/P-IV metalloproteinases in the venom of theBoomslang (Dispholidus typus).
Kamiguti AS1, Theakston RD, Sherman N, Fox JW.
Abstract
The Boomslang, Dispholidus typus, is a mid- to rear-fanged arboreal colubrid widely distributed throughout much of the African continent. Envenoming by this species is rare although deaths have been recorded. Typical symptoms associated with envenoming include diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by fibrinogen consumption and consequent incoagulable blood together with haemorrhage into tissues such as muscle and brain; together, these procoagulant and haemorrhagic effects of the venom result in a very poor prognosis in patients who receive a large dose of venom and who are not treated with antivenom. Renal failure may also result from acute tubular necrosis resulting from pigment nephropathy. Little is known about the toxic components present in the venom; however, proteolytic activity has been reported although the proteinases involved have not been identified. In this study we provide LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry) data supporting the presence of class P-III/P-IV snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) in Boomslang venom. Using a polyclonal antibody raised against the P-III haemorrhagic toxin (Jararhagin) obtained from the venom of the Brazilian pit viper, Bothrops jararaca, we identified by western blot a 65 kDa protein from Boomslang venom which cross-reacted with the jararhagin antibody. A corresponding band from SDS-PAGE was subjected to tryptic digestion followed by LC/MS/MS sequence analysis of the digestion mixture. A variety of peptide sequences were identified in the digest, one of which was clearly homologous with a highly conserved region of the disintegrin-like domains of P-III/P-IV SVMPs. These data provide the first structural evidence for the presence of SVMPs in Boomslang venom; it is possible that SVMPs may also be present in the venoms of other colubrids, which cause similar symptoms in envenomed humans. In other snake venoms, most notably those of the Viperinae and Crotalinae subfamilies, many of the coagulopathic and haemorrhagic syndromes associated with systemic and local envenoming are attributed to SVMPs. The identification of a P-III/P-IV SVMP sequence in D. typus venom suggests that many of the pathological signs resulting from envenoming by this species may also be due to the presence of SVMPs in the venom. It is hoped that these results may accelerate research into colubrid venoms and may provide new insights into novel and more efficacious treatments for colubrid envenoming.
....................................................
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."