Small Structural Differences in Proline-Rich Decapeptides Have Specific Effects on Oxidative Stress-Induced Neurotoxicity and L-Arginine Generation by Arginosuccinate Synthase.

Introduction: The proline-rich decapeptide 10c (Bj-PRO-10c; ENWPHPQIPP) from the snake modulates argininosuccinate synthetase (AsS) activity to stimulate L-arginine metabolite production and neuroprotection in the SH-SY5Y cell line. The relationships between structure, interactions with AsS, and neuroprotection are little known. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Bj-PRO-10c and three other PROs (Bn-PRO-10a, View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evaluation of the Inhibitory Potential of Synthetic Peptides Homologous to CDR3 Regions of a Monoclonal Antibody against Bothropic Venom Serine Proteases.

Snakebite accidents, neglected tropical diseases per the WHO, pose a significant public health threat due to their severity and frequency. Envenomation by genus snakes leads to severe manifestations due to proteolytic enzymes. While the antibothropic serum produced by the Butantan Institute saves lives, its efficacy is limited as it fails to neutralize certain serine proteases.

Comparing Traditional and Toxin-Oriented Approaches towards Antivenom Production against Snake Venom.

Accidents with snakes are responsible for about 32,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa, caused mostly by snakes from the genus , in particular . venom is composed of a complex mixture of toxins, mainly metalloproteases, serine proteases, phospholipases, lectins, and disintegrins. In this work, we compared two approaches to anti-.

Anti-Metalloproteases: Production and Characterization of Polyclonal IgG Anti-F2 Fraction Antibodies Purified from the Venom of the Snake .

is a medically important snake found in Sub-Saharan Africa. The envenomation is characterized by local and systemic effects, and the lack of antivenoms aggravates the treatment. This study aimed to identify venom toxins and develop antitoxins.

A Kunitz-type peptide from venom as a simultaneous inhibitor of serine and cysteine proteases.

Background: Proteases play an important role for the proper physiological functions of the most diverse organisms. When unregulated, they are associated with several pathologies. Therefore, proteases have become potential therapeutic targets regarding the search for inhibitors.

Snake Venom Induces an Inflammatory Response Which Is Partially Dependent on Lipid Mediators.

is a snake of medical importance, as it is responsible for more accidents in humans and domestic animals than all other African snakes put together. The accidents are characterized by local and systemic alterations, such as inflammation, cardiovascular and hemostatic disturbances, which can lead victims to death or permanent disability. However, little is known about the envenomation mechanism, especially regarding the inflammatory response, which is related to severe clinical conditions triggered by the venom.

Serological evidence of Toxoplasma gondii infection as potential risk for the development of lepromatous leprosy in an endemic area for both neglected tropical diseases in Brazil.

Background: Mycobacterium leprae and Toxoplasma gondii infections are both neglected tropical diseases highly prevalent in Brazil. Infection with certain parasite species can significantly alter susceptibility to other important pathogens, and/or influence the development of pathology. Here we investigated the possible influence of M.

Scorpion Venom Induces Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cell Lines.

Cervical cancer (CC) is classified as the fourth most common type of cancer in women worldwide and remains a serious public health problem in many underdeveloped countries. Human papillomavirus (HPV), mainly types 16 and 18, has been established as a precursory etiologic agent for this type of cancer. Several therapeutic attempts have been studied and applied, aiming at its control.

Kn-Ba: a novel serine protease isolated from snake venom with fibrinogenolytic and kinin-releasing activities.

Background: is a venomous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa and in parts of Morocco and Saudi Arabia. The envenomation is characterized by local and systemic reactions including pain, blistering, edema and tissue damage, besides hemostatic and cardiovascular disturbances, which can cause death or permanent disabilities in its victims. However, the action mechanisms that provoke these effects remain poorly understood, especially the activities of purified venom components.

Identification of the Apa protein secreted by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis as a novel fecal biomarker for Johne's disease in cattle.

Paratuberculosis (PTB) or Johne's disease is a chronic intestinal infection of ruminants, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. The shedding of mycobacteria in the feces starts at the initial stages and increases with disease progression, suggesting that antigens secreted by mycobacteria could be excreted in the feces.

The complementarity-determining region sequences in IgY antivenom hypervariable regions.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Development of IgY antibodies against anti-snake toxins endowed with highly lethal neutralizing activity" (da Rocha et al., 2017) [1]. Complementarity-determining region (CDR) sequences are variable antibody (Ab) sequences that respond with specificity, duration and strength to identify and bind to antigen (Ag) epitopes.

Development of IgY antibodies against anti-snake toxins endowed with highly lethal neutralizing activity.

Snakebite envenoming is a major neglected disease related to poverty in developing countries. Treatment involves the administration of a specific antivenom serum and auxiliary therapies, if necessary. The improvement of antibodies is of great importance for the technological advancement of antivenom therapy and to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this medical burden.

and Snake Venoms Promote Cell Cycle Arrest and Induce Apoptosis via the Mitochondrial Depolarization of Cervical Cancer Cells.

(BJ) and (BE) are viper snakes found in South-Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil, respectively. Snake venoms are bioactive neurotoxic substances synthesized and stored by venom glands, with different physiological and pharmacological effects, recently suggesting a possible preference for targets in cancer cells; however, mechanisms of snakes have been little studied. Here, we investigated the mechanism responsible for snake crude venoms toxicity in cultured cervical cancer cells SiHa and HeLa.

Development of Equine IgG Antivenoms against Major Snake Groups in Mozambique.

Background: Snake envenoming is a significant public health problem in underdeveloped and developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 90,000-400,000 envenomations occur each year, resulting in 3,500-32,000 deaths. Envenomings are caused by snakes from the Viperidae (Bitis spp.

African adders: partial characterization of snake venoms from three Bitis species of medical importance and their neutralization by experimental equine antivenoms.

Background: An alarming number of fatal accidents involving snakes are annually reported in Africa and most of the victims suffer from permanent local tissue damage and chronic disabilities. Envenomation by snakes belonging to the genus Bitis, Viperidae family, are common in Sub-Saharan Africa. The accidents are severe and the victims often have a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective specific therapies.

Bothropic antivenom based on monoclonal antibodies, is it possible?

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against three major toxic components of Bothrops atrox venom were produced and tested. The mAbs against phospholipase A2, hemorrhagic metalloprotease, and thrombin-like enzymes were produced in large amounts and purified with caprylic acid followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Purified mAbs were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and their ability to neutralize the respective toxins was tested.

The humoral immune response induced by snake venom toxins.

This review summarizes the key contributions to our knowledge regarding the immune response induced by snake venom toxins, focusing particularly on the production of antibodies and their venom-neutralizing effects. We cover the past and present state of the art of anti-snake venom production, followed by an overview of the venomous snakes and their venoms. The toxic properties of relevant snake venom toxins are approached in some details, with particular emphasis on the molecular domains responsible for binding to cells or plasma components in victims.

Difference in virulence of Mycobacterium avium isolates sharing indistinguishable DNA fingerprint determined in murine model of lung infection.

Background: Opportunistic Mycobacterium avium typically causes disease in immunocompromised patients and in some groups of apparently healthy individuals. The high virulence of some bacterial lineages increases the disease risk. High-resolution molecular genotyping studies of M.

Mannose-binding lectin complement pathway plays a key role in complement activation by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) is a dimorphic fungal pathogen that causes paracoccidioidomycosis, the most severe deep mycosis from South America. Although cell mediated immunity is considered the most efficient protective mechanism against Pb infection, mechanisms of innate immunity are poorly defined. Herein, we investigated the interaction of the complement system with high and low virulence isolates of Pb.

Emerging multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of the Beijing genotype circulating in Russia express a pattern of biological properties associated with enhanced virulence.

The epidemiologically important Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains, highly endemic in East Asia, have become an emerging infection in certain geographic areas, including Russia, because of its increasing prevalence and association with multidrug resistance (MDR). The aim was to verify whether MDR Beijing strains circulating in the emerging regions present some biological particularities that could contribute to their success in causing disease in comparison with the sporadic strains from locations with low prevalence of the Beijing genotype. We evaluated virulence-associated characteristics of the MDR Beijing strains isolated in Russia and compared them with those of the drug-resistant and susceptible Beijing strains from Brazil and reference H37Rv strain.

Inhibition of the myotoxic activities of three African Bitis venoms (B. rhinoceros, B. arietans and B. nasicornis) by a polyvalent antivenom.

A murine model of venom-induced myotoxicity was used to assess the antimyotoxic capacity of a polyvalent antivenom (PAV), rich in F(ab')2 fragments, obtained from horses immunized with Bitis venoms. Intramuscular (i.m.

Development of process to produce polyvalent IgY antibodies anti-African snake venom.

Polyvalent anti-Bitis and anti-Naja antivenom IgY antibodies were prepared using B. arietans, B. nasicornis, B.

The functional state of the complement system in leprosy.

Ninety-one patients with different clinical forms of leprosy, 36 lepromatous (LL), 33 tuberculoid (TL), and 22 dimorphic (DL), and 31 healthy volunteer donors were included in this study. Total complement system (CS) activity was assessed by hemolytic methods, whereas individual components were quantified by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Under conditions allowing initiation of cascade by the classic pathway (CP) but not alternative pathway (AP) activation, significant CS consumption was detected only in sera from patients with LL.

Adjuvant and immunogenic activities of the 73kDa N-terminal alpha-domain of BrkA autotransporter and Cpn60/60kDa chaperonin of Bordetella pertussis.

A soluble fraction obtained from Bordetella pertussis was evaluated as adjuvant for the pertussis component of the Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT) vaccine. High levels of antibodies were induced, and a 78% protection rate of mice challenged with live B. pertussis was observed.