Snake venom can vary both among and within species. While some groups of New World pitvipers-such as rattlesnakes-have been well studied, very little is known about the venom of montane pitvipers (Cerrophidion) found across the Mesoamerican highlands. Compared to most well-studied rattlesnakes, which are widely distributed, the isolated montane populations of Cerrophidion may facilitate unique evolutionary trajectories and venom differentiation. Here, we describe the venom gland transcriptomes for populations of C. petlalcalensis, C. tzotzilorum, and C. godmani from Mexico, and a single individual of C. sasai from Costa Rica. We explore gene expression variation in Cerrophidion and sequence evolution of toxins within C. godmani specifically. Cerrophidion venom gland transcriptomes are composed primarily of snake venom metalloproteinases, phospholipase A[Formula: see text]s (PLA[Formula: see text]s), and snake venom serine proteases. Cerrophidion petlalcalensis shows little intraspecific variation; however, C. godmani and C. tzotzilorum differ significantly between geographically isolated populations. Interestingly, intraspecific variation was mostly attributed to expression variation as we did not detect signals of selection within C. godmani toxins. Additionally, we found PLA[Formula: see text]-like myotoxins in all species except C. petlalcalensis, and crotoxin-like PLA[Formula: see text]s in the southern population of C. godmani. Our results demonstrate significant intraspecific venom variation within C. godmani and C. tzotzilorum. The toxins of C. godmani show little evidence of directional selection where variation in toxin sequence is consistent with evolution under a model of mutation-drift equilibrium. Cerrophidion godmani individuals from the southern population may exhibit neurotoxic venom activity given the presence of crotoxin-like PLA[Formula: see text]s; however, further research is required to confirm this hypothesis.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00239-023-10115-2 | DOI Listing |
Breast Cancer Res
December 2024
Computational Biology Branch, National Library of Medicine and Developmental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
Background: Treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are limited and patients face a poor prognosis. Here, we sought to identify drugs that target TNBC vulnerabilities and understand the biology underlying these responses. We analyzed the Broad Institute DepMap to identify recurrent TNBC vulnerabilities and performed a 45-compound screen on vulnerability-related pathways on a set of up to 8 TNBC cell lines.
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December 2024
Departamento de Farmacologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Vital Brazil, 80, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-888, Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:
The venom of Colombian specimens of the rear-fanged snake Pseudoboa neuwiedii contains proteolytic and phospholipase A (PLA) activities, but is devoid of esterases. Mass spectrometric analysis of electrophoretic bands indicated that this venom contains C-type lectins (CTL), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRiSP), PLA, snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP), and snake venom matrix metalloproteinases (svMMP). In this investigation, we extended our characterization of P.
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November 2024
Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Perambalur, IND.
Background Snakebite envenomation remains a significant public health challenge in tropical countries, particularly affecting the pediatric population. Children are especially vulnerable because of their smaller body mass, outdoor activities, and delayed presentation to healthcare facilities. This study aimed to analyze the clinical profile, demographic patterns, and envenomation characteristics of snakebites in children aged 1-16 years presenting to a tertiary care center.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
November 2024
College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea.
Snakebite envenoming is a significant health threat, particularly in tropical regions, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Traditional treatments, including antivenom therapy, have limitations and associated risks. This research aims to discover novel phytochemical antidotes for snakebites, specifically targeting the western diamondback rattlesnake () venom metalloproteinase Atrolysin.
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