Tsai Tein-Shun, Tsai Inn-Ho, Qiu Jing-Lin, Chan Yuen-Ying, Chiang Yu-Wei
Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No. 1, Shuefu Road, Pingtung, 912301, Taiwan.
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Academia Road Sec. 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106319, Taiwan.
Toxicon. 2024 Apr;241:107663. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107663. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
Deinagkistrodon acutus is a medically important pitviper inhabiting mainly South China and Taiwan. The hemorrhagic effects of its envenoming are compatible to its venom, which is abundant in metalloproteases (svMPs) and C-type lectin-like proteins. In this study, we investigated geographic variations in the venom of D. acutus collected from Taiwan and four Mainland Chinese provinces: Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Hunan. The variations were assessed through high-performance liquid chromatography, non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, gel electrophoresis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a monospecific antivenom (DaMAV) generated against the Taiwanese D. acutus venom, and discussed based on venom-protein sequences in databases and literature related to D. acutus venom. Additionally, the cross-reactivity of DaMAV against Crotalus horridus and Calloselasma rhodostoma venoms was investigated. We noted differential abundances of D. acutus venom metalloproteases, C-type lectin-like proteins, and phospholipase A, along with point mutations and selective expression of serine protease isoforms. The ELISA results revealed that the venom from Taiwan was more reactive toward Taiwanese DaMAV than the four Mainland Chinese venoms, consistent with chromatographic profile differences, whereas C. horridus venom presented moderate cross-reactivity with DaMAV. The observed immunoreactivities of these venom with DaMAV can be attributed to the high prevalence of their PIII-svMPs, which are the dominant antigens, and the conservation of PIII-svMP epitopes.
尖吻蝮是一种具有重要医学意义的蝰蛇，主要栖息于中国南方和台湾地区。其毒液的出血效应与其富含金属蛋白酶（蛇毒金属蛋白酶）和C型凝集素样蛋白的毒液成分相符。在本研究中，我们调查了从台湾地区以及中国大陆四个省份（福建、江西、安徽和湖南）采集的尖吻蝮毒液的地理差异。通过高效液相色谱法、非度量多维标度分析、凝胶电泳以及使用针对台湾尖吻蝮毒液产生的单特异性抗蛇毒血清（DaMAV）进行的酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）来评估这些差异，并根据数据库中的毒液蛋白序列以及与尖吻蝮毒液相关的文献进行讨论。此外，还研究了DaMAV对美洲东部菱斑响尾蛇和圆斑蝰蛇毒液的交叉反应性。我们注意到尖吻蝮毒液金属蛋白酶、C型凝集素样蛋白和磷脂酶A的丰度存在差异，同时丝氨酸蛋白酶同工型存在点突变和选择性表达。ELISA结果显示，台湾地区的毒液对台湾DaMAV的反应性高于中国大陆四个省份的毒液，这与色谱图差异一致，而美洲东部菱斑响尾蛇毒液与DaMAV呈现中等程度的交叉反应性。这些毒液与DaMAV的免疫反应性可归因于其PIII - 蛇毒金属蛋白酶的高流行率，PIII - 蛇毒金属蛋白酶是主要抗原，并且PIII - 蛇毒金属蛋白酶表位具有保守性。
