The dual nature of complement enhancement by venom from the Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus).

Venom from the Mojave rattlesnake enhanced the antibody mediated hemolytic activity of guinea pig complement when either human or sheep erythrocytes were used as the target cells. Amplification of lytic activity was shown to act in a preferential manner with respect to species of erythrocyte origin. Two steps appear to be necessary for demonstration of enhancement of complement hemolytic activity :(1) interaction of the venom with the complement components; and (2) membrane directed interaction of complement components in association with the active venom factor. These studied extend the findings reported earlier on venom induced complement enhancement.