Paraspecific neutralization of the venom of African species of cobra by an equine antiserum against Naja melanoleuca: a comparative study.
Abstract: Venoms of snakes belonging to the same Genera tend to share biochemical, toxinological and antigenic characteristics. Accordingly, paraspecific neutralization of venom lethality by experimental antisera and commercial antivenoms has been reported. We studied the spectrum of neutralization of lethality of an experimental monovalent equine antiserum against the strongly neurotoxic African forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) when tested against venoms of most species of African Naja, both neuro and cytotoxic as described by some authors. We report a comparison of the median lethal doses (LD50) of the venoms and the paraspecific median effective doses (ED50) of the antiserum calculated using three methods: Spearman-Kärber and Probit (currently recommended by the World Health Organization), and non-linear regression. An ample--but not complete--spectrum of paraspecific neutralization of lethality was observed against both spitting and non-spitting species of African Naja with a clearly more efficient neutralization of the more potent venoms, the implications of which are discussed. The median lethal and effective doses calculated by the three methods are remarkably consistent and may warrant consideration of non-linear regression methods for the calculation of venom lethality and antivenom potency by venom/antivenom researchers and producers.
Publication Date: 2009-08-13 PubMed ID: 19673073DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.01.011Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates the effectiveness of an experimental antiserum, derived from horses, against the venom of the African forest cobra, and its paraspecific neutralization potential against other African cobra species’ venom. It reports that while the antiserum can neutralize many venom varieties, some remain unaffected, with notably better results against more potent toxins.
Overview of the Research
- The research primarily investigates the paraspecific neutralization ability of an experimental monovalent equine antiserum. This antiserum is developed against the venom of the African forest cobra, Naja melanoleuca.
- The scientists examine this antiserum’s performance against venoms from most species of African Naja, characterized by their neurotoxic and cytotoxic attributes.
- An exploration and comparison regarding the median lethal doses (LD50) of the different venoms and the median effective doses (ED50) of the antiserum are reported in the study.
- Researches used three statistical methods to calculate these doses, namely the Spearman-Kärber and Probit method (currently recommended by the World Health Organization), as well as non-linear regression.
Key Findings
- The study found that the antiserum showed a broad, yet incomplete, ability to neutralize the lethality of various venoms from both spitting and non-spitting species of African Naja.
- The antiserum was observed to neutralize more potent venoms more efficiently.
- The median lethal and effective doses calculated by the three methods used were largely consistent.
Implications and Recommendations
- The findings suggest that the antiserum could be a beneficial treatment method, offering protection against a broad range of African Naja venom, especially those with more lethal potential.
- However, as the antiserum does not neutralize all types of venom, this highlights the need for continued development and refinement of antivenoms to address those venoms that remain unaffected.
- The consistency observed between the three different calculation methods suggests non-linear regression could be a valid method for venom and antivenom potency calculations. Thus, the researchers recommended its consideration by other scientists and antivenom producers.
Cite This Article
APA
Casasola A, Ramos-Cerrillo B, de Roodt AR, Carbajal Saucedo A, Chippaux JP, Alagón A, Stock RP.
(2009).
Paraspecific neutralization of the venom of African species of cobra by an equine antiserum against Naja melanoleuca: a comparative study.
Toxicon, 53(6), 602-608.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.01.011 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antivenins / immunology
- Elapid Venoms / immunology
- Elapidae / immunology
- Horses
- Immune Sera / immunology
- Lethal Dose 50
- Mice
- Neutralization Tests
- Regression Analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Gómez A, Sánchez A, Durán G, Villalta M, Segura Á, Vargas M, Solano D, Herrera M, Sánchez M, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Intrageneric cross-reactivity of monospecific rabbit antisera against venoms of the medically most important Naja spp. African snakes.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023 Aug;17(8):e0011545.
- Manson EZ, Kyama MC, Gikunju JK, Kimani J, Kimotho JH. Evaluation of lethality and cytotoxic effects induced by Naja ashei (large brown spitting cobra) venom and the envenomation-neutralizing efficacy of selected commercial antivenoms in Kenya.. Toxicon X 2022 Jun;14:100125.
- Manson EZ, Mutinda KC, Gikunju JK, Bocian A, Hus KK, Petrílla V, Legáth J, Kimotho JH. Development of an Inhibition Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Prototype for Detecting Cytotoxic Three-Finger Toxins (3FTxs) in African Spitting Cobra Venoms.. Molecules 2022 Jan 28;27(3).
- Ratanabanangkoon K. A Quest for a Universal Plasma-Derived Antivenom Against All Elapid Neurotoxic Snake Venoms.. Front Immunol 2021;12:668328.
- Ponce-López R, Neri-Castro E, Olvera-Rodríguez F, Sánchez EE, Alagón A, Olvera-Rodríguez A. Neutralization of crotamine by polyclonal antibodies generated against two whole rattlesnake venoms and a novel recombinant fusion protein.. Toxicon 2021 Jul 15;197:70-78.
- Neri-Castro E, Bénard-Valle M, Paniagua D, V Boyer L, D Possani L, López-Casillas F, Olvera A, Romero C, Zamudio F, Alagón A. Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) Venom Pharmacokinetics in Lymph and Blood Using an Ovine Model.. Toxins (Basel) 2020 Jul 17;12(7).
- Ratanabanangkoon K, Tan KY, Pruksaphon K, Klinpayom C, Gutiérrez JM, Quraishi NH, Tan CH. A pan-specific antiserum produced by a novel immunization strategy shows a high spectrum of neutralization against neurotoxic snake venoms.. Sci Rep 2020 Jul 9;10(1):11261.
- Román-Domínguez L, Neri-Castro E, Vázquez López H, García-Osorio B, Archundia IG, Ortiz-Medina JA, Petricevich VL, Alagón A, Bénard-Valle M. Biochemical and immunochemical characterization of venoms from snakes of the genus Agkistrodon.. Toxicon X 2019 Oct;4:100013.
- Debono J, Cochran C, Kuruppu S, Nouwens A, Rajapakse NW, Kawasaki M, Wood K, Dobson J, Baumann K, Jouiaei M, Jackson TN, Koludarov I, Low D, Ali SA, Smith AI, Barnes A, Fry BG. Canopy Venom: Proteomic Comparison among New World Arboreal Pit-Viper Venoms.. Toxins (Basel) 2016 Jul 8;8(7).
- Guidolin FR, Caricati CP, Marcelino JR, da Silva WD. Development of Equine IgG Antivenoms against Major Snake Groups in Mozambique.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016 Jan;10(1):e0004325.
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