A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>)
The Senegalese cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i>, is a non-spitting cobra species newly erected from the <i>Naja haje</i> complex. <i>Naja senegalensis</i> causes neurotoxic envenomation in Western Africa but its venom properties remain underexplored. Applying a pro...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/1/60 |
| _version_ | 1797411698379849728 |
|---|---|
| author | Kin Ying Wong Kae Yi Tan Nget Hong Tan Choo Hock Tan |
| author_facet | Kin Ying Wong Kae Yi Tan Nget Hong Tan Choo Hock Tan |
| author_sort | Kin Ying Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Senegalese cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i>, is a non-spitting cobra species newly erected from the <i>Naja haje</i> complex. <i>Naja senegalensis</i> causes neurotoxic envenomation in Western Africa but its venom properties remain underexplored. Applying a protein decomplexation proteomic approach, this study unveiled the unique complexity of the venom composition. Three-finger toxins constituted the major component, accounting for 75.91% of total venom proteins. Of these, cardiotoxin/cytotoxin (~53%) and alpha-neurotoxins (~23%) predominated in the venom proteome. Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>, however, was not present in the venom, suggesting a unique snake venom phenotype found in this species. The venom, despite the absence of PLA<sub>2</sub>, is highly lethal with an intravenous LD<sub>50</sub> of 0.39 µg/g in mice, consistent with the high abundance of alpha-neurotoxins (predominating long neurotoxins) in the venom. The hetero-specific VINS African Polyvalent Antivenom (VAPAV) was immunoreactive to the venom, implying conserved protein antigenicity in the venoms of <i>N. senegalensis</i> and <i>N. haje</i>. Furthermore, VAPAV was able to cross-neutralize the lethal effect of <i>N. senegalensis</i> venom but the potency was limited (0.59 mg venom completely neutralized per mL antivenom, or ~82 LD<sub>50</sub> per ml of antivenom). The efficacy of antivenom should be further improved to optimize the treatment of cobra bite envenomation in Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:49:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6da8c30b3eba4a29962ff8dc7e82d3ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:49:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-6da8c30b3eba4a29962ff8dc7e82d3ad2023-12-03T13:11:27ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512021-01-011316010.3390/toxins13010060A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>)Kin Ying Wong0Kae Yi Tan1Nget Hong Tan2Choo Hock Tan3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, MalaysiaDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, MalaysiaDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, MalaysiaDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, MalaysiaThe Senegalese cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i>, is a non-spitting cobra species newly erected from the <i>Naja haje</i> complex. <i>Naja senegalensis</i> causes neurotoxic envenomation in Western Africa but its venom properties remain underexplored. Applying a protein decomplexation proteomic approach, this study unveiled the unique complexity of the venom composition. Three-finger toxins constituted the major component, accounting for 75.91% of total venom proteins. Of these, cardiotoxin/cytotoxin (~53%) and alpha-neurotoxins (~23%) predominated in the venom proteome. Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>, however, was not present in the venom, suggesting a unique snake venom phenotype found in this species. The venom, despite the absence of PLA<sub>2</sub>, is highly lethal with an intravenous LD<sub>50</sub> of 0.39 µg/g in mice, consistent with the high abundance of alpha-neurotoxins (predominating long neurotoxins) in the venom. The hetero-specific VINS African Polyvalent Antivenom (VAPAV) was immunoreactive to the venom, implying conserved protein antigenicity in the venoms of <i>N. senegalensis</i> and <i>N. haje</i>. Furthermore, VAPAV was able to cross-neutralize the lethal effect of <i>N. senegalensis</i> venom but the potency was limited (0.59 mg venom completely neutralized per mL antivenom, or ~82 LD<sub>50</sub> per ml of antivenom). The efficacy of antivenom should be further improved to optimize the treatment of cobra bite envenomation in Africa.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/1/60<i>Naja</i> (<i>Uraeus</i>) <i>senegalensis</i><i>Naja haje</i> complexvenomicssnakebite envenomationimmunoreactivityantivenom neutralization |
| spellingShingle | Kin Ying Wong Kae Yi Tan Nget Hong Tan Choo Hock Tan A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>) Toxins <i>Naja</i> (<i>Uraeus</i>) <i>senegalensis</i> <i>Naja haje</i> complex venomics snakebite envenomation immunoreactivity antivenom neutralization |
| title | A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>) |
| title_full | A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>) |
| title_fullStr | A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>) |
| title_short | A Neurotoxic Snake Venom without Phospholipase A<sub>2</sub>: Proteomics and Cross-Neutralization of the Venom from Senegalese Cobra, <i>Naja senegalensis</i> (Subgenus: <i>Uraeus</i>) |
| title_sort | neurotoxic snake venom without phospholipase a sub 2 sub proteomics and cross neutralization of the venom from senegalese cobra i naja senegalensis i subgenus i uraeus i |
| topic | <i>Naja</i> (<i>Uraeus</i>) <i>senegalensis</i> <i>Naja haje</i> complex venomics snakebite envenomation immunoreactivity antivenom neutralization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/1/60 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kinyingwong aneurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT kaeyitan aneurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT ngethongtan aneurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT choohocktan aneurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT kinyingwong neurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT kaeyitan neurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT ngethongtan neurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi AT choohocktan neurotoxicsnakevenomwithoutphospholipaseasub2subproteomicsandcrossneutralizationofthevenomfromsenegalesecobrainajasenegalensisisubgenusiuraeusi |