Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus
Taipans are highly venomous Australo-Papuan elapids. A new species of taipan, the Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis), has been discovered with two specimens housed in captivity at the Adelaide Zoo. This study is the first investigation of O. temporalis venom and seeks to characterise and c...
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MDPI AG
2014-07-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| author | Carmel M. Barber Frank Madaras Richard K. Turnbull Terry Morley Nathan Dunstan Luke Allen Tim Kuchel Peter Mirtschin Wayne C. Hodgson |
| author_facet | Carmel M. Barber Frank Madaras Richard K. Turnbull Terry Morley Nathan Dunstan Luke Allen Tim Kuchel Peter Mirtschin Wayne C. Hodgson |
| author_sort | Carmel M. Barber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Taipans are highly venomous Australo-Papuan elapids. A new species of taipan, the Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis), has been discovered with two specimens housed in captivity at the Adelaide Zoo. This study is the first investigation of O. temporalis venom and seeks to characterise and compare the neurotoxicity, lethality and biochemical properties of O. temporalis venom with other taipan venoms. Analysis of O. temporalis venom using size-exclusion and reverse-phase HPLC indicated a markedly simplified “profile” compared to other taipan venoms. SDS-PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis also indicated a relatively simple composition. Murine LD50 studies showed that O. temporalis venom is less lethal than O. microlepidotus venom. Venoms were tested in vitro, using the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. Based on t90 values, O. temporalis venom is highly neurotoxic abolishing indirect twitches far more rapidly than other taipan venoms. O. temporalis venom also abolished responses to exogenous acetylcholine and carbachol, indicating the presence of postsynaptic neurotoxins. Prior administration of CSL Taipan antivenom (CSL Limited) neutralised the inhibitory effects of all taipan venoms. The results of this study suggest that the venom of the O. temporalis is highly neurotoxic in vitro and may contain procoagulant toxins, making this snake potentially dangerous to humans. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:27:37Z |
| publishDate | 2014-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-96f887ccb1b24ee7a1eba8daf88bf3e92022-12-22T02:22:39ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512014-07-01671979199510.3390/toxins6071979toxins6071979Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its GenusCarmel M. Barber0Frank Madaras1Richard K. Turnbull2Terry Morley3Nathan Dunstan4Luke Allen5Tim Kuchel6Peter Mirtschin7Wayne C. Hodgson8Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, AustraliaVenom Science Pty Ltd, Tanunda, South Australia 5352, AustraliaSA Pathology, IMVS Veterinary Services, Gilles Plains, South Australia 5086, AustraliaAdelaide Zoo, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, AustraliaVenom Supplies, Tanunda, South Australia, South Australia 5352, AustraliaVenom Supplies, Tanunda, South Australia, South Australia 5352, AustraliaSA Pathology, IMVS Veterinary Services, Gilles Plains, South Australia 5086, AustraliaVenom Science Pty Ltd, Tanunda, South Australia 5352, AustraliaMonash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, AustraliaTaipans are highly venomous Australo-Papuan elapids. A new species of taipan, the Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis), has been discovered with two specimens housed in captivity at the Adelaide Zoo. This study is the first investigation of O. temporalis venom and seeks to characterise and compare the neurotoxicity, lethality and biochemical properties of O. temporalis venom with other taipan venoms. Analysis of O. temporalis venom using size-exclusion and reverse-phase HPLC indicated a markedly simplified “profile” compared to other taipan venoms. SDS-PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis also indicated a relatively simple composition. Murine LD50 studies showed that O. temporalis venom is less lethal than O. microlepidotus venom. Venoms were tested in vitro, using the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. Based on t90 values, O. temporalis venom is highly neurotoxic abolishing indirect twitches far more rapidly than other taipan venoms. O. temporalis venom also abolished responses to exogenous acetylcholine and carbachol, indicating the presence of postsynaptic neurotoxins. Prior administration of CSL Taipan antivenom (CSL Limited) neutralised the inhibitory effects of all taipan venoms. The results of this study suggest that the venom of the O. temporalis is highly neurotoxic in vitro and may contain procoagulant toxins, making this snake potentially dangerous to humans.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/6/7/1979Oxyuranus temporalistaipanantivenomneurotoxicitysnakevenom |
| spellingShingle | Carmel M. Barber Frank Madaras Richard K. Turnbull Terry Morley Nathan Dunstan Luke Allen Tim Kuchel Peter Mirtschin Wayne C. Hodgson Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus Toxins Oxyuranus temporalis taipan antivenom neurotoxicity snake venom |
| title | Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus |
| title_full | Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus |
| title_short | Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus |
| title_sort | comparative studies of the venom of a new taipan species oxyuranus temporalis with other members of its genus |
| topic | Oxyuranus temporalis taipan antivenom neurotoxicity snake venom |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/6/7/1979 |
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