Comparative study of the edema-inducing activity of snake venoms

1. The edema-inducing activity of 24 venoms from snakes of the subfamilies of Elapinae, Hydrophiini, Crotalinae and Viperinae was determined. 2. All snake venoms tested are very potent edema inducers. The minimum edema doses of the venoms ranged from 0.16 to 3.41 micrograms per mouse paw. 3. The venoms induced a rapid onset edema which peaked within 1 h of injection and declined thereafter; at low dose, however, some venoms induced a rapid onset edema that sustained over a longer duration.     

蛇毒抗菌的比较性研究

目的 研究蛇毒粗毒的抗菌作用,并比较不同蛇毒对不同细菌的抑制效果.方法 采用抑菌环法测定蛇岛蝮、江浙蝮和短尾蝮蛇毒粗毒对金黄色葡萄球菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌以及白色念珠菌的抗菌作用,比较不同蛇毒粗毒的抗菌效果;加入过氧化氢酶(catalase),考察蛇毒抗菌作用的变化.结果 (1)3种蛇毒粗毒对5种细菌均呈现不同程度的抑制作用.(2)3种蛇毒粗毒对5种细菌的抑制作用大小依次为:金黄色葡萄球菌＞白色念珠菌＞大肠埃希菌或铜绿假单胞菌＞枯草芽孢杆菌.(3)加入catalase后,蛇毒的抗菌作用明显减弱.结论 (1)3种蛇毒粗毒均具有一定的抗菌作用,并具有明显抑菌选择性.(2)3种蛇毒的抗菌效果不同,蛇岛蝮蛇抗菌作用最强.(3) catalase能显著降低蛇毒的抗菌活性,表明L-氨基酸氧化酶是蛇毒起抗菌作用的主要成分.     

A comparative study on the electrophoretic patterns of snake venoms.

1. Examination of the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (PAGE) and SDS-PAGE patterns of snake venoms shows that these patterns are useful for species differentiation (and hence identification) for snakes of certain genera but have only limited application for snakes from some other genera, due either to the marked individual variations in the venoms or the lack of marked interspecific differences within the same genus. 2. There is no substantial intersubspecific difference in the electrophoretic patterns of the venoms. 3. In general there are no common characteristics in the electrophoretic patterns of the venom at the generic level because of the wide variations in the electrophoretic patterns of venoms of snakes within the same genus. 4. At the familial level, the venoms of Elapidae exhibited SDS-PAGE patterns distinct from those of Crotalidae.     

Enzymes of snake venoms

Snakes' venom is a mixture of biologically active substances, containing proteins and peptides. A number of these proteins interact with haemostasis system components. Activators and inhibitors affecting blood coagulation and fibrinolysis systems are of special interest. Venom components can be classified into three main groups, such as procoagulants, anticoagulants and fibrinolytic enzymes according to their action. This review is focused on enzymes from Agkistrodon halys halys venom. They are thrombine-like enzyme, named Ancystron-H, flbrinogenolytic enzyme, protein C activator and platelet aggregation inhibitor. Ancystron-H is used for determination of fibrinogen level in blood plasma of patients undergoing heparin treatment and blood coagulation inhibitors accumulation. The fibrinogenolytic enzyme can be used as the instrument for protein-protein interactions in fibrinogen-fibrin system. The protein C activator is used for protein C level determination in blood plasma with different pathologies. Functions of the platelet aggregation inhibitor, belonging to disintegrins group, can be used for development of antithrombotic preparations. Information about the use of snake venoms in science and medicine is presented.