后毒牙类毒蛇

长期以来,人们仅把具有沟牙和管牙的蛇视为毒蛇,然而,近年来发现游蛇科中的虎斑颈槽蛇、红脖颈槽蛇、颈棱蛇、赤链蛇等既无管牙,也无沟牙,却频频发生这类蛇咬伤人后引起中毒的事例,甚至出现被咬伤致严重出血休克死亡的事件。经深入研究后发现,这些蛇虽没有沟牙和管牙,但却具有产生毒性分泌物的毒腺—杜氏腺(Duvernoy′s gland)及皮下腺,且不同的毒腺具有不同的毒性作用,可表现为出血不止、溶血、呼吸困难、肾损害等。这类蛇与毒腺的导管有联系的上颌牙明显粗大,上颌牙与上颌骨、横骨连接牢固,毒腺里的毒液可顺着粗大的上颌牙流入伤口,因此,应视为"后毒牙类毒蛇"。     

蛇毒抗肿瘤作用研究进展

蛇毒含有多种酶类和毒性蛋白,具有广泛的生物学活性。对蛇毒各种组分的研究,发现蛇毒具有抗血栓,止血,镇痛及抗肿瘤的作用。本就其抗肿瘤方面的研究进展进行了综述,介绍了蛇毒的抑瘤机制,抑瘤活性成分的分离纯化,理化特性及研究方向和应用前景。     

蛇毒类凝血酶的分子生物学研究进展及其应用

蛇毒类凝血酶在体外可以作用于纤维蛋白原使其凝固,具有类似凝血酶的功能。但在体内却表现出抗凝、降纤的功能。本概述了蛇毒类凝血酶对纤维蛋白原的识别和作用、序列同源性特点、cDNA克隆的表达以及在临床中的应用。     

四种圆斑蝰蛇蛇毒对血小板聚集抑制作用的比较研究

对四种不同来源的RVV对ADP、Col和Ris诱导的血小板聚集抑制作用进行比较研究。RVV-B,RVVS和RVV-Styp对三种诱导剂的血小板聚集均有抑制作用,而RVV-T虽有ADP和Col抑制作用,但缺乏对Ris的抑制活性。预先与RVV孵育的血小板经洗涤后重新悬浮于自身PPP中,与RVV-StyP孵育的血小板完全恢复对Ris的凝集反应,而与RVV-B和RVV-S孵育的血小板仅部分恢复其反应。上述结果表明,在RVV中可能含有二种不同的血小板聚集抑制活性,而其抑制机理可能牵涉到血小板、血浆等因素。     

蝮蛇毒蛋白C激活成份的柱层析分离及生物学性质

本文以浙江产蝮蛇毒为材料,经ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００和ＤＥＡＥ－ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＡ５０二次柱层析,分离到的峰Ⅱ蛋白组份具有强烈抗血液凝固活性,并能够激活人血浆中的蛋白Ｃ,特异地使发色底物分解而产生颜色,生色反应光密度变化确定峰Ⅱ组份激活作用的大小。峰Ⅱ组份无直接生色作用,其激活血浆蛋白Ｃ的反应曲线类似国外同类产品Ｐｒｏｔａｃ,与激活物的蛋白浓度和血浆浓度成正比关系,但激活作用较Ｐｒｏｔａｃ弱。     

竹叶青属毒蛇的毒素研究进展

蛇毒含多种生物活性成分,其中多数为酶类和活性肽类。随着蛇毒毒理学、药物学、生物化学和分子生物学的发展,蛇毒的许多组分已得到分离纯化和序列测定,并广泛应用于理论研究和临床应用。竹叶青蛇属是中国常见的毒蛇,近年来对其应用研究的报道颇多,就竹叶青属毒蛇的种类与分布,及其蛇毒组分的分离纯化、理化性质、分子克隆表达等方面的研究资料进行了概括和综述。     

大胡蜂蜂毒中多肽和蛋白质结构和功能的多样性

为证明大胡蜂Vespa magnifica(Smith)蜂毒具有较大的药用开发价值,本研究采用超高效液相色谱-质谱和电泳技术对其多肽和蛋白质的分布进行分析,发现其蛋白质的相对分子质量主要分布在17~45kDa范围内。蜂毒多肽类物质的相对分子质量呈"单峰"式分布,61%在500~3000Da范围内,为大胡蜂蜂毒中多肽含量最为丰富的部分。通过牛津杯法对蜂毒的抑菌活性进行研究,且以HepG2人肝癌细胞及B16黑色素瘤细胞为研究对象,用MTT法检测蜂毒的细胞毒性活性,证明其具有良好的抑菌作用和细胞毒活性,其结果与已报道的其他蜂类既有相似性又存在具体差异,展示了大胡蜂蜂毒的分子多样性,为后续该毒素的物质基础研究及药用价值开发提供参考。     

Proteomics analysis to compare the venom composition between Naja naja and Naja kaouthia from the same geographical location of eastern India: Correlation with pathophysiology of envenomation and immunological cross-reactivity towards commercial polyantivenom

ABSTRACT

Background : Cobra bite is frequently reported across the Indian subcontinent and is associated with a high rate of death and morbidity. In eastern India (EI) Naja naja and Naja kaouthia are reported to be the two most abundant species of cobra.

Research design and methods : The venom proteome composition of N. naja (NnV) and N. kaouthia (NkV) from Burdwan districts of EI were compared by separation of venom proteins by 1D-SDS-PAGE followed by LC-MS/MS analysis of protein bands. The potency of commercial polyantivenom (PAV) was assessed by neutralization, ELISA, immuno-blot and venom-PAV immunoaffinity chromatography studies.

Results : Proteomic analysis identified 52 and 55 proteins for NnV and NkV, respectively, when searched against the Elapidae database. A small quantitative difference in venom composition between these two species of cobra was observed. PAVs exhibited poor cross-reactivity against low molecular mass toxins (<20 kDa) of both cobra venoms, which was substantiated by a meager neutralization of their phospholipase A₂ activity. Phospholipase A₂ and 3FTx, the two major classes of nonenzymatic and enzymatic proteins, respectively, were partially recognized by PAVs.

Conclusions : Efforts must be made to improve immunization protocols and supplement existing antivenoms with antibodies raised against the major toxins of these venoms.     

Phylogeography and Pleistocene refugia of the adder (Vipera berus) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data

In order to contribute to the debate about southern glacial refugia used by temperate species and more northern refugia used by boreal or cold-temperate species, we examined the phylogeography of a widespread snake species (Vipera berus) inhabiting Europe up to the Arctic Circle. The analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation in 1043 bp of the cytochrome b gene and in 918 bp of the noncoding control region was performed with phylogenetic approaches. Our results suggest that both the duplicated control region and cytochrome b evolve at a similar rate in this species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that V. berus is divided into three major mitochondrial lineages, probably resulting from an Italian, a Balkan and a Northern (from France to Russia) refugial area in Eastern Europe, near the Carpathian Mountains. In addition, the Northern clade presents an important substructure, suggesting two sequential colonization events in Europe. First, the continent was colonized from the three main refugial areas mentioned above during the Lower-Mid Pleistocene. Second, recolonization of most of Europe most likely originated from several refugia located outside of the Mediterranean peninsulas (Carpathian region, east of the Carpathians, France and possibly Hungary) during the Mid-Late Pleistocene, while populations within the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas fluctuated only slightly in distribution range, with larger lowland populations during glacial times and with refugial mountain populations during interglacials, as in the present time. The phylogeographical structure revealed in our study suggests complex recolonization dynamics of the European continent by V. berus, characterized by latitudinal as well as altitudinal range shifts, driven by both climatic changes and competition with related species.     

The venom and venom apparatus of the sea snake Lapemis hardwicki Gray

The venom apparatus of Lapemis hardwicki , consisting of two functional fangs, their venom glands, and associated musculature, are described. The yield of venom per snake ranged from 2.4-5.2 mg. The LD₅₀ of the crude venom varied from 0.7-1.4 mg/kg intravenously in mice. The toxicological, chemical and immunological properties of the venom are discussed.     

Proteome analysis of snake venom toxins: pharmacological insights

Snake venoms are an extremely rich source of pharmacologically active proteins with a considerable clinical and medical potential. To date, this potential has not been fully explored, mainly because of our incomplete knowledge of the venom proteome and the pharmacological properties of its components, in particular those devoid of enzymatic activity. This review summarizes the latest achievements in the determination of snake venom proteome, based primarily on the development of new strategies and techniques. Detailed knowledge of the venom toxin composition and biological properties of the protein constituents should provide the scaffold for the design of new more effective drugs for the treatment of the hemostatic system and heart disorders, inflammation, cancer and consequences of snake bites, as well as new tools for clinical diagnostic and assays of hemostatic parameters.     

半夏和滴水珠抗五步蛇毒中毒作用的实验研究

目的研究滴水珠与半夏生药及其提取物抗五步蛇毒的作用。方法将ICR小鼠随机分为半夏生药组、半夏醇提物组、滴水珠生药组、滴水珠醇提物组、空白对照组、阳性对照组及模型组,各组小鼠均灌胃给药7天,并观察各给药组小鼠的体重变化情况;在末次给药1h后于小鼠腹腔注射五步蛇毒,观察各组小鼠的中毒表现,并统计各组小鼠的死亡率,比较各组小鼠的肝脏指数、脾脏指数及胸腺指数,并对各组小鼠血浆纤维蛋白原（FIB）、血浆凝血酶原时间（PT）、凝血酶时间（TT）、活化部分凝血酶时间（APTT）以及血小板（PLT）、红细胞（RBC）和白细胞（WBC）计数进行比较。结果半夏和滴水珠醇提物、半夏和滴水珠生药均可降低五步蛇毒中毒小鼠的死亡率,对五步蛇毒引起的小鼠PT、TT、APTT上升和FIB下降具有显著的抑制作用,与模型组相比P〈0.05;并可影响五步蛇毒中毒小鼠外周血血小板（PLT）、红细胞（RBC）和白细胞（WBC）计数,与模型组相比P〈0.05。但滴水珠和半夏生药可引起小鼠体重下降,并影响肝脏、胸腺和脾脏指数,与空白对照组相比P〈0.05。结论半夏和滴水珠醇提物及半夏和滴水珠生药均具有一定的抗五步蛇毒作用,乙醇提取能降低半夏和滴水珠的毒性。     

Venoms, venomics, antivenomics

Venoms comprise mixtures of peptides and proteins tailored by Natural Selection to act on vital systems of the prey or victim. Here we review our proteomic protocols for uncoiling the composition, immunological profile, and evolution of snake venoms. Our long-term goal is to gain a deep insight of all viperid venom proteomes. Knowledge of the inter- and intraspecies ontogenetic, individual, and geographic venom variability has applied importance for the design of immunization protocols aimed at producing more effective polyspecific antivenoms. A practical consequence of assessing the cross-reactivity of heterologous antivenoms is the possibility of circumventing the restricted availability of species-specific antivenoms in some regions. Further, the high degree of target specificity makes toxins valuable scaffolds for drug development.     

Crystal structure determination of alkaline haemorrhagin AaHⅢ from snake venom of Agkistrodon acutus

The haemorrhagin AaH III isolated from the snake venom ofAgkistrodon acutus is one of the few alkaline ones in snake venoms. Its crystals belong to space group P2₁2₁2₁ witha = 9. 573 4 nm,b = 4. 996 7 nm andc = 4.728 8 nm. Its crystal structure was determined by the molecular replacement method according to the model of metalloproteinase Adamalysin II from eastern rattlesnake venom. The AaH III structure has been refined by PROLSQ. The finalR factor was 0.254 and the RMS deviations of bond lengths and angles were 0.001 8 nm and 1.5°. The structure comparison suggested that AaH III has a similar structure to other snake venom zinc-metalloproteinases. They all belong to matrix metalloproteinases super-family. Project supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules and State Education Commission of China.     

When do meadow vipers (Vipera ursinii) become sexually dimorphic? – ontogenetic patterns of sexual size dimorphisms

Contrary to an increasing number of papers that document sexual dimorphism in size (and/or shape) in adults, studies dealing with sex differences in newborn and juvenile snakes are surprisingly scarce. Data about ontogenetic shifts in sexual dimorphism are generally lacking and hence, it is unclear whether sex differences are set at birth or arise post‐natally. In this study, we analyzed patterns of sexual dimorphism in body size, head dimensions and tail length (TL) among newborn, subadult and adult meadow vipers (Vipera ursinii) from the Bjelasica Mt. in Montenegro. Patterns of sexual size dimorphisms differed among traits. There was no significant difference in head dimension of males and females, but adult snakes were sexually dimorphic in body size. Sexual differences in TL were evident since birth but changed in degree throughout ontogeny. Neonate meadow vipers presented highly significant inter‐litter variation in the sexual dimorphism of all traits we have measured. Such family effects may have an important influence on extent of inter‐sexual differences in snakes and should be included in analyses of sexual dimorphism.