Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) envenomation is a major health problem in South East Asia. During envenomation, venom components mainly affect the hemostatic system. The sera from the North American Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were able to neutralize the venom of the Malayan pit viper. These natural inhibitors could be explored as potential therapeutics against envenomations of a variety of venomous snake species in different geographical habitats.
ABSTRACT:The Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) is a snake found in most of Southeast Asia. The snake's venom contains proteins with various biological effects. In this study, proteins from Malayan pit viper venom were analysed by electrophoresis titration (ET) and two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D gel). In addition, venom proteins were separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) connected to a hydrophobic interactive chromatography (HIC) column. Fractions collected from HPLC were tested for biological activities. As the result, the ET profile showed that crude venom consisted of both positively and negatively charged proteins. Most of the 191 protein spots found on 2-D gel of crude venom have an isoelectric point in the range 4.5-5.5. After HPLC, eighteen fractions were eluted from HIC column. Each fraction was tested for fibrinolytic, haemorrhagic, gelatinase, and disintegrin activities. Both fibrinolytic and haemorrhagic fractions showed gelatinase activity as well, while the fibrinolytic fraction had no haemorrhagic activity. Our results are valuable to venom research and drug discovery.
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