Micrurus spixii (PERUVIAN CORAL SNAKE) VENOM - PRELIMINARY BIOCHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

Micrurus spixii venom was studied after fractionation by Sephadex G-100 SF gel filtration chromatography. Several enzymatic activities and biological effects were investigated in whole venom and fractions. The venom was resolved in four peaks in a range of about 73.2-10.7 kDa molecular weight. Alkaline phosphatase and acetylcholinesterase activities were found in peak I, and procoagulant activity was seen in peak II. Phospholipase A2, hemorrhagic, and proteolytic activities were detected in peak III. A second procoagulant factor and proteinase were present in peak IV. Thrombin-like enzyme and direct hemolytic activities were not found in any assayed samples

Biological and molecular properties of yellow venom of the Amazonian coral snake Micrurus surinamensis

“…M. surinamensis venom exhibited high neurotoxicity, causing death via respiratory paralysis within minutes of injection. Toxins present in Micrurus venoms generally do not cause localized or systemic bleeding and induce mild myonecrosis 48,11 , while M. surinamensis venom is not known to induce myotoxicity, hemorrhage, or edema 49 . At high concentrations, M. altirostris venom does not cause bleeding, dermonecrosis, or coagulant activity 37 ; venoms of M. averyi and M. fulvius cause hemorrhaging, renal damage, and severe inflammation 49,50 .…”

Envenomation by the red-tailed coral snake (Micrurus mipartitus) in Colombia

“…Envenomation caused by snake venoms remains a neglected public health problem in most tropical countries. A better understanding of the venoms and clinical aspects of snakebites facilitates the prevention and management of the victims [ 1 , 2 ]. Colombia has a rich fauna of reptiles, particularly venomous snakes.…”