Anti-Lethal Factor From Opossum Serum Is a Potent Antidote for Animal, Plant and Bacterial Toxins

Abstract

Currently, the use of antivenoms is the only available treatment for envenomation caused by venomous animals namely, snake, scorpion, spider, tick and jelly fish. Antivenoms are generally produced in large animals, mostly in horses. A large percentage of the population is allergic to horse proteins. Several animals are known to be resistant to snakebites and the antihemorrhagic and anti-lethal components have been isolated from sera of opossum, mongoose, meerkat and hedgehog, as well as from venomous and non-venomous snakes. Anti-lethal factor named Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor (LTNF) has been isolated in purity from opossum (Didelphis virginiana) serum by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The molecular weight of LTNF is 63 kDa, and it does not form precipitation with venoms or toxins by immunodiffusion. Death due to intraperitoneal (IP) injection of a predetermined lethal dose of venom from major families of snakes, for instance Crotalidae, Elapidae, Viperidae and Hydrophiidae, is prevented in mice by subsequent IP inoculation of LTNF. Furthermore, LTNF neutralizes the lethality of scorpion and bee venoms and toxins from various animals, plants and bacteria. Thus, natural LTNF from opossum serum has potential as a universal therapy for envenomation caused by animals, plants and bacteria

Part 1: Lethal Toxin Neutralizing Factor From Opossum Serum

“…The object of this research is to provide a preparation consisting of a natural lethal toxin neutralizing factor (LTNF) derived from opossum serum that will serve as a relatively universal treatment for envenomation caused by animal, plant, and bacterial toxins (Lipps, 1999). Moreover, the use of LTNF will LTNF from Opossum Serum 83 prevent horse serum sickness.…”

“…Peak number six contains the lethal toxin neutralizing factor. Reproduced from Lipps (1999) with permission of the publisher. Toxin Reviews Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Gazi Univ.…”

“…Reproduced from Lipps (1999) with permission of the publisher. determined using C. atrox venom injected IP in mice.…”

“…Lane 1: Purified lethal toxin neutralizer factor; Lane 2: Whole opossum serum; and Lane 3: molecular weight markers. Reproduced from Lipps (1999) with permission of the publisher. a lethal dose of venom, as documented in Table 6.…”

Process for production and purification of lethal toxin neutralizing factor (LTNF) from E. coli and its economic analysis

“…Interestingly, the first 15 amino acids of the N‐terminal sequence of the full protein were found to contain the activity of the complete protein. Since the opossums are known to possess a natural protection from snake bites, LTNF was examined and shown to be capable of neutralizing the toxic effects of venom from various snakes, insects, plant and bacterial derived toxins . From a digest of the LTNF protein, researchers have reported that the N‐terminal portion (10–15 amino acids) of the protein maintained the potency of the full protein when administered to mice …”