Snake population venomics and antivenomics of Bothrops atrox: Paedomorphism along its transamazonian dispersal and implications of geographic venom variability on snakebite management

Evaluation of antifungal activity of snake venoms from the Amazon forest

“…The absence of inhibition against C. albicans ATCC 36232 demonstrated a difference between the two strains, and mechanisms that prevent the binding of specific proteins to the fungal cell membrane is a possible explanation (Maróti et al, 2011;Barbosa et al, 2011). Future works should avoid self-degradation caused by proteases from the venom (Schneiter and Di Pietro, 2013;Röhm et al, 2013) because both venoms presented high concentrations of metalloproteases (Calvete et al, 2011 …”

“…This situation makes such work an important initiative for this line of research in the Amazon region (Núñez et al, 2009;Calvete et al, 2011). The objective of this study was to characterize and evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of crude venom from two amazonian snakes: Bothrops atrox and Crotalus durissus ruruima.…”

Toxicoproteomics in diagnostic toxicology

“…Comparative proteomic analysis of pit viper venom (Bothrops atrox) has been used to show geographic variation in venom phenotypes and to assess antivenin reactivity. The protein toxin phenotype in pit vipers from Colombia and Venezuela were recognized to be typical of the adult phenotype; whereas the toxin phenotype from Brazil resembled that of the juvenile snake (Calvette et al, 2011). The significance of this finding was relevant to the treatment of envenomation by this type of snake, as it was shown that the antivenins used for pit viper snake bites in these regions were more immunoreactive against the venom in the pit vipers with toxin phenotypes similar to juvenile snakes (Brazil region).…”

Stress Ecology of the Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Oreganus and Crotalus Helleri)

“…Phenotypic plasticity of venom composition could contribute to functional variation in prey capture and digestion (Gibbs & Mackessy 2009;Mackessy 1988), differential morbidity of snakebite in humans (Casewell et al 2014;Massey et al 2012;Calvete et al 2011;Wasserberger et al 2006;Bush et al 2002), and the efficacy of antivenom used in treating snakebites from a single species Casewell et al 2014;Núñez et al 2009;Saviola et al 2015). Most known instances of plasticity occur as ontogenetic shifts in venom protein composition, where venoms tend to shift from neurotoxic to myotoxic and proteolytic as snakes age (Alape-Girόn et al 2008;Mackessy et al 1988;Saviola et al 2015).…”

“…For example, variation in venom composition could lead to changes in prey capture success or digestion (Mackessy 1988;Gibbs & Mackessy 2009), variable symptoms from snake envenomation in humans (Bush et al 2002;Wasserberger et al 2006;Calvete et al 2011;Massey et al 2012;Casewell et al 2014), and differences in efficacy of antivenom treatment on snakebites from a single species Casewell et al 2014;Núñez et al 2009;Saviola et al 2015).…”