title: Production and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Bothrops asper (terciopelo) myotoxin.
abstract: Seven murine monoclonal antibodies against Bothrops asper myotoxin were produced and partially characterized. They revealed the presence of at least four cross-reacting basic components in crude venom, with a common subunit mol. wt of 16,000 by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but slight differences in charge. These myotoxin-related components might be isoforms of the toxin. By Western blotting and enzyme-immunoassay binding techniques, differences in the reactivities with basic venom fractions were observed among monoclonal antibodies, suggesting differences in epitope specificities. Three antibodies cross-reacted with B. nummifer crude venom. Two monoclonal antibodies were utilized to develop a two-site enzyme-immunoassay for myotoxin detection at the nanogram level. Three of the antibodies (one IgM and two IgG1) showed ability to neutralize myotoxicity of purified myotoxin in preincubation type experiments.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D014118:Toxins, Biological