Cross-reactivities of monoclonal antibodies to a myotoxin from the venom of the broad-banded copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus).
A panel of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for a 14,500 mol. wt myotoxin of Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus (broad-banded copperhead) venom was produced by cell fusion using the purified toxin as immunogen. The MAbs were used in immunoblotting and ELISA experiments to determine their immunological cross-reactivities. The three MAbs used in this study showed different immunoblotting and ELISA patterns when they were tested against 43 related and unrelated venom samples, indicating that they are specific for three different epitopes. MAb-42a specifically reacted with 50% of Agkistrodon venoms tested without cross-reacting with venoms of closely related species. This MAb reacted with venoms collected from Agkistrodon specimens from Florida, Kansas and Texas, but did not react with those from Louisiana, South Carolina, Ohio, New York or Mexico. MAb-6a showed similar reactivity but did react with venoms of snakes from Mexico. These results clearly indicate a geographical variation of the epitopes present in the myotoxin. Another antibody, MAb-18a, recognized an epitope present in the 14,500 mol. wt protein of all Agkistrodon venoms tested, but also reacted weakly with non-14,500 proteins from some Crotalus and Bothrops venoms tested. Both MAb-6a and MAb-18a neutralized the toxin-induced myonecrosis, but MAb-42a did not. Based on these results, the 14,500 mol. wt protein could serve as a general marker for venoms from snakes in the genus Agkistrodon found in North America.
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Department of Physiological Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078.
Colberg
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Ownby
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D013045:Species Specificity
C031442:Agkistrodon venoms; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D000939:Epitopes