Toxicity and immunogenicity of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom treated with different doses of gamma rays.
Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (CDT venom) was irradiated with four different doses of gamma rays (2, 3, 5 and 10 kGy) from a 60Co source and their structural, toxic and immunogenic properties were analysed. Venom irradiated with 2 and 3 kGy were, respectively, 2.7 and 13.5 times less toxic than the native one, whereas the 5 or 10 kGy irradiated venom were at least 100 times less toxic than nonirradiated venom. Irradiated venom with all doses were immunogenic and the antibodies elicited by them were able to recognise the native venom in ELISA. However the toxoid produced with 2 kGy irradiation dose had its immunogenicity improved. Antisera raised against this toxoid had a higher neutralising capacity than those produced against the native venom. Irradiation of venom with 2 kGy dose was the most effective to inactivate the CDT venom toxicity and improve its immunogenicity.
Supervisão de Radiobiologia, Coordenadoria de Bioengenharia, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares/Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
P B
PB
Clissa
N
N
do Nascimento
J R
JR
Rogero
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D017839:Crotalus / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000633:toxicity*; D015996:Survival Rate
D007106:Immune Sera; D012910:Snake Venoms