title: Immunized camel sera and derived immunoglobulin subclasses neutralizing Androctonus australis hector scorpion toxins.
abstract: Scorpion envenoming is a real health problem. The only specific treatment is immunotherapy with antibodies from immunized horses. The severity of scorpion envenoming and the rapid diffusion of the toxins into the blood compartment require an improvement of the present antivenom therapy. In this study, we report successful immunization of dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) against the small weakly antigenic neurotoxins of Androctonus australis hector scorpion. Camel immune sera was tested for its specific antigenic reactivity and neutralizing capacity against Aah toxic fraction and AahII toxin. We demonstrate that a substantial proportion of polyclonal heavy chain antibodies bind to Aah toxins and in particular to AahII, the most toxic one scorpion venom component. Furthermore, we show that both dromedary sera and heavy chain antibody subclasses are capable of neutralizing the toxicity of Aah toxins in mice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Venins et Toxines, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP-74, 13 Place Pasteur BP74, Tuni Belvedere 1002, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meddeb-Mouelhi
authors.forename: Balkiss
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bouhaouala-Zahar
authors.forename: Zakaria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Benlasfar
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammadi
authors.forename: Thouraya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mejri
authors.forename: Mekki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moslah
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karoui
authors.forename: Touhami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khorchani
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Ayeb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000997:Antivenins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002162:Camelus / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D065008:Scorpion Stings / Q000628:therapy; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D012605:Scorpions
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000997:Antivenins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009498:Neurotoxins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms