title: A natural anatoxin, Amm VIII, induces neutralizing antibodies against the potent scorpion alpha-toxins.
abstract: In this study, we have used Amm VIII, a natural anatoxin from the scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus, to elicit specific polyclonal antibodies in rabbit. Using liquid-phase radioimmunoassay, we have studied its selectivity and its neutralizing activity both in vitro and in vivo for the most lethal scorpion alpha-toxins described, in particular the alpha-toxin of reference AaH II. We have shown that the anti-Amm VIII serum prevents the association of 125I-AaH II with its receptor and is able to remove 125I-AaH II already bound to its site (the half-life of the complex 125I-AaH II-receptor site was 12 min in the absence of anti-Amm VIII serum but decreased to only 2 min in the presence of anti-Amm VIII serum). In vivo, the serum also has a protective effect in mice: 42 LD50 of AaH II by millilitre are neutralized, measured by subcutaneous injection.
authors.affiliation: CNRS FRE 2738, IFR Jean-Roche, Université de la Méditerranée, Faculté de Médecine Secteur Nord, Bd Pierre Dramard, 13916 Marseille, Cedex 20, France. eauclaire.mf@jean-roche.univ-mrs.fr
authors.forename: M-F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Martin-Eauclaire
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giamarchi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Missimilli
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bougis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012605:Scorpions / Q000737:chemistry*; D014121:Toxoids / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C484037:Amm VIII toxin, Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus; D000906:Antibodies; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D014121:Toxoids; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic