Antigenic cross-reactivity between sixteen venoms from scorpions belonging to six genera.
Venoms of 15 scorpion species from Venezuela and one from Brazil were compared in their antigenic cross-reactivity with specific F(ab')2 against Tityus discrepans (Td-antibodies), using the method of King and collaborators (1). Our results show that Tityus venoms cross-reactivity (shared epitopes) with the venoms of other species within the genus tended to be less for a greater distance between the habitat of the species. A nonparametric linear regression of free Td-antibody binding to T. discrepans venom immobilized to a solid phase in the presence of other Tityus venoms versus distance showed binding = a + b x log10 (distance) where: median (95% confidence interval) for a = 0.92 (7.43, 9.80) and b = 17.20 (4.15, 22.57) binding/log10(Km); Spearman rS = 0.783 with associated P = 0.006. Our results show that toxins from different Tityus species, targeting mammalian Na+ and K+ channels, are antigenically very similar. Venoms from species from other genera such as Centruroides, Broteas, Diplocentrus, Chactas, and Rhopalurus did not cross-react with Td-antibodies.
D'Suze
G
G
Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Lab. de Neurofarmacología Celular, Caracas, Venezuela. gdsuze@ivic.ve
Moncada
S
S
González
C
C
Sevcik
C
C
Alagón
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D012605:Scorpions / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity
D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D012604:Scorpion Venoms