title: Biochemical characterization of the venom of the coral snake Micrurus tener and comparative biological activities in the mouse and a reptile model.
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify the venom components that could play a relevant role during envenomation caused by the coral snake Micrurus tener, through its biochemical characterization as well as the analysis of its effects on a murine model. Furthermore, it aimed to evaluate crude venom, in addition to its components, for possible specificity of action on a natural prey model (Conopsis lineata). The toxicity of the crude venom (delivered subcutaneously) showed a significant difference between the Median Lethal Dose (LD₅₀) in mice (4.4 μg/g) and in Conopsis lineata (12.1 μg/g) that was not observed when comparing the Median Paralyzing Dose (PD₅₀) values (mice = 4.7 μg/g; snakes = 4.1 μg/g). These results are evidence that the choice of study model strongly influences the apparent effects of crude venom. Moreover, based on the observed physical signs in the animal models, it was concluded that the most important physical effect caused by the venom is flaccid paralysis, which facilitates capture and subduing of prey regardless of whether it is alive; death is a logical consequence of the lack of oxygenation. Venom fractionation using a C18 reverse phase column yielded 35 fractions from which 16.6% caused paralysis and/or death to both animal models, 21.9% caused paralysis and/or death only to C. lineata and 1.6% were murine specific. Surprisingly, the diversity of snake-specific fractions did not reflect a difference between the PD₅₀s of the crude venom in mice and snakes, making it impossible to assume some type of specificity for either of the study models. Finally, the great diversity and abundance of fractions with no observable effect in snakes or mice (42.7%) suggested that the observed lethal fractions are not the only relevant toxic fractions within the venom and emphasized the possible relevance of interaction between components to generate the syndrome caused by the venom as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad # 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, CP: 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Melisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bénard-Valle
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad # 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, CP: 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbajal-Saucedo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Toxinopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Uriburu 950, 5° Piso, CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Roodt
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Circuito Exterior S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegación Coyoacán, CP: 04510 México D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Estuardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Vera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad # 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, CP: 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. Electronic address: alagon@ibt.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alagón
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D017812:Colubridae; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D017815:Elapidae; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004546:Elapid Venoms; C053972:micrurus venom
keywords: Flaccid paralysis; Micrurus tener; Natural prey; Toxicity; Venom specificity