title: Coral snake antivenom produced in chickens (Gallus domesticus).
abstract: The production of anti-snake venom from large mammal's blood has been found to be low-yielding and arduous, consequently, antivenom immunoglobulins for treatment are achieved regularly as polyvalent serum. We have standardized an undemanding technique for making purified immunoglobulin IgY antivenom consisting of polyclonal antibodies against coral snake venom in the egg yolk of immunized hens. We have adapted a reported process of antibody purification from egg yolks, and achieved 90% antibody purity. The customized technique consisted of the removal of lipids from distilled water-diluted egg yolks by a freeze-thaw sequence. The specific immunoglobulins were present in the egg yolk for up to 180 days postimmunization. Therefore, by means of small venom quantities, a significant amount of immunoglobulins were found in an adequately purified state (The obtained material contained about 90% pure IgY). The antigen binding of the immunoglobulins was detected by a double immunodiffusion test. Titers of antibodies in the yolk were estimated with a serum protection assay (Median effective dose = ED50) (ED50= 477 mg/kg). Given that breeding hens is economically feasible, egg gathering is noninvasive and the purification of IgY antibodies is quick and easy, chicken immunization is an excellent alternative for the production of polyclonal antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first coral snake antivenom prepared in birds.
authors.affiliation: Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: the Department of Chemistry, National Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, KingsvilleTexas, U.S.A, National Natural Toxins Research Center and the Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Elda E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Girón
authors.affiliation: Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Amalid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estrella
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiopatología, Centro de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología, Centro de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Belsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, Immunochemistry Section, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: F Alexis
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Acosta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002645:Chickens; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000276:immunology*; D017815:Elapidae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; C016512:IgY; D007136:Immunoglobulins