title: Deciphering the venomic transcriptome of killer-wasp Vespa velutina.
abstract: Wasp stings have been arising to be a severe public health problem in China in recent years. However, molecular information about lethal or toxic factors in wasp venom is extremely lacking. In this study, we used two pyrosequencing platforms to analyze the transcriptome of Vespa velutina, the most common wasp species native in China. Besides the substantial amount of transcripts encoding for allergens usually regarded as the major lethal factor of wasp sting, a greater abundance of hemostasis-impairing toxins and neurotoxins in the venom of V. velutina were identified, implying that toxic reactions and allergic effects are envenoming strategy for the dangerous outcomes. The pattern of differentially expressed genes before and after venom extraction clearly indicates that the manifestation of V. velutina stings depends on subtle regulations in the metabolic pathway required for toxin recruitment. This comparative analysis offers timely clues for developing clinical treatments for wasp envenoming in China and around the world.
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Shanghai University, Nanchen Road 333, Shanghai 200444, P.R. China [2] Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, South Chongqing Road 280, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhirui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Shanghai University, Nanchen Road 333, Shanghai 200444, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuanggang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Shanghai University, Nanchen Road 333, Shanghai 200444, P.R. China.
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jie Fang Avenue, Hankou, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Cuihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jie Fang Avenue, Hankou, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Bifeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Shanghai University, Nanchen Road 333, Shanghai 200444, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Shanghai University, Nanchen Road 333, Shanghai 200444, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shupeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jie Fang Avenue, Hankou, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, South Chongqing Road 280, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongzhuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, Shanghai University, Nanchen Road 333, Shanghai 200444, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015723:Gene Library; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014863:Wasps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014118:Toxins, Biological; D014862:Wasp Venoms