title: Anti-Trimeresurus albolabris venom IgY antibodies: preparation, purification and neutralization efficacy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Snakebite incidence in southwestern China is mainly attributed to one of the several venomous snakes found in the country, the white-lipped green pit viper Trimeresurus albolabris. Since antivenom produced from horses may cause numerous clinical side effects, the present study was conducted aiming to develop an alternative antivenom antibody (immunoglobulin Y - IgY) from leghorn chickens.
  
  
  METHODS
  IgY in egg yolk from white leghorn chicken previously injected with T. albolabris venom was extracted by water, precipitated by ammonium sulfate and purified by affinity chromatographic system. IgY was identified by SDS-PAGE, ELISA and Western blot, and its neutralizing assay was conducted on mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chickens injected multiple times with T. albolabris venom elicited strong antibody responses, and from their egg yolk IgY was isolated and purified, which exhibited a single protein band on SDS-PAGE and two bands (about 65 and 35 kDa, respectively) under reduced conditions. Immunoblot analysis revealed that these IgY are polyclonal antibodies since they bind with most venom components. In the neutralizing assay, all mice survived while the ratios of IgY/venom reached up to 3.79 (50.0 mg/13.2 mg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IgY antibody response was successfully conducted in white leghorn chicken injected with T. albolabris venom. IgY against T. albolabris venom was obtained for the first time, and it exhibited strong neutralizing potency on mice. These results may lay a foundation for the development of IgY antivenom with clinical applications in the future.
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Hai-Long
authors: HL
authors: Duan
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Qi-Yi
authors: QY
authors: He
authors: Library, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Zhou
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Wen-Wen
authors: WW
authors: Wang
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Ying-Zheng
authors: YZ
authors: Zhang
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Qiu-Ping
authors: QP
authors: Deng
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Ying-Feng
authors: YF
authors: Zhang
authors: Animal Toxin Group, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Bioactive Substance, Engineering Research Center of Active Substance and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331 China.
authors: Xiao-Dong
authors: XD
authors: Yu
keywords: Egg yolk; IgY; LD50; Snake venom; Trimeresurus albolabris