title: Can anti-bothropstoxin-I antibodies discriminate betweenBothrops jararacaandBothrops jararacussuvenoms?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Snakes of the genusBothrops, popularly known as pit vipers, are responsible for most cases of snakebite in Brazil. Within this genus,Bothrops jararacussuandB. jararacadeserve special attention due to the severity of their bites and for inhabiting densely populated areas. Regarding the treatment of snakebites byBothrops jararacussu, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the specific bothropic antivenom in neutralizing myotoxic effects; however, there are no accurate data for humans. Thus, the development of a differential diagnostic kit for this species would be of great interest because it provides, for healthcare professionals, a tool that would allow us to determine whether the accident was caused byB. jararacussuor other species of the genus. It would also make it possible to evaluate the specificity of the treatment and to provide data for epidemiological studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, we produced a species-specific polyclonal antibody - a potential biomarker ofBothrops jararacussuvenom - against bothropstoxin-I (BthTx-I), which is also found in smaller quantities in the venoms ofB. jararacafrom southern Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Polyclonal antibodies against bothropstoxin-I could be separated into several species-specific immunoglobulins. Then, aiming to develop a system of safe and standardized immunoassay, we produced monoclonal antibodies. Seven hybridomas were obtained. Five of them were specific to the venom ofB. jararacussuand two recognized the venom ofB. jararacafrom the southeastern population. The use of monoclonal antibodies also made it possible to differentiateB. jararacussufromB. jararacavenom obtained from the southern population. Analyzing the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against other bothropic venoms, we found mAb Bt-3 to be more specific than others forB. jararacussuvenom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show the potential of BthTx-I for producing monoclonal antibodies that differentiate betweenB. jararacussuand otherBothropsspecies venoms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.|Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Teixeira
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.|Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corrêa-Netto
authors.affiliation: Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil.
authors.forename: Leonora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brazil-Más
authors.affiliation: Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brasil.
authors.forename: Caio Raony Farina
authors.initials: CRF
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brasil.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.
authors.forename: Russolina Benedeta
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zingali
keywords: Bothrops jararaca; Bothrops jararacussu; Bothropstoxin-I; Monoclonal antibodies; Species specificity