Citation

Costal-Oliveira F, Duarte CG, Machado de Avila R, Melo MM, Bordon KCF, Arantes EC, Paredes NC, Tintaya B, Bonilla C, Bonilla RE, Suarez WS, Yarleque A, Fernandez JM, Kalapothakis E, Chávez-Olórtegui C. Toxicon 2012; 60(5): 934-942.

Affiliation

Departamentos de Bioquímica e Imunologia, 31270-901 Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.06.013

PMID

22750532

Abstract

This communication describes the general biochemical properties and some immunological characteristics of the venom from the Peruvian scorpion Hadruroides lunatus, which is the most medically relevant species in Peru. The soluble venom of this scorpion is toxic to mice, the LD(50) determined was 0.1 mg/ Kg and 21.55 mg/Kg when the venom was injected intracranial or intraperitoneally, respectively. The soluble venom displayed proteolytic, hyaluronidasic, phospholipasic and cardiotoxic activities. High performance liquid chromatography of the soluble venom resulted in the separation of 20 fractions. Two peptides with phospholipasic activity were isolated to homogeneity and their molecular masses determined by mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF). Anti-H.lunatus venom sera were produced in rabbits. Western blotting analysis showed that most of the protein content of this venom is immunogenic. H. lunatus anti-venom displayed consistent cross-reactivity with venom antigens from the new World-scorpions Tityus serrulatus and Centruroides sculpturatus venoms; however, a weaker reactivity was observed against the venom antigens from the old Word-scorpion Androctonus australis Hector.

Language: en