Citation

Buch DR, Souza FN, Meissner GO, Morgon AM, Gremski LH, Ferrer VP, Trevisan-Silva D, Matsubara FH, Bóia-Ferreira M, Sade YB, Chaves-Moreira D, Gremski W, Veiga SS, Chaim OM, Senff-Ribeiro A. Toxicon 2015; 108: 154-166.

Affiliation

Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: senffribeiro@ufpr.br.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.09.041

PMID

26474948

Abstract

Loxosceles spiders are responsible for serious human envenomations worldwide. The collection of symptoms found in victims after accidents is called loxoscelism and is characterized by two clinical conditions: cutaneous loxoscelism and systemic loxocelism. The only specific treatment is serum therapy, in which an antiserum produced with Loxosceles venom is administered to the victims after spider accidents. Our aim was to improve our knowledge, regarding the immunological relationship among toxins from the most epidemiologic important species in Brazil (L. intermedia, L. gaucho and L. laeta). Immunoassays using spider venoms and L. intermedia recombinant toxins were performed and their cross-reactivity assessed. The biological conservation of the main Loxosceles toxins (Phospholipases-D, Astacin-like metalloproteases, Hyaluronidase, ICK-insecticide peptide and TCTP-histamine releasing factor) were investigated. An in silico analysis of the putative epitopes was performed and is discussed on the basis of the experimental results. Our data is an immunological investigation in light of biological conservation throughout the Loxosceles genus. The results bring out new insights on brown spider venom toxins for study, diagnosis and treatment of loxoscelism and putative biotechnological applications concerning immune conserved features in the toxins.

Language: en