TitleA new anti-loxoscelic serum produced against recombinant sphingomyelinase D: results of preclinical trials.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsDe Almeida, DManzoni, Fernandes-Pedrosa, Mde F, de Andrade, RMGonçalv, Marcelino, JRoberto, Gondo-Higashi, H, de Azevedo, Ide LMJun, Ho, PLee, van den Berg, C, Tambourgi, DV
JournalAm J Trop Med Hyg
Volume79
Issue3
Pagination463-70
Date Published2008 Sep
ISSN1476-1645
KeywordsAnimals, Antivenins, Cells, Cultured, Cross Reactions, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Erythrocytes, Horses, Humans, Immunochemistry, Neutralization Tests, Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases, Rabbits, Recombinant Proteins, Spider Bites, Spider Venoms, Spiders
Abstract

<p>Envenomation by Loxosceles species (brown spider) can lead to local dermonecrosis and to serious systemic effects. The main toxic component in the venom of these spiders is sphingomyelinase D (SMase D) and various isoforms of this toxin are present in Loxosceles venoms. We have produced a new anti-loxoscelic serum by immunizing horses with recombinant SMase D. In the present study, we compared the neutralization efficacy of the new anti-loxoscelic serum and anti-arachnidic serum (the latter serum is used for therapy for loxoscelism in Brazil) against the toxic effects of venoms from spiders of the genus Loxosceles. Neutralization tests showed that anti-SMase D serum has a higher activity against toxic effects of L. intermedia and L. laeta venoms and similar or slightly weaker activity against toxic effects of L. gaucho than that of Arachnidic serum. These results demonstrate that recombinant SMase D can replace venom for anti-venom production and therapy.</p>

Alternate JournalAm J Trop Med Hyg
PubMed ID18784245