Youngman, Nicholas J., Harris, Richard J., Huynh, Tam M., Coster, Kristian, Sundman, Eric, Braun, Ralph, Naude, Arno, Hodgson, Wayne C., and Fry, Bryan G. (2021) Widespread and Differential Neurotoxicity in Venoms from the Bitis Genus of Viperid Snakes. Neurotoxicity Research, 39. pp. 697-704.

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Abstract

Research into the neurotoxic activity of venoms from species within the snake family Viperidae is relatively neglected compared with snakes in the Elapidae family. Previous studies into venoms from the Bitis genus of vipers have identified the presence of presynaptic phospholipase A2 neurotoxins in B. atropos and B. caudalis, as well as a postsynaptic phospholipase A2 in B. arietans. Yet, no studies have investigated how widespread neurotoxicity is across the Bitis genus or if they exhibit prey selectivity of their neurotoxins. Utilising a biolayer interferometry assay, we were able to assess the binding of crude venom from 14 species of Bitis to the neuromuscular α-1 nAChR orthosteric site across a wide range of vertebrate taxa mimotopes. Postsynaptic binding was seen for venoms from B. arietans, B. armata, B. atropos, B. caudalis, B. cornuta, B. peringueyi and B. rubida. To further explore the types of neurotoxins present, venoms from the representatives B. armata, B. caudalis, B. cornuta and B. rubida were additionally tested in the chick biventer cervicis nerve muscle preparation, which showed presynaptic and postsynaptic activity for B. caudalis and only presynaptic neurotoxicity for B. cornuta and B. rubida, with myotoxicity also evident for some species. These results, combined with the biolayer interferometry results, indicate complex neurotoxicity exerted by Bitis species, which varies dramatically by lineage tested upon. Our data also further support the importance of sampling across geographical localities, as significant intraspecific variation of postsynaptic neurotoxicity was reported across the different localities.

Item ID:	84131
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1476-3524
Keywords:	Bitis, Neurotoxicity, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, Viperidae, Postsynaptic, Presynaptic
Copyright Information:	© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature 2021.
Date Deposited:	24 Jan 2025 06:54
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology > 310199 Biochemistry and cell biology not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences @ 100%
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