Česká společnost pro hmotnostní spektrometrii

(CEEPC/IPM/CMSC 2022 - ThP-27)
Proteomic and immunochemical characterization of Naja mossambica venoms from different geographical regions of Africa

Konrad Kamil Hus ^1 *, Justyna Buczkowicz ¹, Vladimír Petrílla ^2,3, Mirosław Tyrka ¹, Jaroslav Legáth ^1,2, Aleksandra Bocian ¹

1. Rzeszow University of Technology
2. University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice
3. Zoological Garden Košice

Abstrakt

Naja mossambica is a representative of African spitting cobras which inhabits the southern parts of Africa. Its venom exhibits mainly cytotoxic effects and can lead to detrimental effects in the bitten victims. Currently, there is only one available polyspecific antivenom manufactured with the use of N. mossambica venom (SAIMR antivenom), and several others are produced with venoms obtained from closely related snakes species (e.g., Antivipmyn Africa, EchiTab-ICP-Plus, Inoserp Pan Africa). Unfortunately, some reports indicate that antivenin treatments are not effective in all countries of southern Africa. It turns out that in Mozambique and The Kingdom of Eswatini, common antivenoms do not exhibit therapeutic properties, which leads to terrible consequences for people from this region. Therefore, it seems that geographically induced changes in the venom proteomes might reduce the effectiveness of antivenoms in some parts of Africa.

This study focuses on the proteomic and immunochemical characterization of N. mossambica venom samples collected from three distinct regions of Africa: The Kingdom of Eswatini and two provinces of the Republic of Southern Africa (Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal). Therefore the main objective of the research was to find a reason why antivenoms commonly used in treatments of N. mossambica bites are not effective in The Kingdom of Eswatini and Mozambique, whereas they exhibit regular activity in other countries of southern Africa. Moreover, the research expects to give thorough information about proteomic differences in analyzed venoms obtained from various parts of Africa. The comparison of these venoms will show to what extent geographical area could influence changes in N. mossambica venom proteomes.

* Korespondující autor: k.hus@prz.edu.pl