BIOCHEMICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DUVERNOY?S GLAND SECRETION FROM THE FALSE CORAL SNAKE Erythrolamprus aesculapii

MATIAS NICOLAS SANCHEZ; MARÍA AGUSTINA QUINTANA; MILENA GISELA CASAFÚS; CARLOS ARIEL LÓPEZ; SILVANA MARUÑAK; GLADYS PAMELA TEIBLER; MARÍA ELISA PEICHOTO

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

Sociedades de Biociencias

Erythrolamprus aesculapii is a colorful colubrid snake widespread in South America, and commonly known as a false coral snake due to its mimicry with some Micrurus sp. snakes. This feature constitutes the main reason of its demand in the illegal pet trade; however, people are not aware of its dangerousness. Herein, we aimed to study the biochemical composition and some biological activities related to the toxicity of its Duvernoy?s gland secretion (DGS). We performed one-dimensional SDS-PAGE (12%) of this secretion and we evaluated its ability to hydrolyze molecules such as azocollagen, azocasein, acetylthiocholine, lecithin, hyaluronic acid, and human fibrinogen. In order to understand its biological role, the effect of DGS on mouse skin was tested and the Minimal Hemorrhage Dose (MHD) was determined. SDS-PAGE showed - under non-reducing conditions ? a profile with protein bands ranging from 15 to 75 kDa. In relation to the enzymatic activities, hydrolysis of azocollagen was significantly high (229.9 U/min/mg), and a little lower with azocasein (41.45 U/min/mg). Although it was not capable to hydrolyze acetylthiocholine and lecithin, DGS exhibited a slightly activity toward hyaluronic acid (1.49 µg/min). Furthermore, in presence of Ca++, the secretion rapidly hydrolyzed the Aα-chain of fibrinogen, leaving the γ-chain unaffected. When DGS was injected into the skin, the histopathology analysis showed intense hemorrhage (MHD= 18.76 µg) and inflammatory reaction with an important detachment of epidermis and hair follicles, but slight myonecrosis. These findings support the fact that E. aesculapii may cause human envenomation with mild to severe effects (especially in children), and give insight into future directions for the isolation and characterization of key components present in its ?venom?.