Project description:Latest advancement of omics technologies allows in-depth characterization of venom compositions. In the present work we present a proteomic study of two snake venoms of the genus Naja i.e. Naja naja (black cobra) and Naja oxiana (brown cobra), of Pakistani origin. The present study has shown that these snake venoms consist of a highly diversified proteome. Furthermore, the data also revealed variation among closely related species. High throughput mass spectrometric analysis of the venom proteome allowed to identify for the N. naja venom 34 protein families and for the N. oxiana 24 protein families. The comparative evaluation of the two venoms showed that N. naja consists of a more complex venom proteome than N. oxiana venom.
Project description:Bites by the Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja) are widely reported across the Indian subcontinent, with an associated high rate of mortality and morbidity. In western India (WI), the numbers of reported incidents of cobra envenomation are significantly higher than the other snake bites. In this study the venom proteome of WINn was deciphered for the first time using tandem mass spectroscopy analysis.
Project description:In contrast to comprehensively investigated antibacterial activity of snake venoms, namely crude venoms and their selected components, little is known about antifungal properties of elapid snake venoms. In the present study, the proteome of two venoms of red spitting cobra Naja pallida (NPV) and Mozambique spitting cobra Naja mossambica (NMV) was characterized using LC-MS/MS approach and the biological activity of crude venoms against three Candida species was established.
Project description:Cobras (Naja spp.) account for a significant number of snakebite incidents in Thailand. The monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) has historically been considered the only non-spitting species, but recent evidence indicates population-level diversification in central and southern regions. Additionally, a newly described non-spitting species, the mountain cobra (Naja fuxi), has been identified in mountainous areas. This study investigates venom variation among Thai Naja species and populations and evaluates the efficacy of monovalent and polyvalent Thai antivenoms. Proteomic analyses revealed that three-finger toxins dominate Naja venoms, whereas N. fuxi exhibits a distinct profile enriched in snake venom metalloproteinases and cysteine-rich secretory proteins, suggesting evolutionary divergence. Electrophoretic and enzymatic assays demonstrated species- and population-specific differences in phospholipase A₂, acetylcholinesterase, hyaluronidase, L-amino acid oxidase, phosphodiesterase, and protease activities. Cytotoxicity assays on human fibroblasts and mouse myoblasts showed that N. kaouthia (southern) and N. fuxi venoms caused the most potent and time-dependent cell damage, whereas central N. kaouthia and king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venoms were less cytotoxic. Immunoreactivity and neutralisation assays indicated that the species-specific monovalent antivenom effectively binds and neutralises cobra venoms, while neuro-polyvalent antivenom provides moderate cross-protection, and haemato-polyvalent antivenom is highly specific to viperid venom. These findings reveal substantial inter- and intraspecific venom variation in Thai cobras, emphasising the importance of population-level considerations in antivenom design and snakebite management. Continuous evaluation of venom composition and antivenom efficacy is essential to optimise clinical outcomes across Thailand’s diverse landscapes.
Project description:True cobras of the genus Naja are venomous snakes with particular medical importance in Africa and Asia. The Cape cobra Naja nivea is one of the most toxic of the African true cobras, but the composition of its venom has rarely been investigated using proteomics methods.
Project description:Mucuna pruriens extract MPE pretreatment may have a direct protective effect on heart (other than immunological neutralization of the venom neurotoxin and phospholipase A2 by the anti-MPE antibodies) that renders the heart more resistant to the toxic action of the venom The direct protective effect probably involves functional changes to the cardiac tissue that enable the heart to resist the reduction of contractility and rate induced by the cobra venom.To explore the possibility of the direct action of MPE pretreatment on heart and to understand the molecular events involved in the protection of MPE pretreatment against the lethal action of Naja sputatrix venom, gene expression studies were carried out using microarray analysis.
Project description:This project mainly aims to characterize the complex toxic components present in the venom of Indian cobra (Naja naja) from the Western Ghats of India. Naja naja (NN) is native to the Indian subcontinent and is also found in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Southern Nepal. It is a highly venomous snake species of genus Naja of the Elapidae family. They are seen in wide habitats like plains, dense or open forests, rocky terrains, wetlands, agricultural lands, and outskirts of villages and even in highly populated urban areas. This species has been included in the ‘Big 4’ category of venomous snake species that accounts for majority of morbidity and mortality cases in India. Therefore, exploring the venom proteome of Naja naja is decisive to develop and design new antivenom and therapeutics against its envenomation. The venom proteome of Naja naja was characterized through various orthogonal separation strategies and identification strategies. In order to achieve this the crude venom components were resolved on a 12% SDS page. Also, the venom was decomplexed through reversed-phase HPLC followed by SDS analysis. Further each of the bands were subjected to in-gel digestion using trypsin, chymotrypsin and V8 proteases. All the digested peptides were then subjected to Q-TOF LC-MS/MS analysis.