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  • Effects of Heme Modulation ...
    Nielsen, Vance G.; Frank, Nathaniel; Matika, Ryan W

    Toxins, 08/2018, Volume: 10, Issue: 8
    Journal Article

    Geographic isolation and other factors result in evolution-driven diversity of the enzymatic composition of venom of pit vipers in the same genus. The present investigation sought to characterize venoms obtained from such genetically diverse and pit vipers utilizing thrombelastographic coagulation kinetic analyses. The coagulation kinetics of human plasma were assessed after exposure to venom obtained from two and three species. The potency of each venom was defined (µg/mL required to equivalently change coagulation); additionally, venoms were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) or a metheme-inducing agent to modulate any enzyme-associated heme. All venoms had fibrinogenolytic activity, with four being CO-inhibitable. While venoms had similar potency, one demonstrated the presence of a thrombin-like activity, whereas the other demonstrated a thrombin-generating activity. There was a 10-fold difference in potency and 10-fold different vulnerability to CO inhibition between the species. Metheme formation enhanced fibrinogenolytic-like activity in both species venoms, whereas the three species venoms had fibrinogenolytic-like activity enhanced, inhibited, or not changed. This novel "venom kinetomic" approach has potential to identify clinically relevant enzymatic activity and assess efficacy of antivenoms between genetically and geographically diverse species.