Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms

This study examined the pathophysiological effects of venoms from neonate and adult specimens of the viperid snake <i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>, focusing on their ability to activate various blood clotting factors in human plasma. All venoms exhibited strong procoagulant properties...

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Main Authors: Katrina Kempson, Abhinandan Chowdhury, Aude Violette, Rudy Fourmy, Raul Soria, Bryan G. Fry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/12/520
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author Katrina Kempson
Abhinandan Chowdhury
Aude Violette
Rudy Fourmy
Raul Soria
Bryan G. Fry
author_facet Katrina Kempson
Abhinandan Chowdhury
Aude Violette
Rudy Fourmy
Raul Soria
Bryan G. Fry
author_sort Katrina Kempson
collection DOAJ
description This study examined the pathophysiological effects of venoms from neonate and adult specimens of the viperid snake <i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>, focusing on their ability to activate various blood clotting factors in human plasma. All venoms exhibited strong procoagulant properties. In concentration–response tests, the clotting potency of the neonate venoms fell within the range of their parents’ maximum clotting velocities and areas under the curve. Intriguingly, females were more potent than males within each age group, but this requires a larger sample size to confirm. Antivenom neutralization efficacy was equipotent across age groups. The venoms potently activated Factor X (FX) robustly, consistent with previous knowledge of this genus. For the first time, the ability to activate Factors VII (FVII) and XII (FXII) was identified in this genus, with FXII exhibiting particularly strong activation. The study found no significant ontogenetic variation in procoagulant venom potency on human plasma, convergent with the <i>Daboia</i> genus, the other large-bodied lineage within the Palearctic viperid clade. However, the activation of FXII and FVII reveals previously undocumented pathways in the procoagulant activity of these venoms, contributing to the broader understanding of venom evolution and its clinical impacts. These findings have implications for venom biodiscovery and the development of antivenoms, highlighting the complexity of clotting factor activation beyond traditional investigations that have myopically focused upon FX and prothrombin pathways, thereby underscoring the importance of exploring additional clotting factors.
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spelling doaj-art-45545d4d68f84ccc865b87489a68e4042025-08-20T02:57:21ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512024-12-01161252010.3390/toxins16120520Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) VenomsKatrina Kempson0Abhinandan Chowdhury1Aude Violette2Rudy Fourmy3Raul Soria4Bryan G. Fry5Adaptive Biotoxicology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaAdaptive Biotoxicology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaAlphabiotoxine Laboratory Sprl, Barberie 15, 7911 Montroeul-au-bois, BelgiumAlphabiotoxine Laboratory Sprl, Barberie 15, 7911 Montroeul-au-bois, BelgiumInosan Biopharma, 28108 Madrid, SpainAdaptive Biotoxicology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaThis study examined the pathophysiological effects of venoms from neonate and adult specimens of the viperid snake <i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>, focusing on their ability to activate various blood clotting factors in human plasma. All venoms exhibited strong procoagulant properties. In concentration–response tests, the clotting potency of the neonate venoms fell within the range of their parents’ maximum clotting velocities and areas under the curve. Intriguingly, females were more potent than males within each age group, but this requires a larger sample size to confirm. Antivenom neutralization efficacy was equipotent across age groups. The venoms potently activated Factor X (FX) robustly, consistent with previous knowledge of this genus. For the first time, the ability to activate Factors VII (FVII) and XII (FXII) was identified in this genus, with FXII exhibiting particularly strong activation. The study found no significant ontogenetic variation in procoagulant venom potency on human plasma, convergent with the <i>Daboia</i> genus, the other large-bodied lineage within the Palearctic viperid clade. However, the activation of FXII and FVII reveals previously undocumented pathways in the procoagulant activity of these venoms, contributing to the broader understanding of venom evolution and its clinical impacts. These findings have implications for venom biodiscovery and the development of antivenoms, highlighting the complexity of clotting factor activation beyond traditional investigations that have myopically focused upon FX and prothrombin pathways, thereby underscoring the importance of exploring additional clotting factors.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/12/520venomantivenom<i>Macrovipera</i>ontogenyevolution
spellingShingle Katrina Kempson
Abhinandan Chowdhury
Aude Violette
Rudy Fourmy
Raul Soria
Bryan G. Fry
Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms
Toxins
venom
antivenom
<i>Macrovipera</i>
ontogeny
evolution
title Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms
title_full Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms
title_fullStr Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms
title_full_unstemmed Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms
title_short Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (<i>Macrovipera lebetina obtusa</i>) Venoms
title_sort age is just a number ontogenetic conservation in activation of blood clotting factors vii x and xii by caucasus blunt nosed viper i macrovipera lebetina obtusa i venoms
topic venom
antivenom
<i>Macrovipera</i>
ontogeny
evolution
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/12/520
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