Opossum peptide that can neutralize rattlesnake venom is expressed in Escherichia coli. (1st December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Komives, Claire F.; Sanchez, Elda E.; Rathore, Anurag S.; White, Brandon; Balderrama, Michael; Suntravat, Montamas; Cifelli, Angela; Joshi, Varsha
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology progress. Volume 33:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2016-12-01
• Subjects: antivenom -- rattlesnake -- tandem repeats; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Bioengineering -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2386
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8756-7938

Abstract

Abstract : An eleven amino acid ribosomal peptide was shown to completely neutralize Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) venom in mice when a lethal dose of the venom was pre‐incubated with the peptide prior to intravenous injection. We have expressed the peptide as a concatenated chain of peptides and cleaved them apart from an immobilized metal affinity column using a protease. After ultrafiltration steps, the mixture was shown to partially neutralize rattlesnake venom in mice. Preliminary experiments are described here that suggest a potential life‐saving therapy could be developed. To date, no recombinant therapies targeting cytotoxic envenomation have been reported. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:81–86, 2017