Production and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Bothrops asper (terciopelo) myotoxin

Abstract

Seven murine monoclonal antibodies against Bothrops aspen myotoxin were produced and partially characterized. They revealed the presence of at least four cross-reacting basic components in crude venom, with a common subunit mol. wt of 16,000 by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but slight differences in charge. These myotoxin-related components might be isoforms of the toxin . By Western blotting and enzyme-immunoassay binding techniques, differences in the reactivities with basic venom fractions were observed among monoclonal antibodies, suggesting differences in epitope specifidties . Three antibodies cross-reacted with B. nummifer crude venom. Two monoclonal antibodies were utilized to develop a two-site enzyme-immunoassay for myotoxin detection at the nanogram level . Three of the antibodies (one IgM and two IgG,) showed ability to neutralize myotoxiclty of purified myotoxin in preincubation-type experiments.