Comparative Studies of the Venom of a New Taipan Species, Oxyuranus temporalis, with Other Members of Its Genus

Toxins

Carmel M. Barber¹  Frank Madaras⁴  Richard K. Turnbull²  Terry Morley³  Nathan Dunstan⁵  Luke Allen⁵  Tim Kuchel²  Peter Mirtschin⁴ 

[1] Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; E-Mail:;SA Pathology, IMVS Veterinary Services, Gilles Plains, South Australia 5086, Australia; E-Mails:;Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia; E-Mail:;Venom Science Pty Ltd, Tanunda, South Australia 5352, Australia; E-Mails:;Venom Supplies, Tanunda, South Australia, South Australia 5352, Australia; E-Mails:

关键词: Oxyuranus temporalis;    taipan;    antivenom;    neurotoxicity;    snake;    venom;   

DOI  :  10.3390/toxins6071979

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Taipans are highly venomous Australo-Papuan elapids. A new species of taipan, the Western Desert Taipan (Oxyuranus temporalis), has been discovered with two specimens housed in captivity at the Adelaide Zoo. This study is the first investigation of O. temporalis venom and seeks to characterise and compare the neurotoxicity, lethality and biochemical properties of O. temporalis venom with other taipan venoms. Analysis of O. temporalis venom using size-exclusion and reverse-phase HPLC indicated a markedly simplified “profile” compared to other taipan venoms. SDS-PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis also indicated a relatively simple composition. Murine LD₅₀ studies showed that O. temporalis venom is less lethal than O. microlepidotus venom. Venoms were tested in vitro, using the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. Based on t₉₀ values, O. temporalis venom is highly neurotoxic abolishing indirect twitches far more rapidly than other taipan venoms. O. temporalis venom also abolished responses to exogenous acetylcholine and carbachol, indicating the presence of postsynaptic neurotoxins. Prior administration of CSL Taipan antivenom (CSL Limited) neutralised the inhibitory effects of all taipan venoms. The results of this study suggest that the venom of the O. temporalis is highly neurotoxic in vitro and may contain procoagulant toxins, making this snake potentially dangerous to humans.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.