Synthetic peptides to produce antivenoms against the Cys-rich toxins of arachnids
Silvia A. Camperi, Gerardo Acosta, Gabriela R. Barredo, Lucía C.Iglesias-García, Cleópatra Alves da Silva Caldeira, María C. Martínez-Ceron, Silvana L. Giudicessi, Osvaldo Cascone, Fernando Albericio
Highlights
- Most of the spider and scorpion venoms toxins are extremely stable Cys-rich peptides.
- Cys-rich peptide neurotoxins can be synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis.
- Epitopes of venom toxins can be identified and synthesized.
- Peptides can be coupled to protein carriers to develop efficient immunogens.
- Multiple antigenic peptide with a polylysine core can be also synthesized.
Abstract
Scorpion and spider envenomation is treated with the appropriate antivenoms, prepared as described by Césaire Auguste Phisalix and Albert Calmette in 1894. Such treatment requires the acquisition and manipulation of arachnid venoms, both very complicated procedures.
Most of the toxins in the venoms of spiders and scorpions are extremely stable cysteine-rich peptide neurotoxins. Many strategies have been developed to obtain synthetic immunogens to facilitate the production of antivenoms against these toxins. For example, whole peptide toxins can be synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Also, epitopes of the toxins can be identified and after the chemical synthesis of these peptide epitopes by SPPS, they can be coupled to protein carriers to develop efficient immunogens. Moreover, multiple antigenic peptides with a polylysine core can be designed and synthesized.
This review focuses on the strategies developed to obtain synthetic immunogens for the production of antivenoms against the toxic Cys-rich peptides of scorpions and spiders.
Toxicon: X Volume 6, June 2020, 100038.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxcx.2020.100038
