General biochemical and immunological characteristics of the venom from Peruvian scorpion Hadruroides lunatus

This communication describes the general biochemical properties and some immunological characteristics of the venom from the Peruvian scorpion Hadruroides lunatus, which is the most medically relevant species in Peru. The soluble venom of this scorpion is toxic to mice, the LD50 determined was 0.1 mg/kg and 21.55 mg/kg when the venom was injected intracranial or intraperitoneally, respectively. The soluble venom displayed proteolytic, hyaluronidasic, phospholipasic and cardiotoxic activities. High performance liquid chromatography of the soluble venom resulted in the separation of 20 fractions. Two peptides with phospholipasic activity were isolated to homogeneity and their molecular masses determined by mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF). Anti-H. lunatus venom sera were produced in rabbits. Western blotting analysis showed that most of the protein content of this venom is immunogenic. H. lunatus anti-venom displayed consistent cross-reactivity with venom antigens from the new World-scorpions Tityus serrulatus and Centruroides sculpturatus venoms; however, a weaker reactivity was observed against the venom antigens from the old World-scorpion Androctonus australis Hector. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior, Brazil - CAPES (Toxinologia) [23038000825/2011-63]Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior, Brazil CAPES (Toxinologia)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), BrazilFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brazil (FAPEMIG)INCTTOX of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico, Brazil (CNPq)INCTTOX of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico, Brazil (CNPq)Instituto Nacional de Salud, PeruInstituto Nacional de Salud, Per