Epitope mapping of the antigenic protein TsNTxP from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom using mouse, rabbit and sheep antibodies

Toxicon. 2004 Nov;44(6):617-24. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.07.019.

Abstract

In the present investigation we used native and recombinant TsNTxP to elicit antibodies in three different animal models (mouse, rabbit and sheep). Differences among anti-TsNTxP antibodies were analyzed using sets of overlapping pentadecapeptides of the TsNTxP amino acid sequence and also modified peptides to reveal key residues in antibody-peptide binding. Despite the identification of similar peptides by the antibodies in the C and N-terminal, peculiarities of each system were observed including the level of reactivity and also the number and type of key residues in the continuous epitopes of TsNTxP. In addition, in vitro neutralization assays indicated that sheep are an alternative and efficient model for the production of anti-Tityus serrulatus venom.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Binding Sites, Antibody
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitope Mapping*
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Rabbits
  • Scorpion Venoms / immunology
  • Scorpion Venoms / metabolism*
  • Scorpions*
  • Sheep

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Peptides
  • Scorpion Venoms
  • TsNTxp protein, Tityus serrulatus