Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE ANTI-COMPLEMENT PROPERTIES OF PARTIALLY SEPARATED Vipera ammodytes VENOM

The present study demonstrates that Vipera ammodytes venom is a potent inhibitor of human complement activation. Crude venom was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography and each fraction was then tested for proteolytic, hemolytic and anti-complement activities. Three peaks decreased the hemolytic activity of human serum when measured using assays for the classical and alternative pathways of activation. One of the anti-complement peaks contains a protease capable of cleaving the C3 component of complement.

Anti-complement; venom; Vipera ammodytes


Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos - CEVAP, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP Caixa Postal 577, 18618-000 Botucatu SP Brazil, Tel. / Fax: +55 14 3814-5555 | 3814-5446 | 3811-7241 - Botucatu - SP - Brazil
E-mail: jvat@cevap.org.br