The Bushmaster (Cuaima) snake (Lachesis muta muta) of the Neotropical forest: the description of several haemostatic and biological activities in its venom

Abstract

Cuaima (Lachesis muta muta)(Lmm) is responsible for particular envenomations that occur mainly in people who are exploring forest areas, in logging activities, mining exploitation (mainly gold and diamonds) or indigenous people who live in small communities and develop their vital activity in tropical and subtropical jungles of the Venezuelan Lmm territory. A fibrinolytic toxin has been purified from the venom of bushmaster cuaima by size exclusion chromatography Sephacryl 300 chromatography column. Fractions collected with high fibrinolytic and scarce haemorrhagic activities were further fractionated by a cationic exchange Carboxymetil- Sepharose (CMS) chromatography column. From CMS was obtained a molecular mass ~26 kDa single band by SDS-PAGE, called Yuyilysin, which had fibrinolytic activity that was completely lost after treatment with ethylene di-amine tetra acetic acid (EDTA). In conclusion, Yuyilysin showed a broader spectrum of activities, with moderate haemorrhagic activity, non-oedematogenic achievement, but strong fibrinolytic and coagulant actions.