Identification of a novel pulmonary oedema producing toxin from Indian red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus) venom

Abstract The experiments were conducted to identify the toxin that produces pulmonary oedema in Mesobuthus tamulus (BT) envenomed animals. Crude BT venom was subjected to Sephadex gel filtration (G-75) and the fractions were screened for optical density (OD), neurotoxicity (prolongation of compound action potential in frog sciatic nerve) and lethality. All these parameters exhibited a peak between 54–94 ml eluates. Fractions of this peak were pooled (SP) and loaded on to carboxymethyl cellulose column. The column was then eluted with increasing buffer concentrations at constant pH and temperature. Eluates were screened for neurotoxicity and OD. Four peaks of neurotoxic activity ( T 1– T 4) were detected. T 2 and T 3 were lethal whereas T 1 and T 4 were non-lethal. T 2 exhibited mainly neurotoxicity and failed to augment phenyldiguanide (PDG)-induced reflex response or to produce pulmonary oedema. T 3 was having minimal neurotoxic actions but augmented PDG‐reflex and produced pulmonary oedema. The effects of T 3 persisted even after dialysis with 8 kDa cut-off filter but not those of T 2. The T 3 effects resembled toxic manifestations of BT venom and were blocked by aprotinin pre-treatment. T 3 demonstrated a band at ∼100 kDa in SDS-PAGE. The results demonstrate the presence of a lethal, high molecular weight, pulmonary oedema producing toxin in BT venom.