Cross-reactivity of Sydney funnel-web spider antivenom: neutralization of the in vitro toxicity of other Australian funnel-web ( Atrax and Hadronyche) spider venoms

Australian funnel-web spiders are recognized as one of the most venomous spiders to humans world-wide. Funnel-web spider antivenom (FWS AV) reverses clinical effects of envenomation from the bite of Atrax robustus and a small number of related Hadronyche species. This study assessed the in vitro eff...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicon (Oxford) 2002-03, Vol.40 (3), p.259-266
Main Authors: Graudins, A, Wilson, D, Alewood, P.F, Broady, K.W, Nicholson, G.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal poisons toxicology. Antivenoms
Antivenins - immunology
Atrax robustus
Australia
Biological and medical sciences
Blotting, Western
Calcium Channel Blockers - adverse effects
Calcium Channel Blockers - immunology
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Hadronyche
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Medical sciences
Polyamines - adverse effects
Polyamines - antagonists & inhibitors
Polyamines - immunology
Spider Bites - drug therapy
Toxicology
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Summary:Australian funnel-web spiders are recognized as one of the most venomous spiders to humans world-wide. Funnel-web spider antivenom (FWS AV) reverses clinical effects of envenomation from the bite of Atrax robustus and a small number of related Hadronyche species. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy of FWS AV in neutralization of the effects of funnel-web spider venoms, collected from various locations along the eastern seaboard of Australia, in an isolated chick biventer cervicis nerve–muscle preparation. Venoms were separated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis to compare protein composition and transblotted for Western blotting and incubation with FWS AV. SDS-PAGE of venoms revealed similar low and high molecular weight protein bands. Western blotting with FWS AV showed similar antivenom binding with protein bands in all the venoms tested. Male funnel-web spider venoms (7/7) and female venoms (5/10) produced muscle contracture and fasciculation when applied to the nerve–muscle preparation. Venom effects were reversed by subsequent application of FWS AV or prevented by pretreatment of the preparation with antivenom. FWS AV appears to reverse the in vitro toxicity of a number of funnel-web spider venoms from the eastern seaboard of Australia. FWS AV should be effective in the treatment of envenomation from most, if not all, species of Australian funnel-web spiders.
ISSN:0041-0101
1879-3150
DOI:10.1016/S0041-0101(01)00210-0