Abstracto
- The neutralization of two myotoxic phospholipases A2 from the venom of Bothrops asper, myotoxins I and II, by two murine monoclonal antibodies is reported. The monoclonal antibodies, MAb-3 and Mab-4, recognize different epitopes of the toxin. Both antibodies completely neutralized myotoxic activity of myotoxin I and crude venom. MAb-3 also completely neutralized myotoxic activity of myotoxin II, a lysine-49 phospholipase A2 isoform, whereas MAb-4 neutralized this toxin only partially. MAb-3 neutralized myotoxin II at a molar ratio of 1:1, showing a higher efficiency than affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. A dissociation of myotoxic and enzymatic activities of myotoxin I was observed with both monoclonal antibodies.