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Development and validation of a reverse phase HPLC method for the determination of caprylic acid in formulations of therapeutic immunoglobulins and its application to antivenom production
(2009-08) Herrera Vega, María; Meneses Madriz, Fabricio; Gutiérrez, José María; León Montero, Guillermo
A novel method of high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection for the quantification of caprylic acid in formulations of therapeutic immunoglobulins was developed and validated. Samples have interfering proteins that were removed by ultrafiltration in a centrifugal filter unit of 10 kDa nominal molecular weight limit. Then, compounds present in ultrafiltrates were separated on an Eclipse XDB-C8 5 μm column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.), using a mixture of acetonitrile–water (60:40, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The UV detection was performed at 210 nm. The method was found to be precise and accurate, with a linearity range from 400 μg/mL to 600 μg/mL (r = 0.9948). The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 13.46 μg/mL and 44.85 μg/mL, respectively. To illustrate the usefulness of the method in the in-process and final quality control for production of therapeutic immunoglobulin formulations, permeates obtained from the industrial diafiltration step in the manufacture of equine-derived snake antivenoms and ten batches of finished product were analyzed.
Light emitting diode (LED) therapy reduces local pathological changes induced by Bothrops asper snake venom
(2018-09-15) Campos, Gabriela Russo Soeiro; de Moura, Kátia Margareth Bitton; Barbosa, Ana Maria; Zamuner, Luis Fernando; Nadur Andrade, Nikele; Squarzoni Dale, Camila; Gutiérrez, José María; Chavantes, María Cristina; Zamuner, Stella Regina
The therapeutic effect of the Light Emitting Diode (LED) treatment in two wavelengths (635 or 945 nm) was evaluated in the local pathological alterations induced by Bothrops asper snake venom. Mice received irradiation of infrared LED (120 mW, 945 nm) or red LED (110 mW, 635 nm) applied immediately, 1 and 2 h after venom injection. LED treatment reduced edema formation in the plantar region and gastrocnemius muscle and significantly reduced neutrophil migration and hyperalgesia after the venom injection. Also, both infrared LED and red LED treatment significantly reduced myonecrosis, as revealed by muscle CK and plasma CK levels. Histological analysis corroborated the reduction in the extent of venom-induced myonecrosis. In conclusion, our data demonstrates that PBM with LED light in both red and infrared wavelengths, when applied after envenomation in mice, reduces the extent of myotoxicity, edema, inflammatory infiltrate and hyperalgesia, suggesting that photobiomodulation is a potential therapeutic approach that should be further investigated for the treatment of local effects of Bothrops snakebite.
The application of laboratory-based analytical tools and techniques for the quality assessment and improvement of commercial antivenoms used in the treatment of snakebite envenomation
(2021-06-05) Patra, Aparup; Herrera Vega, María; Gutiérrez, José María; Mukherjee, Ashis Kumar
Snakebite envenomation is a public health problem of high impact, particularly for the developing world. Antivenom, which contains whole or protease-digested immunoglobulin G, purified from the plasma of hyper-immunized animals (mainly horses), is the mainstay for the treatment of snakebite envenomation. The success of antivenom therapy depends upon its ability to abrogate or reduce the local and systemic toxicity of envenomation. In addition, antivenom administration must be safe for the patients. Therefore, antivenom manufacturers must ensure that these products are effective and safe in the treatment of envenomations. Antivenom efficacy and safety are determined by the physicochemical characteristics of formulations, purity of the immunoglobulin fragments and antibodies, presence of protein aggregates, endotoxin burden, preservative load, and batch to batch variation, as well as on the ability to neutralize the most important toxins of the venoms against which the antivenom is designed. In this context, recent studies have shown that laboratory-based simple analytical techniques, for example, size exclusion chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, immunological profiling including immuno-turbidimetry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Western blotting, immune-chromatographic technique coupled to mass spectrometry analysis, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, spectrofluorometric analysis, in vitro neutralization of venom enzymatic activities, and other methodologies, can be applied for the assessment of antivenom quality, safety, stability, and efficacy. This article reviews the usefulness of different analytical techniques for the quality assessment of commercial antivenoms. It is suggested that these tests should be applied for screening the quality of commercial antivenoms before their preclinical and clinical assessment.
Broadening the research landscape in the field of snakebite envenoming: towards a holistic perspective
(2023-09-01) Gutiérrez, José María; Bolon, Isabelle; Borri, Juliette Ildiko; Ruiz de Castañeda, Rafael Luis
Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a neglected tropical disease that kills and maims hundreds of thousands of people yearly, particularly in impoverished rural settings of the Global South. Understanding the complexity of SBE and tackling this disease demands a transdisciplinary, One Health approach. There is a long-standing research tradition on SBE in toxinology and human medicine. In contrast, other disciplines, such as veterinary medicine or social sciences, still need to be better developed in this field, especially in countries with a high incidence of SBE. Broadening the disciplinary landscape, connecting various research approaches, methods, and data across disciplines and sectors, and engaging with communities affected by SBE in implementing evidence-based solutions are needed. This review summarizes areas that require strengthening to better understand the complexity of SBE and to generate a robust body of knowledge to be translated into effective public health interventions.
Neutralization, by a polyspecific antivenom, of the coagulopathy induced by the venom of Bothrops asper: assessment by standard coagulation tests and rotational thromboelastometry in a murine model
(2023-09-21) Camacho, Erika; Ramírez Vargas, Gabriel; Vargas, Karol; Rucavado Romero, Alexandra; Escalante Muñoz, Teresa; Vargas, Mariángela; Segura Ruiz, Álvaro; Argüello, Ivette; Campos, Marlen; Guerrero, German; Lamela Méndez, Marilla; Gutiérrez, José María
Venom-induced consumption coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia are common and potentially severe manifestations of viperid snakebite envenoming since they contribute to local and systemic hemorrhage. Therefore, the assessment of the efficacy of antivenoms to neutralize coagulopathic and thrombocytopenic toxins should be part of the preclinical evaluation of these drugs. To evaluate the efficacy of the polyvalent (Crotalinae) antivenom produced in Costa Rica, in this study we have used a mouse model of coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia induced by the venom of Bothrops asper, based on the bolus intravenous (i.v.) injection of venom. When venom and antivenom were incubated before injection, or when antivenom was administered i.v. immediately after venom injection, venom-induced hemostatic alterations were largely abrogated. We also studied the recovery rate of clotting parameters in conditions where antivenom was administered when mice were coagulopathic. Some parameters recovered more rapidly in antivenom-treated mice than in control envenomed animals, but others showed a spontaneous recovery without antivenom. This is due to a rapid clearance of plasma venom levels in these experimental conditions. This implies that models based on the bolus i.v. injection of venom have limitations for assessing the effect of antivenom in the recovery of clotting alterations once coagulopathy has developed. It is suggested that alternative models should be developed based on a slower systemic absorption of venom. Overall, our findings provide a protocol for the preclinical evaluation of antivenoms and demonstrate that the polyvalent antivenom is effective in neutralizing the toxins of B. asper venom responsible for coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia.