Preliminary Insights into Geographic Variation in Venom Profiles and Functional Activities of Nigerian Snakes, Bitis arietans and Naja nigricollis - 2026
[en] Snakebite envenoming is a major yet neglected tropical disease in sub-Saharan Africa, where antivenom efficacy is critically limited by intraspecific venom variation shaped by local ecological pressures. Nigeria’s sharply contrasting Sudan Savanna (North) and Lowland Rainforest (South) provide an ideal natural system to investigate this variation, yet a comparative analysis of its medically important snakes has been lacking. We conducted an integrated proteomic and functional characterization of venoms from the puff adder (Bitis arietans) and black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) collected in Kaduna (North) and Ibadan (South). Using high-resolution LC-MS/MS, SDS-PAGE, and biochemical assays (phospholipase A2, protease, fibrinogenolytic, hemolytic, and coagulation activities), we mapped region-specific venom compositions and characterized their functional activities. Bitis arietans displayed region-associated divergence: southern venom was enriched in serine proteases, whereas northern venom was dominated by lectins and distinct snake venom metalloproteinase isoforms. Naja nigricollis showed a conserved phospholipase A2/three-finger toxins backbone, yet southern venoms exhibited elevated snake venom metalloproteinase III and L-amino acid oxidase. These molecular differences manifested functionally, with southern B. arietans venom showing higher protease activity than northern B. arietans, whereas southern and northern N. nigricollis venom exhibited similar protease activity but enhanced phospholipase A2 activity in southern N. nigricollis. This work provides the first integrated proteomic and functional comparison of venoms from northern and southern Nigerian venom sample of B. arietans and N. nigricollis. While based on a limited number of individuals, the observed differences should be considered preliminary and indicative of potential regional trends rather than population-level characteristics.
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Adeyi, Akindele Oluwatosin ; Animal Physiology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan P.O. Box 22133, Nigeria ; Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Emmanuel, Oluwatimilehin Stephen; Animal Physiology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan P.O. Box 22133, Nigeria
Itang, Samuel Itang ; Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Ajisebiola, Babafemi Siji ; Department of Zoology, Osun State University, Osogbo P.M.B. 4494, Nigeria
Kumar, Mihir ; Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Rudresha, Gotravalli V. ; Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Gond, Prasad Gopalkrishna ; Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Crasset, Thomas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Molecular Systems (MolSys)
Redureau, Damien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Molecular Systems (MolSys)
Gobbi Amorim, Fernanda ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Laboratoire de spectrométrie de masse (L.S.M.)
Sunagar, Kartik ; Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
Quinton, Loïc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie biologique
Language :
English
Title :
Preliminary Insights into Geographic Variation in Venom Profiles and Functional Activities of Nigerian Snakes, Bitis arietans and Naja nigricollis
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