Neutralization of the hemorrhagic activity of Bothrops and Lachesis snake venoms by a monoclonal antibody against mutalysin-II.

One mAb reactive with mutalysin-II, a hemorrhagic metalloproteinase isolated from Lachesis muta muta venom, was produced in mice immunized with L. m. muta venom. Indirect ELISA was employed to compare the antigenic cross-reactivity among the venoms from Bothrops snakes. The mAb anti-mutalysin-II efficiently neutralized the hemorrhagic effect of both mutalysin-II and L. m. muta crude venom. Furthermore, the mAb were cross-reactive with B. alternatus, B. atrox, B. itapetiningae, B. jararaca and B. neuwiedii and showed variable potencies in neutralizing the hemorrhagic activity of several bothropic venoms.