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PROTEIN ANALYSIS OF GABOON VIPER (BITIS GABONICA) VENOM OBTAINED FROM GHANA
Harriet D. Kodjie, Lolynda S. Ocloo, Prince A. Agyemang, Jeffrey N.A Bonsu, Mark Opoku, Caleb Kesse Firempong
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
E-mail: calebuse @yahoo.com / ckfirempong.cos@knust.edu.gh
ABSTRACT
Snake envenomation is still a major public health concern across sub-Saharan Africa, where Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) is considered one of the most medically significant venomous snakes due to the deadly nature of its venom. This study therefore investigated the protein composition of B. gabonica* venom obtained from Ghana using standard protocols. The Bradford assay was used to determine the protein concentration of the venom while the SDS-PAGE was used to separate the various venom proteins based on their molecular sizes. The functional groups of the different venom proteins were also evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy while the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was determined using the Karber method. The results showed that the total protein concentration of the snake venom was 1.15 mg/mL, which confirmed the likelihood of several bioactive molecules in the venom. The SDS-PAGE analysis displayed five distinct protein bands at molecular weights of approximately 10.07 kDa to 68.35 kDa, which were consistent with some venom proteins including metalloproteinases, serine proteases, phospholipase A₂ and disintegrins. FTIR analysis also confirmed the presence of protein-associated amide bonds, phosphate groups, and nucleotides, which highlighted the biochemical complexity of the venom. The LD₅₀ was determined as 0.78 mg/kg, which supported the venom as highly toxic among known range of this species. The findings confirmed the high protein diversity and toxicity of Gaboon viper venom from Ghana and provided essential baseline data that supported region-specific antivenom development for improved clinical management of snakebite envenoming.
Keywords: Bitis gabonica, Venom, Proteomics, SDS-PAGE, Envenomation, Median lethal dose, FTIR