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Expression of Recombinant Stonustoxin Alpha Subunit and Preparation of polyclonal antiserum for Stonustoxin Neutralization Studies

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Abstract

Stonustoxin (SNTX) is a lethal protein found in stonefish venom, responsible for many of the symptoms associated with stonefish envenomation. To counter stonefish venom challenges, antivenom is a well-established and effective solution. In this study, we aimed to produce the recombinant alpha subunit protein of Stonustoxin from Synanceia horrida and prepare antibodies against it The SNTXα gene sequence was optimized for E. coli BL21 (DE3) expression and cloned into the pET17b vector. Following purification, the recombinant protein was subcutaneously injected into rabbits, and antibodies were extracted from rabbit´s serum using a G protein column As a result of codon optimization, the codon adaptation index for the SNTXα cassette increased to 0.94. SDS-PAGE analysis validated the expression of SNTXα, with a band observed at 73.5 kDa with a yield of 60 mg/l. ELISA results demonstrated rabbits antibody titers were detectable up to a 1:256,000 dilution. The isolated antibody from rabbit´s serum exhibited a concentration of 1.5 mg/ml, and its sensitivity allowed the detection of a minimum protein concentration of 9.7 ng. In the neutralization assay the purified antibody against SNTXα protected mice challenged with 2 LD50. In conclusion, our study successfully expressed the alpha subunit of Stonustoxin in a prokaryotic host, enabling the production of antibodies for potential use in developing stonefish antivenom.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Sajjad Hojjati-Razgi, Shahram Nazarian, Hossein Samiei-Abianeh, Emad kordbacheh & Seyed Mojtaba Aghaie

  2. Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hossein Samiei-Abianeh

  3. Department of Marine Biotechnology, The Persian Gulf Research and Studies Center, The Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

    Amir Vazirizadeh

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  1. Amir Sajjad Hojjati-Razgi
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Contributions

Study concept and design: AS.HR and S.N. Analysis and interpretation of the data: AS.HR, S.N, H.S, E.K, A.V. and SM.A. Drafting of the manuscript: AS.HR and H.S. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: S.N, SM.A. Statistical analysis: E.K, A.V and SM.A. All authors Approval of the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shahram Nazarian.

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Hojjati-Razgi, A.S., Nazarian, S., Samiei-Abianeh, H. et al. Expression of Recombinant Stonustoxin Alpha Subunit and Preparation of polyclonal antiserum for Stonustoxin Neutralization Studies. Protein J 43, 627–638 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10930-024-10203-2

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