Macrovipera lebetina venom toxins

Macrovipera lebetina venom toxins comprise a complex mixture of bioactive proteins and peptides secreted by the blunt-nosed viper, a medically significant snake species found across North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia [1, 9]. The venom is primarily hemotoxic and cytotoxic, containing major families such as snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), serine proteases (SVSPs), phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), and disintegrins [3, 4]. These components act synergistically to disrupt the host's hemostatic system by activating or degrading coagulation factors and inhibiting platelet aggregation, leading to systemic hemorrhage and consumption coagulopathy [4, 7]. Additionally, they cause significant local tissue damage, including edema and necrosis, and can lead to acute kidney injury [4, 12]. Beyond their toxicological role, specific toxins like Lebetin 2 and various disintegrins are being investigated for their therapeutic potential as antiplatelet, anti-angiogenic, and anti-tumor agents [2, 6]. Clinical management of envenomation relies on the administration of polyvalent antivenoms, which neutralize the enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities of these toxins [12].

Other names

Blunt-nosed viper venomLevantine viper venomVipera lebetina venomGürze venom

Neutralization of venom components by antivenom antibodies; inhibition of integrin receptors by disintegrins; activation or inhibition of coagulation factors; degradation of fibrinogen by fibrinogenases.