IMMUNOGEN AND ANTIVENOM AGAINST VIOLIN SPIDER VENOM

The invention relates to the isolation, characterisation and expression of DNA fragment* encoding sphingomyelinases D from three species of Loxosceles genus spiders, namely L boneti, L reclusa and L laeta and the toxoids thereof. The invention also relates to the production of active sphingomyelinases D and the toxoids thereof using recombinant means and to the use of same as an immunogen for the production in vertebrates of antibodies that neutralise the corresponding venom and the respective fragments F(ab")2. The invention further relates to the use of recombinant sphingomyelinases D as part of an antigen matrix which can be used in the immunopurification of antibodies and the fragments thereof or as part of any diagnostic device used to obtain clinical confirmation that the causal agent of poisoning in a patient is a spider of the Loxosceles genus. In addition, the invention includes molecular vectors for the expression of the DNA fragments, strains comprising same, which can expr ess Loxosceles sphingomyelinases D, and methods for the expression thereof. La presente invension comprende el asilamiento caracterizacion y expresion de los fragmentos de DNA codificantes de las esfingomielinasas D de 3 especies de arana del genero Loxosceles: L. boneti, L. reclusa y L. laeta. Tambien comprende la produccion por medios recombinantes de las esfingomielinasas D activas y su uso como inmunogeno para la produccion en vertebrados de anticurpos neutrilizantes del veneno correspondiente y de los fragmentos F(abO)2 respectivos. Tambien se incluye el uso de las esfingomielinasas D recomnbinantes como parte de un matriz antigenica util en la inmunopurificacion de anticuerpos y sus fragmentos o como parte de algun dispositivo diagnostico para corroborar en clinica que el agente casual del estado de envenenamiento de un paciente sea una arana del genero Loxosceles.