One Size Fits All-Venomics of the Iberian Adder ( Vipera seoanei , Lataste 1878) Reveals Low Levels of Venom Variation across Its Distributional Range

• Published in: Toxins Vol. 15; no. 6; p. 371
• Main Authors: Avella, Ignazio, Damm, Maik, Freitas, Inês, Wüster, Wolfgang, Lucchini, Nahla, Zuazo, Óscar, Süssmuth, Roderich D, Martínez-Freiría, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.06.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Adaptation; Animals; Biological effects; bottom-up proteomics; Comparative analysis; Diet; Ecosystem; Gel electrophoresis; Geographical distribution; Growth factors; Iberian Peninsula; Mitochondrial DNA; Peptides; Phenotypic variations; Phospholipase A2; Population growth; Positive selection; Proteins; Proteome - analysis; Proteomes; regional variation; Regression analysis; Reptiles & amphibians; Small mammals; snake venom; Snakes; Toxins; Toxins, Biological - analysis; Variability; Venom; Venoms; viper; Viper Venoms; Vipera; Vipera seoanei; Viperidae; Portugal; Iberian Peninsula; Spain; snake venom; Iberian Peninsula; bottom-up proteomics; regional variation; viper
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins15060371

European vipers (genus ) are medically important snakes displaying considerable venom variation, occurring at different levels in this group. The presence of intraspecific venom variation, however, remains understudied in several species. is a venomous snake endemic to the northern Iberian Peninsula and south-western France, presenting notable phenotypic variation and inhabiting several diverse habitats across its range. We analysed the venoms of 49 adult specimens of from 20 localities across the species' Iberian distribution. We used a pool of all individual venoms to generate a venom reference proteome, produced SDS-PAGE profiles of all venom samples, and visualised patterns of variation using NMDS. By applying linear regression, we then assessed presence and nature of venom variation between localities, and investigated the effect of 14 predictors (biological, eco-geographic, genetic) on its occurrence. The venom comprised at least 12 different toxin families, of which five (i.e., PLA , svSP, DI, snaclec, svMP) accounted for about 75% of the whole proteome. The comparative analyses of the SDS-PAGE venom profiles showed them to be remarkably similar across the sampled localities, suggesting low geographic variability. The regression analyses suggested significant effects of biological and habitat predictors on the little variation we detected across the analysed venoms. Other factors were also significantly associated with the presence/absence of individual bands in the SDS-PAGE profiles. The low levels of venom variability we detected within might be the result of a recent population expansion, or of processes other than directional positive selection.