Topic
Atropoides
About: Atropoides is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10 publications have been published within this topic receiving 450 citations. The topic is also known as: Picado's jumping pitviper.
Papers
TL;DR: Inferences of phylogenetic relationships and divergence times for three lineages of highland pitvipers are used to identify broad‐scale historical events that have shaped the evolutionary history of Middle American highland taxa and to test previous hypotheses of Neotropical speciation.
Abstract: Aim We used inferences of phylogenetic relationships and divergence times for three lineages of highland pitvipers to identify broad-scale historical events that have shaped the evolutionary history of Middle American highland taxa, and to test previous hypotheses of Neotropical speciation.
Location Middle America (Central America and Mexico).
Methods We used 2306 base pairs of mitochondrial gene sequences from 178 individuals to estimate the phylogeny and divergence times of New World pitviper lineages, focusing on three genera (Atropoides, Bothriechis and Cerrophidion) that are broadly co-distributed across Middle American highlands.
Results We found strong correspondence across three highland lineages for temporally and geographically coincident divergences in the Miocene and Pliocene, and further identified widespread within-species divergences across multiple lineages that occurred in the early–middle Pleistocene.
Main conclusions Available data suggest that there were at least three major historical events in Middle America that had broad impacts on species divergence and lineage diversification among highland taxa. In addition, we find widespread within-species genetic structure that may be attributable to the climatic changes that affected gene flow among highland taxa during the middle–late Pleistocene.
190 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that: (1) model choice may have important practical effects on phylogenetic conclusions even for mesoscale datasets, and the use of a complex partitioned model did not produce widespread increases or decreases in nodal posterior probability support, and most differences in resolution resulting from model choice were concentrated at deeper nodes.
76 citations
TL;DR: Venoms of P. nasutum and P. ophryomegas, despite containing abundant metalloproteinases and serine proteinases, lack procoagulant activity on human plasma, in contrast to venom of C. godmani, which induced strong myotoxicity in mice, which correlates with its high proportion of phospholipases A(2).
54 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that the current taxonomy may underestimate species diversity within this group and use the phylogeny recovered for A. nummifer and A. olmec to discuss geological and climatic events that may historically have affected gene flow within this complex.
Abstract: We used 1400 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence from two gene fragments (ND4 and cyt-b) to investigate phylogenetic relationships within Atropoides, with emphasis on the subspecies of A. nummifer. Although many relationships within the genus are strongly supported, monophyly of Atropoides was never supported, although it could not be rejected with statistical confidence. In most analyses, the genus was paraphyletic with respect to Porthidium and Cerrophidion, due to the problematic placement of A. picadoi. Our results suggest that the current taxonomy may underestimate species diversity within this group. Atropoides nummifer was found to comprise three distinct phylogroups, generally coinciding with the current subspecies recognized under A. nummifer but paraphyletic with respect to A. olmec. Additionally, disjunct populations previously thought to represent A. nummifer in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, appear to represent A. olmec. We use the phylogeny recovered for A. nummifer and A. olmec t...
43 citations
30 Sep 2010
TL;DR: The evaluation of the ability of a polyspecific antivenom manufactured in Costa Rica to recognize the proteins of Atropoides mexicanus and A. picadoi venoms revealed the low immunogenicity of a number of venom components (PLA2s, CRISPs, P-I SVMPs, and some serine proteinases), underscoring the need to search for innovative immunization protocols to improve the immune response to these antigens.
Abstract: Viperid snakes of the genus Atropoides are distributed in Mexico and Central America and, owing to their size and venom yield, are capable of provoking severe envenomings in humans. This study evaluated, using an ‘antivenomics’ approach, the ability of a polyspecific (polyvalent) antivenom manufactured in Costa Rica to recognize the proteins of Atropoides mexicanus and A. picadoi venoms, which are not included in the immunization mixture. In addition, the neutralization of lethal, hemorrhagic, myotoxic, coagulant, proteinase and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities of these venoms by the antivenom was assessed. The antivenom was highly-effective in immunodepleting many venom components, particularly high molecular mass P-III metalloproteinases (SVMPs), L-amino acid oxidases, and some serine proteinases and P-I SVMPs. In contrast, PLA2s, certain serine proteinases and P-I SVMPs, and a C type lectin-like protein were only partially immunodepleted, and two PLA2 molecules were not depleted at all. The antivenom was able to neutralize all toxic and enzymatic activities tested, although neutralization of lethality by A. nummifer venom was achieved when a challenge dose of 3 LD50s of venom was used, but was iffective when 4 LD50s were used. These results, and previously obtained evidence on the immunoreactivity of this antivenom towards homologous and heterologous venoms, revealed the low immunogenicity of a number of venom components (PLA2s, CRISPs, P-I SVMPs, and some serine proteinases), underscoring the need to search for innovative immunization protocols to improve the immune response to these antigens.
36 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |