IMMUNOGEN ANTIVENOM AND VACCINE AGAINST THE VENOM OF THE BLACK WIDOW SP IDER

摘要

The invention relates to a recombinant polypeptide that comprises the N- terminal region of .alpha.-Latrotoxin, is capable of generating an immune response in mammals and efficiently and fully neutralizes the venom of the black widow spider. The invention also relates to the cDNA coding for said polypeptide, the vector for the expression thereof, the bacterial cells transformed into said vector and the method for producing the polypeptide by means of cultivation of said cells. The invention further relates to the use of said recombinant polypeptide as a vaccine against the poison of the black widow spider and to the pharmaceutically acceptable preparations of said vaccine. The invention additionally relates to the use of said recombinant polypeptide as immunogen for generating antivenom serum for the black widow spider, obtaining serotherapeutic agents by serum purification and fab therapeutic agents by enzymatic hydrolysis of the antibodies of the serum. T he invention also relates to an immunogen matrix that is useful in the separati on and purification of antibodies and the specific fragments thereof against th e venom of the black widow spider.