Comparative proteomic analysis of two wasps venom, Vespa tropica and Vespa affinis

• Appearances are similar but Vespa tropica is bigger with more potent venom.
• V. tropica is a subterranean while Vespa affinis hangs nest on trees, close to people.
• Major venom components were hyaluronidase, phospholipase, dipeptidyl peptidase.
• Hyaluronidase proportionally 2.5 times higher in V. tropica than V. affinis venom.
• 3 major enzymes showed relative higher activities in V. tropica venom.

Vespid venom is composed of many bioactive compounds. The venom of the banded tiger wasp (Vespa affinis, or VA) and the great banded wasp (Vespa tropica, or VT)—which are locally found in the northeastern part of Thailand and are well known for their life-threatening venom potency—were comparatively studied in terms of potency, composition and biological activity. Clinical studies that included word-of-mouth information shared by traditional healers in local areas noted that the venom of VT is more potent than that of VA. Our previous study showed that the venom of VA is lower in potency (PD50 = 12.5 μg/g body weight) than that of VT (PD50 = 3 μg/g body weight). Analysis with the PAGE technique showed that these two venoms showed similar patterns of active proteins. Most protein spots were basic proteins at an isoelectric point (pI) ranging from 5 to 10, with molecular weights between 27 and 50 kDa. These spots were identified as hyaluronidase, phospholipase, antigen 5, dipeptidyl peptidase and albumin-like protein. The proportion of hyaluronidase was 2.5 times higher in VT than in VA. VT also showed higher hyaluronidase, phospholipase and dipeptidyl peptidase activities, suggesting that these components made VT venom more potent than VA venom.