Biotechnological Trends in Spider and Scorpion Antivenom Development

Spiders and scorpions are notorious for their fearful dispositions and their ability to inject venom into prey and predators, causing symptoms such as necrosis, paralysis, and excruciating pain. Information on venom composition and the toxins present in these species is growing due to an interest in using bioactive toxins from spiders and scorpions for drug discovery purposes and for solving crystal structures of membrane-embedded receptors. Additionally, the identification and isolation of a myriad of spider and scorpion toxins has allowed research within next generation antivenoms to progress at an increasingly faster pace. In this review, the current knowledge of spider and scorpion venoms is presented, followed by a discussion of all published biotechnological efforts within development of spider and scorpion antitoxins based on small molecules, antibodies and fragments thereof, and next generation immunization strategies. The increasing number of discovery and development efforts within this field may point towards an upcoming transition from serum-based antivenoms towards therapeutic solutions based on modern biotechnology

Scorpion venom: pharmacological analysis and its applications

Scorpions belong to class: Arachnida, order: Scorpionida represented now by approximately 1500 species. These are one of the most ancient group of the animals on the earth conserving their morphology almost unaltered and are the most successful inhabitants of the earth. Scorpions when stimulated secrete venom which is a cocktail of variable concentration of neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, nephrotoxins, hemolytic toxins, phosphodiesterases, phospholipases, hyaluronidase, glucosaminoglycans, histamine, seratonin, tryptophan and cytokine releasers. According to an estimate, frequency of deaths caused by scorpion sting is higher in comparison to that of caused by snake-bite. Almost all of these lethal scorpions except Hemiscorpious species belong to scorpion family Buthidae comprising 500 species. Scorpion venoms show variable reactions in envenomated patients. However, closer the phylogenic relationship among the scorpions, more similar the immunological properties. Furthermore, various constituents of venom may act directly or indirectly and individually or synergistically to exert their effects. Scorpion stings cause a wide range of conditions from severe local skin reactions to neurologic, respiratory and cardiovascular collapse. Lethal members of Buthidae family include Buthus, Parabuthus, Mesobuthus, Tityus, Leiurus, Androctonus and Centruroides. Besides their lethal properties, scorpion venoms have some unique properties beneficial to mankind. These contain anti-insect, antimicrobial and anticancer properties and thus, can play a key role in the insect pest management programmes, treatment of microbial infection and in the treatment of various cancer types. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.99807

Target-Specificity in Scorpions; Comparing Lethality of Scorpion Venoms across Arthropods and Vertebrates

ABSTARCT: Scorpions use their venom in defensive situations as well as for subduing prey. Since some species of scorpion use their venom more in defensive situations than others, this may have led to selection for differences in effectiveness in defensive situations. Here, we compared the LD50 of the venom of 10 species of scorpions on five different species of target organisms; two insects and three vertebrates. We found little correlation between the target species in the efficacy of the different scorpion venoms. Only the two insects showed a positive correlation, indicating that they responded similarly to the panel of scorpion venoms. We discuss the lack of positive correlation between the vertebrate target species in the light of their evolution and development. When comparing the responses of the target systems to individual scorpion venoms pairwise, we found that closely related scorpion species tend to elicit a similar response pattern across the target species. This was further reflected in a significant phylogenetic signal across the scorpion phylogeny for the LD50 in mice and in zebrafish. We also provide the first mouse LD50 value for Grosphusgrandidieri

Effects of Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) venom on rat metabolism

Scorpions are venomous arthropods of the Arachnida class and are considered relatives of spiders, ticks and mites. There is not any study about the biochemical effects of Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) venom. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed at evaluating the toxicity of the venom from A. crassicauda, which is responsible for a number of deaths of infants, children and adults in tropical and subtropical countries. For this purpose, rats (n=35) were divided into seven groups of five animals each; venom solutions (250µg/kg) were subcutaneously injected into rats; blood samples were taken from each animal at various times; and serum biochemical parameters were measured (levels of total proteins, total bilirubin, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, sodium, chlorine, potassium and calcium, and the activity of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase). Serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and uric acid increased in envenomed animals, compared to controls. There was a statistically positive correlation between Na+ and Cl- ions

BotAF, a new Buthus occitanus tunetanus scorpion toxin, produces potent analgesia in rodents

International audienceThis work reports the purification of new potent scorpion neuropeptide, named BotAF, by an activity-guided screening approach. BotAF is a 64-residue long-chain peptide that shares very high similarity with the original β-like scorpion toxin group, in which several peptides have been characterized to be anti-nociceptive in rodents. BotAF administration to rodents does not produce any toxicity or motor impairment, including at high doses. In all models investigated, BotAF turned out to be an efficient peptide in abolishing acute and inflammatory (both somatic and visceral) pain in rodents. It performs with high potency compared to standard analgesics tested in the same conditions. The anti-nociceptive activity of BotAF depends on the route of injection: it is inactive when tested by i.c.v. or i.v. routes but gains in potency when pre-injected locally (in the same compartment than the irritant itself) or by i.t. root 40 to 60 min before pain induction, respectively. BotAF is not an AINS-like compound as it fails to reduce inflammatory edema. Also, it does not activate the opioidergic system as its activity is not affected by naloxone. BotAF does also not bind onto RyR and has low activity towards DRG ion channels (particularly TTX sensitive Na+ channels) and does not bind onto rat brain synaptosome receptors. In somatic and visceral pain models, BotAF dose-dependently inhibited lumbar spinal cord c-fos/c-jun mRNA up regulation. Altogether, ou

Androctonus crassicauda ve mesobuthus gibbosus türü akrep venomlarının izole sıçan vas deferens üzerindeki etkileri

Tez (yüksek lisans) - Anadolu ÜniversitesiAnadolu Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Farmakoloji Anabilim DalıKayıt no: 458784Androctonus crassicauda ve Mesobuthus gibbosus Türkiye'de yaşayan ve medikal önemi olan iki farklı türdür. Bu çalışmada bu akrep vcnomlarının izole sıçan vas deferens üzerindeki etkilerinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Her iki venomun hem biyokimyasal olarak hem de vas deferens üzerinde farmakolojik olarak farklı olduğu görülmüştür. Venom çalışmalarında vas deferens epididimal kısmında çalışılmasının daha iyi sonuçlar verdiği bulunmuştur. Vas deferens üzerinde liyofilize A. crassicauda ham venomu, KC1 ile antagonize olan sürekli kasılmaya neden olmuş ve Phe kasılmalarını inhibe etmiştir. M. gibbosus KC1 kasılmalarını artırmıştır. Her iki venomun adrenerjik reseptörler ile birbirinden farklı şekillerde etkileştiği bulunmuştur. Sadece A.crassicauda TEA ile etkileşme gösterirken her iki venom kalsiyum cevapları üzerinde herhangi bir etki göstermemişlerdir. TEA ile etkileşmesi ve KC1 ile kasılmaların inhibe olması ile A crassicauda venomunun K+ kanalları ile etkileştiği anlaşılmıştır. Androctonus crassicauda ve Mesobuthus gibbosus kaynaklı fraksiyonlar ile ham venomlara benzer olmayan sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Origanum onites ile A. crassicauda venomu arasında inhibitör nitelikte bir etkileşmenin varlığı gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada Androctonus crassicauda ve Mesobuthus gibbosus venomlarının adrenerjik reseptörler ve K+ kanalları ile etkileştikleri ve vas deferens'in özellikle epididimal parçasının akrep venomu için bir bioassay organı olarak kullanılabileceği çalışmamızdagösterilmiş bulunmaktadır

Clinical Profile and ECG Changes in Scorpion Envenomation

1. In this study, the incidence of scorpion sting in males(56.6%) was found to be higher than females. 2. The incidence of scorpion envenomation was found to be maximum in the age group of 31-40 years (33%) and 21-30 years (29%). This indicates the risk of exposure to the scorpion sting at work place and during household chores. 3. More patients presented to the Poison center in the night (53%) than in the morning. This is in line with the predatory pattern of the scorpions and the risk of disturbing scorpion homes in the darkness of the night. 4. Fifty –nine percent of the patients presented with Grade 1 envenomation. Seven percent with Grade 2 and thirty four percent with Grade 3 envenomation. 5. Hand was the commonest site of sting in this study. Most of the scorpion stings were accidental and occurred indoors. 6. Pain (83%) and Tachycardia (19%) were the commonest presenting symptom and sign respectively. 7. Sinus tachycardia (6%) was the commonest ECG abnormality seen in the study. 8. There was no significant difference in clinical presentation with respect to age group and gender.(P value=0.20447). 9. The patients who presented late to the emergency room after scorpion sting were found to have greater morbidity.(P value<0.001). 10.There was statistical significance in the relationship between ECG change and biochemical markers CPK and CPK-MB. 11.Patients with Grade 1 envenomation treated with local infiltration of lidocaine at the pain site, anxiolytics , antibiotics and observed. Those with Grade 3 envenomation required oxygen and managed with intravenous fluids and inotropic agents for shock. One of the three patients with pulmonary edema required mechanical ventilation. 12. The transient hyperglycemia and hypertension observed in patients with severe envenomation resolved in 48 hours