Modern venomics – Current insights, novel methods and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit

Range extension of lyciasalamandra antalyana (Basoglu & Baran, 1976) (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae)

We report 17 specimens of the Lycian salamander Lyciasalamandra antalyana, endemic to Turkey from Burdur province, in the western Mediterranean region of Anatolia. Previously all known localities for L. antalyana were in Antalya province. These new records extend the known distribution area of the species to Burdur province in Turkey. These new specimens were compared with L. antalyana specimens from some other known localities (Hurma and Yagca populations) in terms of morphological and serological features. According to coloration and metric characters, our specimens can be included in L. antalyana. This paper represents a considerable range extension for this species, 32 km air distance to the north-east and reports L. antalyana from Burdur province for the first time. ©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2013

Subcapsular hemorrhage of adult Wilms' tumor

Wilms' tumor is a rare malignancy of kidney in adults. It usually cannot be differentiated from other renal masses preoperatively. This is a presentation of a case of adult Wilms' tumor who developed spontaneous hemorrhage during radiological evaluation, As tumor rupture can change the stage of the tumor and alter the prognosis of the patient, urgent work-up and treatment is advised. (C) Elsevier Science inc., 1999

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver presenting with obstructive jaundice

Inflammatory pseudotumours are rare benign tumours characterized by an inflammatory process and can occur in any system. We present a case of inflammatory pseudotumours of the liver presenting with obstructive jaundice due to a mass forming lesion in the left lobe of the liver which was treated by left hepatic lobectomy. Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver is a benign lesion and diagnosis with an image examination is difficult. Surgical management depends on the location of the lesion. Peripheral hepatic pseudotumours may be treated with simple observation or conservative therapy. In contrast to this, those involving the porta hepatis require treatment for obstructive jaundice

In vitro cytotoxic and proapoptotic activities of anatolian Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Dwigubski, 1832) crude venom on cultured K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells [Anadolu’da yayiliş gösteren Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Dwigubski, 1832) zehrinin k562 insan kronik myeloid lösemi hücreleri üzerinde in vitro sitotoksik ve apoptotik aktiviteleri]

In the context of searching for anticancer compounds in natural products, snake venom is one of the important sources for peptide/ protein based bioactive molecules. Proteins and peptides with anticancer activity were purified and identified from snake venoms. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro cytotoxicity of Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Blunt-Nosed Viper) crude venom from southeastern Anatolia against K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Adenosine tripohsphate (ATP) assays. Additionally, the apoptosis induction was assessed by morphological evaluation and immunohistochemical analysis for activated caspase-3. For histopahtological evaluation, haematoxylineosin, giemsa and papanicolau stains were used in combination. M. l. obtusa venom showed dose-dependent toxicity against K562 cells after 72 h treatment with different concentrations of crude venom. IC50 values were 0.45 and 0.37 µg/mL for MTT and ATP assays, respectively. Nuclear fragmentation and condensation, apoptotic bodies and activation of caspase-3, as an induction of apoptosis were also observed in K562 cells. Since apoptosis-inducing compounds are important for the treatment of cancer, further studies on Anatolian M. l. obtusa venom could result in the purification and identification of new proteins and peptides, which might have therapeutic value for the treatment of CML. © 2016, UHOD - Uluslararasi Hematoloji Onkoloji Dergisi. All rights reserved

Echo contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography for assessment of angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma.

Objective. Tumoral growth is an angiogenesis-dependent event. Although there are studies about the importance of histopathologic angiogenesis in various malignancies, the assessment of the angiogenesis by radiologic techniques is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of echo contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) in determining the angiogenic status of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods. Power Doppler ultrasonography was performed before and after intravenous administration of an echo contrast agent in 42 patients with renal masses. Twenty-one of these renal masses were diagnosed as RCC histopathologically, and these 21 patients were reevaluated retrospectively. The color pixel ratios of selected images were calculated as the ratio of the number of pixels showing power Doppler signals to the total number of pixels within the lesion. The results were compared with the histopathologic microvessel density (MVD). Results. A significant correlation was found between color pixel ratio and MVD values in both PDUS techniques. The use of the echo contrast agent improved this correlation and P values (Spearman p from 0.436 to 0.551; P from .048 to .01). Conclusions. Color pixel ratio values reflect the MVD in RCC. Therefore, these results suggest that preoperative quantification of angiogenesis can be possible with the help of PDUS in RCC