Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Taiwan cobra envenoming: serum venom concentration before and after specific treatment and relationship with debridement of necrotic wound tissue.","authors":"Chia-Cheng Wang,&nbsp;Chun-Hsiang Ou Yang,&nbsp;Chih-Po Hsu,&nbsp;Chien-Chun Liu,&nbsp;Jau-Song Yu,&nbsp;Chih-Hong Lo,&nbsp;Wen-Chih Fann,&nbsp;Yen-Chia Chen,&nbsp;Chih Chuan Lin","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bivalent freeze-dried neurotoxic (FN) antivenom has been the primary treatment since the 1980s for Taiwan cobra (<i>Naja atra</i>) envenomation in Taiwan. However, envenomation-related wound necrosis is a significant problem after cobra snakebites. In the present study, we analyzed the changes in serum venom concentration before and after antivenom administration to discover their clinical implications and the surgical treatment options for wound necrosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The patients were divided into limb swelling and wound necrosis groups. The clinical outcome was that swelling started to subside 12 hours after antivenom treatment in the first group. Serum venom concentrations before and after using antivenoms were measured to assess the antivenom's ability to neutralize the circulating cobra venom. The venom levels in wound wet dressing gauzes, blister fluids, and debrided tissues were also investigated to determine their clinical significance. We also observed the evolutional changes of wound necrosis and chose a better wound debridement timing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We prospectively enrolled 15 Taiwan cobra snakebite patients. Males accounted for most of this study population (n = 11, 73%). The wound necrosis group received more antivenom doses than the limb swelling group (4; IQR:2-6 vs 1; IQR:1-2, p = 0.05), and less records of serum venom concentrations changed before/after antivenom use (p = 0.0079). The necrotic wound site may release venom into circulation and cause more severe envenomation symptoms. Antivenom can efficiently diminish limb swelling in cobra bite patients. However, antivenom cannot reduce wound necrosis. Patients with early debridement of wound necrosis had a better limb outcome, while late or without debridement may have long-term hospital stay and distal limb morbidity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Antivenom can efficiently eliminate the circulating cobra venom in limb swelling patients without wound necrosis. Early debridement of the bite site wound and wet dressing management are suggestions for preventing extended tissue necrosis and hospital stay.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220027"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9851669/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9153153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimalarial potential of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam. (Moringaceae): A review of the ethnomedicinal, pharmacological, toxicological, and phytochemical evidence.","authors":"José Jailson Lima Bezerra,&nbsp;Anderson Angel Vieira Pinheiro,&nbsp;Douglas Dourado","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several regions of the world frequently use the species <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam. (Moringaceae) in traditional medicine. This situation is even more common in African countries. Many literature reports point to the antimalarial potential of this species, indicating the efficacy of its chemical compounds against malaria-causing parasites of the genus <i>Plasmodium</i>. From this perspective, the present study reviews the ethnobotanical, pharmacological, toxicological, and phytochemical (flavonoids) evidence of <i>M. oleifera</i>, focusing on the treatment of malaria. Scientific articles were retrieved from Google Scholar, PubMed^®, ScienceDirect^®, and SciELO databases. Only articles published between 2002 and 2022 were selected. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, this review used a total of 72 articles. These documents mention a large use of <i>M. oleifera</i> for the treatment of malaria in African and Asian countries. The leaves (63%) of this plant are the main parts used in the preparation of herbal medicines. The <i>in vivo</i> antimalarial activity of <i>M. oleifera</i> was confirmed through several studies using polar and nonpolar extracts, fractions obtained from the extracts, infusion, pellets, and oils obtained from this plant and tested in rodents infected by the following parasites of the genus <i>Plasmodium</i>: <i>P. berghei, P. falciparum, P. yoelii</i>, and <i>P. chabaudi</i>. Extracts obtained from <i>M. oleifera</i> showed no toxicity in preclinical tests. A total of 46 flavonoids were identified in the leaves and seeds of <i>M. oleifera</i> by different chromatography and mass spectrometry methods. Despite the scarcity of research on the antimalarial potential of compounds isolated from <i>M. oleifera</i>, the positive effects against malaria-causing parasites in previous studies are likely to correlate with the flavonoids that occur in this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220079"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10231345/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9572401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COVID-19 impacts on healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa: an overview.","authors":"Jean-Philippe Chippaux","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2023-0002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This overview aimed to describe the situation of healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A PubMed^® search from March 31, 2020, to August 15, 2022, selected 116 articles. Healthcare access and consequences of COVID-19 were assessed based on comparisons with months before its onset or an identical season in previous years. A general reduction of healthcare delivery, associated with the decline of care quality, and closure of many specialty services were reported. The impact was heterogeneous in space and time, with an increase in urban areas at the beginning of the pandemic (March-June 2020). The return to normalcy was gradual from the 3^rd quarter of 2020 until the end of 2021. The impact of COVID-19 on the health system and its use was attributed to (a) conjunctural factors resulting from government actions to mitigate the spread of the epidemic (containment, transportation restrictions, closures of businesses, and places of entertainment or worship); (b) structural factors related to the disruption of public and private facilities and institutions, in particular, the health system; and (c) individual factors linked to the increase in costs, impoverishment of the population, and fear of contamination or stigmatization, which discouraged patients from going to health centers. They have caused considerable socio-economic damage. Several studies emphasized some adaptability of the healthcare offer and resilience of the healthcare system, despite its unpreparedness, which explained a return to normal activities as early as 2022 while the COVID-19 epidemic persisted. There appears to be a strong disproportion between the moderate incidence and severity of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa, and the dramatic impact on healthcare access. Several articles make recommendations for lowering the socioeconomic consequences of future epidemics to ensure better management of health issues.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20230002"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10317188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9805962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Glutamine ameliorates <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> venom-induced lung and heart injury through HSP70: NF-κB p65 and P53/PUMA signaling pathways involved.","authors":"Yalan Li,&nbsp;Zhezhe Guan,&nbsp;Shaocong Hu,&nbsp;Zhi Huang,&nbsp;Dongling He,&nbsp;Xiaoyang Cheng,&nbsp;Tianlin Song,&nbsp;Caifeng Mo,&nbsp;Manqi Xiao,&nbsp;Yue Huang,&nbsp;Yuanmei Wei,&nbsp;Yi Zhou,&nbsp;Xuerong Zhang,&nbsp;Ming Liao","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> is one of the most dangerous venomous snakes prone to cardiopulmonary damage with extremely high mortality. In our previous work, we found that glutamine (Gln) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in pig serum were significantly reduced after <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> bite. In the present study, to explore whether there is a link between the pathogenesis of cardiopulmonary injury and Gln metabolic changes induced by <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> venom. We investigated the effect of Gln supplementation on the lung and heart function after snakebite.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We supplemented different concentrations of Gln to mice that were envenomated by <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> to observe the biological behavior, survival rate, hematological and pathological changes. Gln was supplemented immediately or one hour after the venom injection, and then changes in Gln metabolism were analyzed. Subsequently, to further explore the protective mechanism of glutamine on tissue damage, we measured the expression of heat-shock protein70 (HSP70), NF-κB P65, P53/PUMA by western blotting and real-time polymerase in the lung and heart.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Gln supplementation delayed the envenoming symptoms, reduced mortality, and alleviated the histopathological changes in the heart and lung of mice bitten by <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i>. Additionally, Gln increased the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and glutaminase (GLS) in serum. It also balanced the transporter SLC7A11 expression in heart and lung tissues. <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> venom induced the NF-κB nuclear translocation in the lung, while the HO-1 expression was suppressed. At the same time, venom activated the P53/PUMA signaling pathway and the BAX expression in the heart. Gln treatment reversed the above phenomenon and increased HSP70 expression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Gln alleviated the glutamine metabolism disorder and cardiopulmonary damage caused by <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> venom. It may protect lungs and heart against venom by promoting the expression of HSP70, inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and P53/PUMA, thereby delaying the process of snake venom and reducing mortality. The present results indicate that Gln could be a potential treatment for <i>Bungarus multicinctus</i> bite.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220080"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10334810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9819992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Propolis anti-inflammatory effects on MAGE-1 and retinoic acid-treated dendritic cells and on Th1 and T regulatory cells.","authors":"Karina Basso Santiago,&nbsp;Bruno José Conti,&nbsp;Eliza de Oliveira Cardoso,&nbsp;Fernanda Lopes Conte,&nbsp;Karen Ingrid Tasca,&nbsp;Graziela Gorete Romagnoli,&nbsp;Marjorie de Assis Golim,&nbsp;Maria Tereza Cruz,&nbsp;José Maurício Sforcin","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0044","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Background: Propolis exhibits huge potential in the pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, its effects were investigated on dendritic cells (DCs) stimulated with a tumor antigen (MAGE-1) and retinoic acid (RA) and on T lymphocytes to observe a possible differential activation of T lymphocytes, driving preferentially to Th1 or Treg cells. Methods: Cell viability, lymphocyte proliferation, gene expression (T-bet and FoxP3), and cytokine production by DCs (TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 and IL-1β) and lymphocytes (IFN-γ and TGF-β) were analyzed. Results: MAGE-1 and RA alone or in combination with propolis inhibited TNF-α production and induced a higher lymphoproliferation compared to control, while MAGE-1 + propolis induced IL-6 production. Propolis in combination with RA induced FoxP3 expression. MAGE-1 induced IFN-γ production while propolis inhibited it, returning to basal levels. RA inhibited TGF-β production, what was counteracted by propolis. Conclusion: Propolis affected immunological parameters inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and favoring the regulatory profile, opening perspectives for the control of inflammatory conditions.","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220044"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9851646/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9153152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cone snail species off the Brazilian coast and their venoms: a review and update.","authors":"Helena B Fiorotti,&nbsp;Suely G Figueiredo,&nbsp;Fabiana V Campos,&nbsp;Daniel C Pimenta","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The genus <i>Conus</i> includes over 900 species of marine invertebrates known as cone snails, whose venoms are among the most powerful described so far. This potency is mainly due to the concerted action of hundreds of small bioactive peptides named conopeptides, which target different ion channels and membrane receptors and thus interfere with crucial physiological processes. By swiftly harpooning and injecting their prey and predators with such deadly cocktails, the slow-moving cone snails guarantee their survival in the harsh, competitive marine environment. Each cone snail species produces a unique venom, as the mature sequences of conopeptides from the venoms of different species share very little identity. This biochemical diversity, added to the numerous species and conopeptides contained in their venoms, results in an immense biotechnological and therapeutic potential, still largely unexplored. That is especially true regarding the bioprospection of the venoms of cone snail species found off the Brazilian coast - a region widely known for its biodiversity. Of the 31 species described in this region so far, only four - <i>Conus cancellatus</i>, <i>Conus regius</i>, <i>Conus villepinii</i>, and <i>Conus ermineus</i> - have had their venoms partially characterized, and, although many bioactive molecules have been identified, only a few have been actually isolated and studied. In addition to providing an overview on all the cone snail species found off the Brazilian coast to date, this review compiles the information on the structural and pharmacological features of conopeptides and other molecules identified in the venoms of the four aforementioned species, paving the way for future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220052"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9897318/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10689694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparing modified Lee and White method against 20-minute whole blood clotting test as bedside coagulation screening test in snake envenomation victims.","authors":"Appu Suseel,&nbsp;Siju V Abraham,&nbsp;Sarah Paul,&nbsp;Maglin Monica Lisa Tomy,&nbsp;Aboobacker Mohamed Rafi","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Twenty-minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) and Modified Lee and White (MLW) method are the most routinely employed bedside tests for detecting coagulopathic snake envenomation. Our study compared the diagnostic utility of MLW and 20WBCT for snakebite victims at a tertiary care hospital in Central Kerala, South India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center study recruited 267 patients admitted with snake bites. 20WBCT and MLW were performed simultaneously at admission along with the measurement of Prothrombin Time (PT). The diagnostic utility of 20WBCT and MLW was determined by comparing the sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios, and accuracy at admission with an INR value > 1.4.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 267 patients, 20 (7.5%) patients had VICC. Amongst those who had venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC), MLW was prolonged for 17 patients, (Sn 85% 95% confidence interval [CI]: 61.1-96.0) whereas 20WBCT was abnormal for 11 patients (Sn 55%, 95% CI: 32.04-76.17). MLW and 20WBCT were falsely positive for the same patient (Sp 99.6%, 95% CI: 97.4-99.9%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MLW is more sensitive than 20WBCT to detect coagulopathy at the bedside amongst snakebite victims. However, further studies are necessary for standardizing bedside coagulation tests in snakebite cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220088"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10278964/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9709683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproducibility of double agar gel immunodiffusion test using stored serum and plasma from paracoccidioidomycosis patients.","authors":"Karina Andressa Tomazini,&nbsp;Beatriz Aparecida Soares Pereira,&nbsp;Tatiane Fernanda Sylvestre,&nbsp;Ricardo de Souza Cavalcante,&nbsp;Lídia Raquel de Carvalho,&nbsp;Rinaldo Poncio Mendes","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Serological evaluation performed by double agar gel immunodiffusion test (DID) is used for diagnosis, evaluation of severity, management of paracoccidioidomycosis patients, and development of new clinical studies. For these reasons, the Botucatu Medical School of UNESP maintains a serum bank at the Experimental Research Unit with patient clinical data. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the freeze-thaw cycle and different blood matrices on the titration of circulating antibodies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 207 patients with confirmed (etiology-demonstrated) or probable (serology-demonstrated) paracoccidioidomycosis, and DID was performed with culture filtrate from <i>Paracoccidioides brasiliensis</i> B339 as antigen. First experiment: the antibody levels were determined in serum samples from 160 patients with the chronic form and 20 with the acute/subacute form, stored at -80^oC for more than six months. Second experiment: titers of 81 samples of serum and plasma with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or heparin, from 27 patients, were compared according to matrix and effect of storage at -20^oC for up to six months. Differences of titers higher than one dilution were considered discordant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>First experiment: test and retest presented concordant results in serum stored for up to three years, and discordant titers in low incidence in storage for four to six years but high incidence when stored for more than six years, including conversion from reagent test to non-reagent retest. Second experiment: serum, plasma-EDTA and plasma-heparin samples showed concordant titers, presenting direct correlation, with no interference of storage for up to six months.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Storage at -80^oC for up to six years has no or little influence on the serum titers determined by DID, permitting its safe use in studies depending on this parameter. The concordant titrations in different blood matrices demonstrated that the plasma can be used for immunodiffusion test in paracoccidioidomycosis, with stability for at least six months after storage at -20^oC.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9842191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10544834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptome analysis of the spider <i>Phonotimpus pennimani</i> reveals novel toxin transcripts.","authors":"Jonathan David Baza-Moreno,&nbsp;Leticia Vega-Alvarado,&nbsp;Guillermo Ibarra-Núñez,&nbsp;Karina Guillén-Navarro,&nbsp;Luz Verónica García-Fajardo,&nbsp;Verónica Jiménez-Jacinto,&nbsp;Elia Diego-García","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Phonotimpus pennimani</i> (Araneae, Phrurolithidae) is a small-sized (3-5 mm) spider endemic to the Tacaná volcano in Chiapas, Mexico, where it is found in soil litter of cloud forests and coffee plantations. Its venom composition has so far not been investigated, partly because it is not a species of medical significance. However, it does have an important impact on the arthropod populations of its natural habitat.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Specimens were collected in Southeastern Mexico (Chiapas) and identified taxonomically by morphological characteristics. A partial sequence from the mitochondrial gene <i>coxI</i> was amplified. Sequencing on the Illumina platform of a transcriptome library constructed from 12 adult specimens revealed 25 toxin or toxin-like genes. Transcripts were validated (RT-qPCR) by assessing the differential expression of the toxin-like PpenTox1 transcript and normalising with housekeeping genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of the <i>coxI</i>-gene revealed a similarity to other species of the family Phrurolithidae. Transcriptome analysis also revealed similarity with venom components of species from the families Ctenidae, Lycosidae, and Sicariidae. Expression of the toxin-like PpenTox1 gene was different for each developmental stage (juvenile or adult) and also for both sexes (female or male). Additionally, a partial sequence was obtained for the toxin-like PpenTox1 from DNA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Data from the amplification of the mitochondrial <i>coxI</i> gene confirmed that <i>P. pennimani</i> belongs to the family Phrurolithidae. New genes and transcripts coding for venom components were identified.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220031"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9881743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9153155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"O1-conotoxin Tx6.7 cloned from the genomic DNA of <i>Conus textile</i> that inhibits calcium currents.","authors":"Maojun Zhou,&nbsp;Manyi Yang,&nbsp;Huiling Wen,&nbsp;Shun Xu,&nbsp;Cuifang Han,&nbsp;Yun Wu","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2022-0085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Conotoxins exhibit great potential as neuropharmacology tools and therapeutic candidates due to their high affinity and specificity for ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors or transporters. The traditional methods to discover new conotoxins are peptide purification from the crude venom or gene amplification from the venom duct.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, a novel O1 superfamily conotoxin Tx6.7 was directly cloned from the genomic DNA of <i>Conus textile</i> using primers corresponding to the conserved intronic sequence and 3' UTR elements. The mature peptide of Tx6.7 (DCHERWDWCPASLLGVIYCCEGLICFIAFCI) was synthesized by solid-phase chemical synthesis and confirmed by mass spectrometry.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patch clamp experiments on rat DRG neurons showed that Tx6.7 inhibited peak calcium currents by 59.29 ± 2.34% and peak potassium currents by 22.33 ± 7.81%. In addition, patch clamp on the ion channel subtypes showed that 10 μM Tx6.7 inhibited 56.61 ± 3.20% of the hCa_V1.2 currents, 24.67 ± 0.91% of the hCa_V2.2 currents and 7.30 ± 3.38% of the hNa_V1.8 currents. Tx6.7 had no significant toxicity to ND7/23 cells and increased the pain threshold from 0.5 to 4 hours in the mouse hot plate assay.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggested that direct cloning of conotoxin sequences from the genomic DNA of cone snails would be an alternative approach to obtaining novel conotoxins. Tx6.7 could be used as a probe tool for ion channel research or a therapeutic candidate for novel drug development.</p>","PeriodicalId":17565,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases","volume":"29 ","pages":"e20220085"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10241523/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9592190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}