Toxicon: X最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of Stemona collinsiae root extracts for topical cockroach control: adulticidal, nymphicidal, and chemical distribution analysis","authors":"Aurapa Sakulpanich ,&nbsp;Anon Phayakkaphon ,&nbsp;Korawan Ounklong ,&nbsp;Jinnaphat Sommanat ,&nbsp;Yudthana Samung ,&nbsp;Raweewan Srisawat ,&nbsp;Jiraporn Ruangsittichai","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Stemona collinsiae</em> root extracts have been scientifically shown to exhibit antifeedant, growth inhibitory, larvicidal, pupacidal, and adulticidal activities in pests and insect vectors. In this research, contact toxicity of hexane, dichloromethane, ethanol, and water extracts was repeatedly tested on final-instar nymphs and adult <em>Periplaneta americana</em> using a topical application method and the penetration and distribution of didehydrostemofoline were detected at each of the specified times using MALDI-IMS and HPLC. Dichloromethane extract, which contained the highest didehydrostemofoline content, exhibited the highest contact toxicity against final-instar nymphs (41.0–100.0 % corrected mortality) and adult <em>Periplaneta americana</em> (23.0–46.0 % corrected mortality), while <em>P. americana</em> exposed to the water extract survived (0.0 % corrected mortality), similar to negative control group (0.0 % corrected mortality). Signs of toxicity such as excited movement, tremors, depression, motionlessness, expanded abdomen, and affected alimentary canal were observed in <em>P. americana</em> exposed to dichloromethane and hexane extracts. MALDI-IMS images showed that didehydrostemofoline was able to distribute from the sectioned first-abdominal segment to the sectioned head segment. HPLC chromatograms of the extracts of abdominal integument, lipid layer, alimentary canal, and head segment, it revealed that didehydrostemofoline initially adhered to the epicuticle, then penetrated through deeper layers of the integument and was distributed to other tissues. Therefore, <em>P. americana</em> could absorb didehydrostemofoline via topical administration, which was subsequently distributed and transported to other tissues. <em>S. collinsiae</em> dichloromethane root extract containing didehydrostemofoline could potentially be used as active ingredients in cockroach control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis of U-theraphotoxin-Pv1a_1, an Aedes aegypti larvicidal disulfide bridged peptide from the Colombian tarantula Pamphobeteus verdolaga (Araneae: Theraphosidae)","authors":"Sebastián Estrada-Gómez ,&nbsp;Cristian Salinas-Restrepo ,&nbsp;Leidy Johana Vargas-Muñoz ,&nbsp;Fanny Guzmán ,&nbsp;Cesar Segura ,&nbsp;Davinia Pla ,&nbsp;Libia Sanz ,&nbsp;Juan J Calvete","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The attention to the increased resistance of <em>Aedes aegipty</em> to traditional insecticides has been directed to the development of bioinsecticides, such as those produced by insect predators, e.g. spiders. Here we present the solid-phase synthesis of native U-theraphotoxin-Pv1a_1 (n-Pv1a_1) from <em>Pamphobeteus verdolaga</em>, an active (by contact) insecticidal peptide against <em>A. aegipty</em>. U-theraphotoxin-Pv1a_1 sequence was gathered from venom proteomics and venom gland transcriptomics of <em>Pamphobeteus verdolaga</em>, and synthesized by solid phase using the Fmoc strategy followed by dimethyl sulfoxide promoted native disulfide bond formation. The synthetic peptide (s-Pv1a_1) was assayed for larvicidal activity in II and III instar <em>A. aegypti</em> larvae, as well as for cytotoxicity in human red blood and HaCat cells. s-Pv1a_1 showed potent activity towards <em>A</em>. <em>aegypti</em> larvae in the micro molar range, while showing no hemolytic activity and mild cytotoxicity to HaCat cells. Its potent contact activity makes n-Pv1a_1 and its synthetic version, s-Pv1a, promising biopesticides for the control of mosquito populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicon and Toxicon: X - Editorial transitions and future directions in 2025","authors":"Raymond S. Norton ,&nbsp;Denise V. Tambourgi","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100223","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100223"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictive analysis of B-cell antigenic epitopes in phospholipase D toxins from Loxosceles spiders","authors":"Alejandro Catalán ,&nbsp;Carolina García ,&nbsp;Valentina Sambra ,&nbsp;Nicole Cadena ,&nbsp;José Rojas ,&nbsp;Tomás Arán-Sekul ,&nbsp;Juan San Francisco ,&nbsp;Valeria Vásquez-Saez ,&nbsp;Christian Muñoz ,&nbsp;Abel Vásquez ,&nbsp;Jorge E. Araya","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Phospholipase D (PLD) toxin family, a major component of the <em>Loxosceles</em> spider venom, is a valuable biotechnological tool for developing antivenom treatment and diagnostic assays to overcome and prevent loxoscelism. However, there is limited knowledge about the antigenic structure of the PLD family or if sequence diversity correlates with antigenic variability. This study aimed to evaluate the possible antigenic diversity of PLDs sequences among different species of spiders of the <em>Loxosceles</em> genus through a predictive analysis of potential continuous and discontinuous antigenic epitopes of two phylogenetic interspecies clusters. Thus, <em>L. laeta</em> had higher amino acid sequence variation than other species, being classified into three phylogenetic clusters at the intra-specie level. Furthermore, multiple alignments of consensus PLD sequences from each <em>Loxosceles</em> species showed two different phylogenetic clusters at interspecies level depending on the amino acid conservation. For each cluster, at least nine continuous antigenic domains were identified, and depending on the phylogenetic cluster belonging to the <em>Loxosceles</em> species, the PLD continuous and discontinuous antigenic structure varies. Also, <em>L. laeta</em> PLDs vary significantly within the <em>Loxosceles</em> species and possess their own antigenic structure compared to other species with common continuous epitopes. Finally, the catalytic loop was identified as a common discontinuous epitope in the PLDs independently of the cluster or the class it belongs to. This antigenic diversity of PLD toxins could have implications for antibody recognition and should be considered in the design strategies for the development of serum treatments and diagnostic assays to detect <em>Loxosceles</em> venom.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100222"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methods matter: Comparison of techniques used for sea anemone venom extraction","authors":"K.L. Kaposi ,&nbsp;D.T. Wilson ,&nbsp;A. Jones ,&nbsp;J.E. Seymour","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study of cnidarian (coral, sea anemone, and jellyfish) venom provides important evolutionary and ecological insights and unlocks vast opportunities for biodiscovery of novel compounds. The success of the field is dependent on not only the acquisition of sufficient quantities of venom but also the ability to compare venom between species and studies. To date, no direct comparison of the main techniques used to acquire sea anemone venom has been performed to determine the comparability or validity of these methods to yield venom derived from within cnidarian venom apparatus – cnidae. This study aims to compare the venom extracted from a sea anemone via three common methods: isolated cnidae, electrostimulation, and physical manipulation. Using a range of non-targeted proteomic and mass spectrometric techniques, we showed each method yielded distinct differences in both the composition and abundance of components detected for extraction method. Furthermore, few identified components were shared between each of the extraction methods. These results highlight that different venom collection methods yield vastly different results. While further investigation is required, to validate the source of each of the components from within each sample, we argue that sample collection from isolated cnidae is likely to be the most representative of true venom components.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100219"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological and geodemographic patterns of scorpionism in Ecuador: A nationwide analysis (2021–2024)","authors":"Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy ,&nbsp;Camila Miño ,&nbsp;María de Lourdes Noboa-Lasso ,&nbsp;Esteban Ortiz-Prado","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Approximately 1.2 million scorpion stings are reported globally each year, resulting in an estimated 3000 deaths. Of the 2500 known scorpion species, about 40 are considered medically significant. In Ecuador, where at least 47 scorpion species exist, information on scorpion stings remains scarce.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A nationwide cross-sectional analysis was conducted on all officially reported cases of scorpion stings documented in the epidemiological surveillance reports from the Ministry of Public Health in Ecuador between 2021 and 2024.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 1633 cases were identified, with women accounting for 52% of cases (n = 849). The highest incidence was observed among children aged one to four years old, with rates of 18.16 and 19.11 per 100,000 inhabitants for males and females, respectively. Geographically, the Amazon region was the most affected, with the province of Morona Santiago reporting the highest incidence at 284.14 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Scorpion stings represent a significant and underreported public health threat in Ecuador. This study highlights the considerable disease burden, particularly in specific regions of the country, and underscores the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and policy changes, including the local production of antivenoms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100218"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative analysis of toxin gene families across diverse sea anemone species","authors":"Hayden L. Smith ,&nbsp;Daniel A. Broszczak ,&nbsp;Chloé A. van der Burg ,&nbsp;Joachim M. Surm ,&nbsp;Libby Liggins ,&nbsp;Raymond S. Norton ,&nbsp;Peter J. Prentis","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>All species from order Actiniaria (sea anemones) are venomous, even though most are of no threat to humans. Currently, we know very little about the toxin gene complement of highly venomous members of this order. To address this gap in knowledge, we sequenced the transcriptome of the highly venomous and medically significant Hell's Fire sea anemone, <em>Actinodendron plumosum</em>, as well as five distantly related species, <em>Cryptodendrum adhaesivum</em>, <em>Epiactis australiensis</em>, <em>Heteractis aurora</em>, <em>Isactinia olivacea</em> and <em>Stichodactyla mertensii</em>. We used bioinformatic approaches to identify their toxin gene complements and performed a comparative evolutionary analysis of seven understudied toxin families. Of the 16 toxin families identified, 12–40 candidate toxins were found in the six new sea anemone transcriptomes, with only 12 candidates in eight toxin families identified in <em>A. plumosum</em>. Across 26 sea anemone species, six neurotoxin families showed evidence of taxonomic restriction, whereas the phospholipase A2 toxin family was ubiquitously distributed. Additionally, we identified two alternative forms for the phospholipase A2 toxin family, a 10- and 14-cysteine framework, which warrant further structural and functional characterisation. Overall, we have identified a comprehensive list of toxins from a wide diversity of sea anemone species that provides the basis for future research to structurally and functionally characterise novel candidates for potential use as therapeutics or for agricultural applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100217"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oligomer assembly of Bacillus thuringiensis Cyt2Aa2 on lipid membranes reveals a thread-like structure","authors":"Chontida Tangsongcharoen ,&nbsp;Jose L. Toca-Herrera ,&nbsp;Boonhiang Promdonkoy ,&nbsp;Kanokporn Srisucharitpanit ,&nbsp;Sudarat Tharad","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em>, a well-known insecticidal bacterium, produces several insecticidal proteins, including cytolytic (Cyt) proteins. Cyt proteins bind directly to the lipid membrane and form large protein complexes. In addition to the protein ladder bands, information on the oligomeric structure in lipid membranes is necessary to understand the mechanism of Cyt proteins on target cells. In this work, we have investigated the oligomeric Cyt2Aa2 complex with synthetic lipid and with erythrocyte membranes. When the activated Cyt2Aa2 protein was incubated with these lipid membranes, the protein ladder pattern relevant to hemolytic activity was detected in SDS-PAGE. Moreover, AFM topographic images revealed a fusilli-like structure and a ring-like structure for synthetic POPC and POPC/Chol, respectively. Furthermore, TEM micrographs provided an additional information on the oligomeric structure of Cyt2Aa2 in erythrocytes. Cyt2Aa2 appears to oligomerise/aggregate into mixed structures between the filamentous structure and small protein complexes in erythrocytes. In addition, a nanopore was found to be a substructure of the filamentous structure. These results strengthen the understanding of Cyt2Aa2 behavior in these two membrane systems, the fusilli and ring-like structures, depending on the type of lipid membrane. Furthermore, the structure of Cyt2Aa2 in insect target membranes remains to be investigated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100220"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143593361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biochemical characterization of the venom of the Bolivian endemic pit viper Bothrops sanctaecrucis","authors":"Kevin Lobo-López ,&nbsp;Matías E. Martínez ,&nbsp;Micaela A. Gritti ,&nbsp;María E. Peichoto","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ophidic accidents are an important public health problem in South America, specifically those related to the <em>Bothrops</em> genus, due to their high incidence, complexity and severity of envenomation symptoms. The species <em>B. sanctaecrucis</em>, the only one from this genus endemic to Bolivia, is the most frequently found and involved in snakebites in the Chapare region of Cochabamba; however, its toxicological implications on human health are poorly known. Herein we conducted the first biochemical characterization of its venom. Its electrophoretic profile showed components mainly ranging from ∼10 to 37 kDa, resembling other <em>Bothrops</em> venoms. The venom exhibited high activity on azocasein (47.65 U/mg) and the thrombin-specific substrate S-2238 (625.55 μmol/min/mg), and noticeably hydrolyzed gelatin and human fibrin(ogen). The venom also degraded lecithin and hyaluronic acid, but both at low levels. These <em>in vitro</em> results point out a toxic mechanism of action fundamentally at a local level, with tissue damage likely caused (although not exclusively) by SVMPs. Immunochemical reactivity was evaluated against <em>Bothrops</em> antivenoms produced in Argentina, which not only exhibited cross-reaction by Western Blotting but also neutralized the procoagulant activity of the venom. This study offers first insights into the venom components of <em>B. sanctaecrucis</em>, and provides preliminary and important information about the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the envenomation by this species, paving the way for treatment strategies in such accidents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100216"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143519230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drugs from poisonous plants: Ethnopharmacological relevance to modern perspectives","authors":"Bhagya Lakhmi Rajbongshi ,&nbsp;Ashis K. Mukherjee","doi":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.toxcx.2025.100215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The world of plant diversity is endlessly fascinating and essential for life on Earth. Since the inception of early civilization, humans have utilized plants for several purposes, particularly for their medicinal value. While some plants are known for their toxicity, they also contain beneficial phytochemicals that are important for both plants and humans, indicating their dual nature. This study aims to explore and synthesize the existing knowledge on various poisonous plant species found worldwide. It primarily focuses on the therapeutic potential of specific types of phytochemicals responsible for treating multiple diseases. This review includes a list of 70 poisonous plants with medicinal properties for treating various ailments, as well as some of their traditional uses. A few of these plants are emphasized, which have been tremendously explored and studied, hold significant potential to contribute to modern drug discovery. Furthermore, it addresses the possible prospects and challenges of using poisonous plants and their phytochemicals as therapeutic agents. Although the therapeutic potential of poisonous plants is substantial, many toxins remain unexplored. This review accentuates the need for rigorous scientific investigations, prior to clinical trials to validate their traditional uses, which would reveal the pharmacological interventions that will eventually advance human health and well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37124,"journal":{"name":"Toxicon: X","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100215"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143157119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}