The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases最新文献

{"title":"Linking toxicity and predation in a venomous arthropod: the case of <i>Tityus fuhrmanni</i> (Scorpiones: Buthidae), a generalist predator scorpion.","authors":"Alejandra Arroyave-Muñoz,&nbsp;Arie van der Meijden,&nbsp;Sebastián Estrada-Gómez,&nbsp;Luis Fernando García","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Scorpions are arachnids that have a generalist diet, which use venom to subdue their prey. The study of their trophic ecology and capture behavior is still limited compared to other organisms, and aspects such as trophic specialization in this group have been little explored.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In order to determine the relationship between feeding behavior and venom toxicity in the scorpion species <i>Tityus fuhrmanni</i>, 33 specimens were offered prey with different morphologies and defense mechanisms: spiders, cockroaches and crickets. In each of the experiments we recorded the following aspects: acceptance rate, immobilization time and the number of capture attempts. The median lethal dose of <i>T. fuhrmanni</i> venom against the three different types of prey was also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that this species does not have a marked difference in acceptance for any of the evaluated prey, but the number of capture attempts of spiders is higher when compared to the other types of prey. The immobilization time is shorter in spiders compared to other prey and the LD₅₀ was higher for cockroaches.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results indicate that <i>T. fuhrmanni</i> is a scorpion with a generalist diet, has a venom with a different potency among prey and is capable of discriminating between prey types and employing distinct strategies to subdue them.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210036"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8747031/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39862538","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":"King Cobra and snakebite envenomation: on the natural history, human-snake relationship and medical importance of <i>Ophiophagus hannah</i>.","authors":"Choo Hock Tan,&nbsp;Aymeric Bourges,&nbsp;Kae Yi Tan","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>King Cobra (<i>Ophiophagus hannah</i>) has a significant place in many cultures, and is a medically important venomous snake in the world. Envenomation by this snake is highly lethal, manifested mainly by neurotoxicity and local tissue damage. King Cobra may be part of a larger species complex, and is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, southern China, northern and eastern regions as well as the Western Ghats of India, indicating potential geographical variation in venom composition. There is, however, only one species-specific King Cobra antivenom available worldwide that is produced in Thailand, using venom from the snake of Thai origin. Issues relating to the management of King Cobra envenomation (<i>e.g.</i>, variation in the composition and toxicity of the venom, limited availability and efficacy of antivenom), and challenges faced in the research of venom (in particular proteomics), are rarely addressed. This article reviews the natural history and sociocultural importance of King Cobra, cases of snakebite envenomation caused by this species, current practice of management (preclinical and clinical), and major toxinological studies of the venom with a focus on venom proteomics, toxicity and neutralization. Unfortunately, epidemiological data of King Cobra bite is scarce, and venom proteomes reported in various studies revealed marked discrepancies in details. Challenges, such as inconsistency in snake venom sampling, varying methodology of proteomic analysis, lack of mechanistic and antivenomic studies, and controversy surrounding antivenom use in treating King Cobra envenomation are herein discussed. Future directions are proposed, including the effort to establish a standard, comprehensive Pan-Asian proteomic database of King Cobra venom, from which the venom variation can be determined. Research should be undertaken to characterize the toxin antigenicity, and to develop an antivenom with improved efficacy and wider geographical utility. The endeavors are aligned with the WHO´s roadmap that aims to reduce the disease burden of snakebite by 50% before 2030.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210051"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8733962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39851709","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":"Characterization of the first two toxins isolated from the venom of the ancient scorpion <i>Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis</i> (Borelli, 1901).","authors":"Natiela Beatriz de Oliveira,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Martins Magalhães,&nbsp;Carlos Bloch,&nbsp;Paulo Sérgio Lacerda Beirão,&nbsp;Anita de Oliveira Silva,&nbsp;Rafael D Melani,&nbsp;Eder Alves Barbosa,&nbsp;Osmindo Rodrigues Pires,&nbsp;Carlos Alberto Schwartz","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Almost all <i>Tityus</i> characterized toxins are from subgenera <i>Atreus</i> and <i>Tityus</i>, there are only a few data about toxins produced by <i>Archaeotityus</i>, an ancient group in <i>Tityus</i> genus.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong><i>Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis</i> crude venom was fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography, the major fractions were tested in a frog sciatic nerve single sucrose-gap technique. Two fractions (Tm1 and Tm2) were isolated, partially sequenced by MALDI-TOF/MS and electrophysiological assayed on HEK293 Nav 1.3, HEK293 Nav 1.6, DUM and DRG cells.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sucrose-gap technique showed neurotoxicity in four fractions. One fraction caused a delay of action potential repolarization and other three caused a reduction in amplitude. An electrophysiological assay showed that Tm1 is active on HEK293 Nav 1.3, HEK293 Nav 1.6, DUM and DRG cells, and Tm2 on HEK293 Nav 1.3 and DRG cells, but not in HEK293 Nav 1.6. In addition, Tm1 and Tm2 did promote a shift to more negative potentials strongly suggesting that both are α-NaScTx.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although <i>Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis</i> is considered an ancient group in <i>Tityus</i> genus, the primary structure of Tm1 and Tm2 is more related to <i>Tityus</i> subgenus. The patch clamp electrophysiological tests suggest that Tm1 and Tm2 are NaScTx, and also promoted no shift to more negative potentials, strongly suggesting that both are α-NaScTx. This paper aimed to explore and characterize for the first time toxins from the ancient scorpion <i>Tityus (Archaeotityus) mattogrossensis.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210035"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8670738/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39851473","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":"Comparison of biological activities of <i>Tityus pachyurus</i> venom from two Colombian regions.","authors":"Jennifer Alexandra Solano-Godoy,&nbsp;Julio César González-Gómez,&nbsp;Kristian A Torres-Bonilla,&nbsp;Rafael Stuani Floriano,&nbsp;Ananda T Santa Fé Miguel,&nbsp;Walter Murillo-Arango","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In the present study, we have tested whether specimens of the medically relevant scorpion <i>Tityus pachyurus</i>, collected from two climatically and ecologically different regions, differ in the biological activities of the venom.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Scorpions were collected in Tolima and Huila, Colombia. Chemical profiles of the crude venom were obtained from 80 scorpions for each region, using SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC. Assays for phospholipase A₂, direct and indirect hemolytic, proteolytic, neuromuscular, antibacterial, and insecticidal activities were carried out.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The electrophoretic profiles of venom from the two regions showed similar bands of 6-14 kDa, 36-45 kDa, 65 kDa and 97 kDa. However, bands between 36 kDa and 65 kDa were observed with more intensity in venoms from Tolima, and a 95 kDa band occurred only in venoms from Huila. The chromatographic profile of the venoms showed differences in the intensity of some peaks, which could be associated with changes in the abundance of some components between both populations. Phospholipase A₂ and hemolytic activities were not observable, whereas both venoms showed proteolytic activity towards casein. Insecticidal activity of the venoms from both regions showed significant variation in potency, the bactericidal activity was variable and low for both venoms. Moreover, no differences were observed in the neuromuscular activity assay.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results reveal some variation in the activity of the venom between both populations, which could be explained by the ecological adaptations like differences in feeding, altitude and/or diverse predator exposure. However more in-depth studies are necessary to determine the drivers behind the differences in venom composition and activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210005"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8651215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39851472","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":"Interactions amongst inflammation, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and kallikrein-kinin systems: suggestive approaches for COVID-19 therapy.","authors":"Lilian Caroline Gonçalves Oliveira,&nbsp;Nayara Azinheira Nobrega Cruz,&nbsp;Bruna Ricelli,&nbsp;Helio Tedesco-Silva,&nbsp;José Osmar Medina-Pestana,&nbsp;Dulce Elena Casarini","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2020-0181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2020-0181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapid-spread infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can culminate in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) and kallikrein-kinin (KKS) systems imbalance, and in serious consequences for infected patients. This scoping review of published research exploring the RAAS and KKS was undertaken in order to trace the history of the discovery of both systems and their multiple interactions, discuss some aspects of the viral-cell interaction, including inflammation and the system imbalance triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their consequent disorders. Furthermore, we correlate the effects of continued use of the RAAS blockers in chronic diseases therapies with the virulence and physiopathology of COVID-19. We also approach the RAAS and KKS-related proposed potential therapies for treatment of COVID-19. In this way, we reinforce the importance of exploring both systems and the application of their components or their blockers in the treatment of coronavirus disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20200181"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8651214/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39851470","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":"Pain-related toxins in scorpion and spider venoms: a face to face with ion channels.","authors":"Sylvie Diochot","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pain is a common symptom induced during envenomation by spiders and scorpions. Toxins isolated from their venom have become essential tools for studying the functioning and physiopathological role of ion channels, as they modulate their activity. In particular, toxins that induce pain relief effects can serve as a molecular basis for the development of future analgesics in humans. This review provides a summary of the different scorpion and spider toxins that directly interact with pain-related ion channels, with inhibitory or stimulatory effects. Some of these toxins were shown to affect pain modalities in different animal models providing information on the role played by these channels in the pain process. The close interaction of certain gating-modifier toxins with membrane phospholipids close to ion channels is examined along with molecular approaches to improve selectivity, affinity or bioavailability <i>in vivo</i> for therapeutic purposes.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210026"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8667759/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39739021","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":"BM-MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEV) from trained animals presented nephroprotective potential in unilateralureteral obstruction model.","authors":"Rafael da Silva Luiz,&nbsp;Rodolfo Rosseto Rampaso,&nbsp;Alef Aragão Carneiro Dos Santos,&nbsp;Marcia Bastos Convento,&nbsp;Dulce Aparecida Barbosa,&nbsp;Cassiane Dezoti da Fonseca,&nbsp;Andréia Silva de Oliveira,&nbsp;Agnaldo Caires,&nbsp;Andrei Furlan,&nbsp;Nestor Schor,&nbsp;Fernanda Teixeira Borges","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2020-0187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2020-0187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) and its extracellular vesicles has been demonstrated for a broad spectrum of indications, including kidney diseases. However, BM-MSC donor characteristics and their potential are not usually considered. Therefore, the present work aims to evaluate the nephroprotective capacity of sEV secreted by BM-MSC from trained rats inunilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>BM-MSC was characterized by their differentiation potential and immunophenotypic markers. The sEV were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blot. Its miRNA cargo was examined by quantitative PCR analysis for miR-26a, 126a, and 296. Wistar rats were submitted to UUO procedure and concomitantly treated with sEV secreted by BM-MSC from the untrained andtrained rats. The kidney tissue from all groups was evaluated for fibrosis mediators (transforming growth factor beta1 and collagen), CD34-angiogenesis marker, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Treadmill training stimulated in BM-MSC the production of sEV loaded with pro-angiogenic miR-296. The treatment with this sEVin UUO-rats was able to attenuate collagen accumulation and increase CD34 and HIF-1α in the kidney tissue when compared to untrained ones. Tubular proximal cells under hypoxia and exposed to BM-MSC sEV demonstrate accumulation in HIF-1α and NFR-2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), possibly to mediate the response to hypoxia and oxidative stress, under these conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The BM-MSC sEV from trained animals presented an increased nephroprotective potential compared to untrained vesicles by carrying 296-angiomiR and contributing to angiogenesis in UUO model.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20200187"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8650265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39851471","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":"Brazilian Theraphosidae: a toxicological point of view.","authors":"Keven Wender Rodrigues Macedo,&nbsp;Lucas Jeferson de Lima Costa,&nbsp;Jéssica Oliveira de Souza,&nbsp;Isadora Alves de Vasconcelos,&nbsp;Jessica Schneider de Castro,&nbsp;Carlos José Correia de Santana,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Martins Magalhães,&nbsp;Mariana de Souza Castro,&nbsp;Osmindo Rodrigues Pires","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Theraphosidae family includes the largest number of species of the Mygalomorphae infraorder, with hundreds of species currently catalogued. However, there is a huge lack on physiologic and even ecologic information available, especially in Brazil, which is the most biodiverse country in the world. Over the years, spiders have been presented as a source of multiple biologically active compounds with basic roles, such as primary defense against pathogenic microorganisms or modulation of metabolic pathways and as specialized hunters. Spider venoms also evolved in order to enable the capture of prey by interaction with a diversity of molecular targets of interest, raising their pharmaceutical potential for the development of new drugs. Among the activities found in compounds isolated from venoms and hemocytes of Brazilian Theraphosidae there are antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic and antitumoral, as well as properties related to proteinase action and neuromuscular blockage modulated by ionic voltage-gated channel interaction. These characteristics are present in different species from multiple genera, which is strong evidence of the important role in spider survival. The present review aims to compile the main results of studies from the last decades on Brazilian Theraphosidae with special focus on results obtained with the crude venom or compounds isolated from both venom and hemocytes, and their physiological and chemical characterization.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210004"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8610171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39947995","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":"Virucidal activity of oriental hornet <i>Vespa orientalis</i> venom against hepatitis C virus.","authors":"Moustafa Sarhan,&nbsp;Alaa M H El-Bitar,&nbsp;Amaal Mohammadein,&nbsp;Mohammed Elshehaby,&nbsp;Hak Hotta","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major worldwide health problem that can cause liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The clinical treatment of HCV infection mainly relies on the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that are usually expensive and have side effects. Therefore, achieving the discovery of more successful agents is always urgent. In this context, antiviral compounds that inhibit viral infections and disease progression with important therapeutic activities have been identified in animal venoms including arthropod toxins. This indicates that arthropod venoms represent a good natural source of promising candidates for new antivirals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The antiviral activity of the wasp venom (WV), isolated from the Oriental hornet (<i>Vespa orientalis</i>), was assessed using cell culture technique with human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell line (Huh7it-1) and the recombinant strain of HCV genotype 2a (JFH1).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that WV inhibited HCV infectivity with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 10 ng/mL, while the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) was 11,000 ng/mL. Time of addition experiment showed that the WV blocked HCV attachment/entry to the cells probably through virucidal effect. On the other hand, the venom showed no inhibitory effect on HCV replication.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>WV can inhibit the entry stage of HCV infection at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Therefore, it could be considered a potential candidate for characterization of natural anti-HCV agents targeting the entry step.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210039"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8609606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39947996","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":"Widow spiders in the New World: a review on <i>Latrodectus</i> Walckenaer, 1805 (Theridiidae) and latrodectism in the Americas.","authors":"Marjolly Brigido Caruso,&nbsp;Pedro Santana Sales Lauria,&nbsp;Claudio Maurício Vieira de Souza,&nbsp;Luciana Lyra Casais-E-Silva,&nbsp;Russolina Benedeta Zingali","doi":"10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Humankind has always been fascinated by venomous animals, as their toxic substances have transformed them into symbols of power and mystery. Over the centuries, researchers have been trying to understand animal venoms, unveiling intricate mixtures of molecules and their biological effects. Among venomous animals, <i>Latrodectus</i> Walckenaer, 1805 (widow spiders) have become feared in many cultures worldwide due to their extremely neurotoxic venom. The <i>Latrodectus</i> genus encompasses 32 species broadly spread around the globe, 14 of which occur in the Americas. Despite the high number of species found in the New World, the knowledge on these spiders is still scarce. This review covers the general knowledge on <i>Latrodectus</i> spp. from the Americas. We address widow spiders' taxonomy; geographical distribution and epidemiology; symptoms and treatments of envenomation (latrodectism); venom collection, experimental studies, proteome and transcriptome; and biotechnological studies on these <i>Latrodectus</i> spp. Moreover, we discuss the main challenges and limitations faced by researchers when trying to comprehend this neglected group of medically important spiders. We expect this review to help overcome the lack of information regarding widow spiders in the New World.</p>","PeriodicalId":520810,"journal":{"name":"The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases","volume":" ","pages":"e20210011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2021-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8553018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39864242","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}