Article
Food Science & Technology
Priscila Hess Lopes, Caroline Sayuri Fukushima, Rosana Shoji, Rogerio Bertani, Denise Tambourgi
Summary: The spider family Sicariidae includes three genera, Hexophthalma, Sicarius and Loxosceles, with a common characteristic in their venoms being the presence of Sphingomyelinases D (SMase D). While some studies have shown variations in SMase D activity among different species, further research is needed to better understand the toxic potential of Sicarius venoms and their mechanisms of action.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zaineb Abdelkafi-Koubaa, Ines ELBini-Dhouib, Soumaya Souid, Jed Jebali, Raoudha Doghri, Najet Srairi-Abid, Khadija Essafi-Benkhadir, Olivier Micheau, Naziha Marrakchi
Summary: Snake venom proteins have been developed as potential drugs for treating human diseases despite being responsible for severe injuries. The study evaluated CC-LAAO from Cerastes cerastes snake venom as a potential anti-glioblastoma drug, showing that low concentrations may be safe and have potential in developing anti-glioblastoma agents.
Article
Entomology
Kenneth L. Cramer, Daniel S. Evers
Summary: This study investigates the dispersal of brown recluse spiders in an urban garage and finds that their dispersal ability is weak. Compared to other spiders in the garage, the brown recluse spiders are found in much lower numbers. The study suggests the need for more detailed research on the movement and specific habitat requirements of this medically important spider.
JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Darlene Lopes Rangel, Rafael D. Melani, Evelise Leis Carvalho, Juliano Tomazzoni Boldo, Tiago Gomes dos Santos, Neil L. Kelleher, Paulo Marcos Pinto
Summary: Envenomation from the Bothrops genus is characterized by the effects of toxin families in the venom, which can be identified using proteomics approaches. Various protein groups, proteoforms, and multi-proteoform complexes have been identified in Bothrops pubescens venom.
Article
Entomology
Alireza Zamani, Omid Mirshamsi, Yuri M. Marusik
Summary: The taxonomic status of the medically important spider genus Loxosceles in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan has been revised, with the description of two new species and the synonymization of one species. The local distribution of all treated species has been mapped, including new records, and reported cases of loxoscelism from this region have been briefly reviewed.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Alhussin Mohamed Abdelhakeem Megaly, Masahiro Miyashita, Mohammed Abdel-Wahab, Yoshiaki Nakagawa, Hisashi Miyagawa
Summary: This study identified several undetermined linear peptides in the venom of Lycosa poonaensis through transcriptomic analysis of the venom gland. These peptides exhibited significant antibacterial and paralytic activities, and adopted an amphiphilic alpha-helical structure.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
F. C. Cardoso, A. A. Walker, G. F. King, M. V. Gomez
Summary: This study explored the neuroactivity and molecular diversity of Phoneutria nigriventer venom. By using proteomics and multi-pharmacology activity coupled to fractionation-guided high-throughput cellular assays, the research provides a proof-of-concept for studying spider-venom derived neuroactive peptides. The venom was found to be highly complex and contains potent modulators of voltage-gated ion channels.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongming You, Wenhao Yin, Luke R. Tembrock, Zhiqiang Wu, Xiaoliang Gu, Zhibin Yang, Chenggui Zhang, Yu Zhao, Zizhong Yang
Summary: Wolf spiders in the genus Lycosa have complex venom that can immobilize and kill prey, making them important pest predators. The toxins in their venom could be potential sources for drug development and biopesticides. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptome of venom glands from an undescribed species of Lycosa and identified different sequences of disulfide-rich peptide toxins. We also analyzed the evolutionary relationships of these toxins and found that they are diverse compared to previous research results.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rafael Fonseca-Ferreira, Millke Jasmine A. Morales, Leonardo S. Carvalho, Jose Paulo L. Guadanucci
Summary: This study investigated the morphological variation of Idiops spiders in different Brazilian biomes. The results showed that I. pirassununguensis specimens from the Caatinga biome were smaller, had narrower and elongated sternums, and shorter legs compared to specimens from other biomes.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Niusha Monfared, Ali Ahadiyat, Yaghoub Fathipour, Reza Arabi Mianroodi
Summary: The peptide JFTX-23 from the spider Selenocosmia jia is highly similar to the well-characterized insecticide toxin U1-TRTX-Sp1. It showed toxicity to Helicoverpa armigera both through injection and oral administration, suggesting its potential as a bio-control agent for insect pests.
Article
Entomology
Andres Taucare-Rios, Eduardo Faundez, Antonio D. Brescovit
Summary: An ocular malformation in the genus Loxosceles, specifically in a female of Loxosceles surca Gertsch, was described for the first time in this study. The specimen was collected at 3,540 m.a.s.l. in Tarapaca Region, Chile, being the first record for this family and the first case of teratology described for spiders in this country.
REVISTA DE LA SOCIEDAD ENTOMOLOGICA ARGENTINA
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Paulo Pantoja, Alexandre Bragio Bonaldo, Claudia Xavier
Summary: Five new species of Mysmenopsis from the Brazilian Amazonian region are described, including two species known by males and females (M. rodriguesae n. sp. and M. nadineae n. sp.), and three species known only by males (M snethlageae n. sp., M. lopardoae n. sp., and M. regiae n. sp.). Additionally, three species (M. cienaga Muller, 1987, M. penai Platnick & Shadab, 1978, and M. shushufindi Duperre & Tapia, 2020) are recorded for the first time in the Brazilian Amazonian region, and an additional record of M. penai from northeastern Brazil is included.
Article
Toxicology
Blerina Vrenozi
Summary: Black widow spider bites in Albania are more severe during months with higher temperatures, leading to severe systemic symptoms.
Review
Toxicology
Priscila Hess Lopes, Carla Cristina Squaiella-Baptistao, Mario Octavio Tha Marques, Denise V. Tambourgi
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Priscila Hess Lopes, Carmen W. van den Berg, Denise Tambourgi
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Toxicology
Felipe Silva de Franca, Joel Jose Megale Gabrili, Laurence Mathieu, Francois Burgher, Joel Blomet, Denise V. Tambourgi
Summary: The study investigated the systemic events in human whole-blood model induced by Bothrops lanceolatus venom, revealing a strong inflammatory reaction characterized by complement activation and release of lipid mediators that may favor thrombi formation.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Rogerio Bertani, Marlus Querioz Almeida
Summary: The new genus Yanomamius from Brazilian and Venezuelan Amazon is described, including three new species. It is closely related to the Schismatothele and Euthycaelus genera, sharing similar characteristics such as short spines on the retrolateral distal tibia of male palp and a tapering embolus. The species of Yanomamius also have ridges or a single protuberance on the male tibia I, resembling features of the psalmopoeine subfamily, suggesting a close relationship between the two subfamilies.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Priscila Hess Lopes, Caroline Sayuri Fukushima, Rosana Shoji, Rogerio Bertani, Denise Tambourgi
Summary: The spider family Sicariidae includes three genera, Hexophthalma, Sicarius and Loxosceles, with a common characteristic in their venoms being the presence of Sphingomyelinases D (SMase D). While some studies have shown variations in SMase D activity among different species, further research is needed to better understand the toxic potential of Sicarius venoms and their mechanisms of action.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cintia Scucuglia Heluany, Paula Barbim Donate, Ayda Henriques Schneider, Andre Luis Fabris, Renan Augusto Gomes, Isadora Maria Villas-Boas, Denise Vilarinho Tambourgi, Tarcilia Aparecida da Silva, Gustavo Henrique Goulart Trossini, Giovanna Nalesso, Eduardo Lani Volpe Silveira, Fernando Queiroz Cunha, Sandra Helena Poliselli Farsky
Summary: The study reveals that HQ treatment of RAHFLS can exert harmful effects on synoviocyte proliferation by activating AhR and IL-17 pathways, and exacerbate AIA symptoms through exposure to HQ, but these effects are abolished in AhR (-/-) and IL-17R (-/-) animals.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lilian Rumi Tsuruta, Ana Maria Moro, Denise V. Tambourgi, Osvaldo Augusto Sant'Anna
Summary: Oral tolerance is a process of specific suppression of immune responses through prior oral administration of an antigen, with unique immunological importance. This study found that inducing oral tolerance to B. jararaca venom in mice led to differences in antibody levels, as well as variations in cross-reactivity with toxins of other Bothrops species.
Article
Zoology
Yeimy Cifuentes, Rogerio Bertani
Summary: A revision and cladistic analysis of the genera Psalmopoeus, Tapinauchenius, and Pseudoclamoris were conducted, resulting in the reclassification and description of new species. Additionally, a new genus, Amazonius, was proposed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joel J. M. Gabrili, Isadora Maria Villas-Boas, Giselle Pidde, Carla Cristina Squaiella-Baptistao, Trent M. Woodruff, Denise Tambourgi
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between the inflammatory reaction caused by the extract of the Pararama caterpillar and the complement system using a whole human blood model. The results demonstrated that complement inhibitors have the potential to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators and modulate the expression of surface markers in leukocytes, suggesting their role in regulating the inflammatory process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joel J. M. Gabrili, Giselle Pidde, Fabio Carlos Magnoli, Rafael Marques-Porto, Isadora Maria Villas-Boas, Carla Cristina Squaiella-Baptistao, Felipe Silva-de-Franca, Francois Burgher, Joel Blomet, Denise V. Tambourgi
Summary: The increase in inflammatory mediator levels can cause various pathological disorders, including thrombus formation. Envenomation by Bothrops lanceolatus is a clinical condition that can lead to stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism. In this study, the immunopathological events triggered by a specific toxin in the venom of B. lanceolatus were examined using an ex vivo human blood model of inflammation. The results showed that the toxin caused damage to human erythrocytes, dysfunctions in complement regulatory proteins, and an inflammatory mediator storm, suggesting its contribution to thrombotic disorders in envenomed individuals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Rogerio Bertani, Robert J. Raven
Summary: This study redescribes and rediagnoses the poorly known mygalomorph genus Thalerommata. Thalerommata gracilis and T. macella are rediagnosed, while T. meridana is considered a nomen dubium. Six new species are described. Thalerommata is transferred from Barychelidae to Theraphosidae and considered closely related with Trichopelma. The genus is distributed from northern South-America to the Caribbean.
Article
Toxicology
Bruna Fernandes Pinto, Priscila Hess Lopes, Carlos Eduardo Madureira Trufen, Ana Tung Ching Ching, Inacio de Loiola Meirelles Junqueira De Azevedo, Milton Yutaka Nishiyama Jr, Paula Cristiane Pohl, Denise V. Tambourgi
Summary: This study revealed the cell signaling pathways involved in the regulation of inflammation and wound healing by sphingomyelinase D (SMase D). The results showed that the IL-1 and ErbB signaling pathways were modulated, and IL-1 signaling pathway and ERRFI1 played significant roles in the development of cutaneous loxoscelism.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dayanne Carla Fernandes, Denise V. Tambourgi
Summary: Dysregulation of complement system activation can lead to inflammation and diseases, so drugs that inhibit complement system activation are important for therapy. Synthetic peptides Cp40 and PMX205 selectively inhibit C3 and C5a receptor (C5aR1) respectively. Zebrafish is a suitable model for studying the complement system, and this study uses computational modeling to predict the interactions between these peptides and target molecules in zebrafish.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Rogerio Bertani
Summary: Brazil has the highest diversity of tarantulas, with 215 described species, including the Vitalius genus. Two new species of Vitalius are described from the restinga areas along the Brazilian Atlantic coast, with morphological differences. These are the first known theraphosids endemic to Brazilian Atlantic Coast restingas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Leandro Malta Borges, Andressa Paladini, Rogerio Bertani
Summary: Two new species of Eupalaestrus tarantulas have been described after a morphological analysis, one distributed across states in Brazil and provinces in Argentina, and the other in a specific state in Brazil. Both species are facing threats to their natural grassland habitats from expanding agriculture and livestock farming.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY
(2021)