Snake venom toxins in cancer therapy: advances in targeted delivery and peptide design

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  Snake venom toxins in cancer therapy: advances in targeted delivery and peptide design Abstract Snake venom represents a potent biological arsenal of cytotoxic compounds. Venom proteins and peptides, including disintegrins, venomous enzymes, three-finger toxins, and serine proteases, have garnered attention as effective anticancer agents. Despite their efficacy at nano- or micromolar concentrations, non-standardized mixtures often limit their therapeutic utilization, necessitating fractionation to minimize side effects. This review examines the antitumor potential of snake venom and its constituent proteins and peptides through a literature search in NCBI PubMed. We highlight the antitumor efficacies of venom polypeptides by correlating them with IC 50 values across various cell lines, demonstrating micromolar cytotoxic concentrations. The review encompasses several key areas: whole venom antitumor efficacy, mechanisms of action of individual proteins and peptides, fractionation...

Hemolymph cytology, hemocyte count, glucose, and electrolyte reference intervals in 93 Cameroon red tarantulas (Hysterocrates gigas)

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(By Request)

I have received numerous requests and communications regarding additional papers related to theraphosid medical care, medicine, physiology, etc. This was presented at the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Conference in 2017. 

Hemolymph cytology, hemocyte count, glucose, and electrolyte reference intervals in 93 Cameroon red tarantulas (Hysterocrates gigas)

Abstract

Background: Theraphosidae is a large family of tarantula spiders commonly kept as pets or display animals by zoological institutions. Interest and demand for arachnid medicine have grown over the last decade. While hemolymph analysis could be a fundamental tool for arachnid health assessment, RIs are generally lacking for arachnid species.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the appearance of hemocytes and establish RIs for total and differential hemocyte counts as well as hemolymph glucose and electrolyte concentrations in the Cameroon red tarantula (CRT) (Hysterocrates gigas).

Methods: Ninety‐three CRTs were anesthetized using isoflurane or sevoflurane, and hemolymph was collected from the heart. Hemocyte counts were performed using a hemocytometer and trypan blue stain, and differential cell counts were estimated using light microscopy and a Wright stain. Hemocytes were also characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hemolymph glucose and electrolyte concentrations were obtained using a  blood gas analyzer. The American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) guidelines were used to calculate RIs.

Results: The most abundant hemocytes were plasmatocytes,  followed by granulocytes, cyanocytes, and prohemocytes. Hemocytes were characterized by    TEM except for cyanocytes. All   RIs had a  broad range, likely due to a  combination of population heterogeneity,  high biologic variability of the species,  and the propensity of samples to clot. 

Conclusions: The current study is the first to establish RIs for hemolymph cytologic parameters with a sample size of over 20 individuals in any theraphosid species. RIs for CRT hemolymph biochemical analytes are also reported.

B Larouche C, Beeler-Marfisi J, Attard L, Nemeth N, Beaufrère H. Hemolymph cytology, hemocyte count, glucose, and electrolyte reference intervals in 93 Cameroon red tarantulas (Hysterocrates gigas). Vet Clin Pathol. 2019 Sep;48(3):461-468. doi: 10.1111/vcp.12778. Epub 2019 Sep 19. PMID: 31538350.