Scorpion venom as a source of new antimicrobial agents

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  Scorpion venom as a source of new antimicrobial agents Abstract The escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance necessitates urgent discovery of novel therapeutic agents. Scorpion venom, a complex cocktail of bioactive molecules, has emerged as a promising reservoir of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with potent activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens. This review comprehensively examines the structural and functional diversity of scorpion-derived AMPs and their therapeutic potential. Scorpion venom AMPs exhibit remarkable structural heterogeneity. Their physicochemical properties, characterized by cationic charge, amphipathicity, and α-helical or β-sheet conformations, underpin their antimicrobial efficacy. These peptides demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity encompassing Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Mechanistically, scorpion AMPs employ multifaceted strategies including membrane disruption through pore format...

The genome sequence of the silver stretch spider, Tetragnatha montana (Simon, 1874) (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)

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The genome sequence of the silver stretch spider, Tetragnatha montana (Simon, 1874) (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)


Abstract

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Tetragnatha montana (the silver stretch spider; Arthropoda; Arachnida; Araneae; Tetragnathidae). The genome sequence is 784.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.49 kilobases in length.

McGregor AP, Sumner-Rooney L, Burkmar R et al. The genome sequence of the silver stretch spider, Tetragnatha montana (Simon, 1874) (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. Wellcome Open Res 2024, 9:288 (https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.21782.1)