Distinct pathophysiological mechanisms of Heterometrus laoticus and Lychas mucronatus scorpion venoms on cardiovascular and renal functions

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  Distinct pathophysiological mechanisms of Heterometrus laoticus and Lychas mucronatus scorpion venoms on cardiovascular and renal functions Abstract Background:    Heterometrus laoticus and Lychas mucronatus are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, yet their pathophysiological effects of both venoms remain poorly characterized due to low human fatality rates. This study compared their venom compositions and acute cardiovascular and renal effects. Methods:   Anesthetized male New Zealand White rabbits were monitored for blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and renal clearance following intravenous administration of crude venom (0.5 mg/kg). Venom components were identified via LC-MS/MS, and hematological/biochemical parameters were assessed. Results:    H. laoticus venom induced a rapid, transient hypotension ( p < 0.05), followed by a mild, prolonged hypotensive phase (up to 120 min). Conversely, L. mucronatus venom elicited a biphasic response: ...

The Potential Implications of Sex-Specific Differences in the Intestinal Bacteria of the Overwintering Wolf Spider Pardosa astrigera (Araneae: Lycosidae)

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The Potential Implications of Sex-Specific Differences in the Intestinal Bacteria of the Overwintering Wolf Spider Pardosa astrigera (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Abstract

Gut microbiota can promote the resistance of host arthropods to low-temperature stress. Female Pardosa astrigera have a lower anti-freeze compound level and weaker resistance to cold temperatures than the males in winter, which implies that their intestinal bacteria may be different during overwintering. This study primarily compared the intestinal bacterial communities between the two sexes of P. astrigera in a temperate region using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our findings indicated that the Chao1 and Shannon indices of intestinal bacteria in females were significantly higher than those in males, while the Simpson index in females was significantly lower than that in males. The male intestinal bacterial community was characterized by Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota at the phylum level and by Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus at the genus level, with total relative abundances of 89.58% and 85.22%, respectively, which were also significantly higher than those in females, whose total relative abundances were 47.49% and 43.68%, respectively. In contrast, the total relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Firmicutes were significantly lower in males (4.26% and 4.75%, respectively) than in females (26.25% and 22.31%, respectively). Noteworthy divergences in bacterial communities were also found through an LEfSe analysis between females and males. Additionally, the results of the PICRUSt2 analysis showed that six out of eleven level-2 pathways related to key metabolic functions were significantly (or marginally significantly) higher in females than males, and five other level-2 pathways were significantly (or marginally significantly) lower in females than males. Our results imply that significant gender differences exist in intestinal bacterial communities of overwintering P. astrigera. We suggest that Pseudomonas versuta (belonging to Proteobacteria) and Rhodococcus erythropolis (belonging to Actinobacteriota) may have the potential to play key roles in overwintering P. astrigera.

Li, Ningkun, Quan Yuan, Yaru Qi, Pengfeng Wu, Shuyan Cui, and Guo Zheng. 2024. "The Potential Implications of Sex-Specific Differences in the Intestinal Bacteria of the Overwintering Wolf Spider Pardosa astrigera (Araneae: Lycosidae)" Insects 15, no. 7: 490. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15070490