From folkloric origins to scientific systematics: the first detailed redescription of the type species of Lycosa Latreille, 1804 with insight into the genus (Araneae: Lycosidae)

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  From folkloric origins to scientific systematics: the first detailed redescription of the type species of Lycosa Latreille, 1804 with insight into the genus (Araneae: Lycosidae) Abstract The genus  Lycosa  has often served as a wastebasket taxon for species whose systematic position within the Lycosidae remains unclear. This is partly due to the lack of clear information regarding the diagnostic characters of its nominal species, the southern European  Lycosa tarantula  (Linnaeus, 1758). Despite being known for centuries by both academics and the general public, with the earliest published depictions dating back to the late 16 th  century, the taxonomy of this species has long been neglected. In this study, we redescribe  L. tarantula  based on samples from its ‘ terra typica ’ in southern Italy. We provide detailed photographs and illustrations of the diagnostic characters of both the copulatory organs and the habitus of the species, along with...

Potential Role of Tarantula Venom Peptides in Targeting Human Death Receptors: A Computational Study

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Potential Role of Tarantula Venom Peptides in Targeting Human Death Receptors: A Computational Study

Abstract

Animal venom has been gaining traction as a potential source of therapeutics for various diseases. Spiders encompass a wide variety of venom-producing species, of which tarantulas of the family Theraphosidae are widely known across the globe. Research towards tarantula venom therapeutics has led to its potential application as antinociceptives. Death receptors are cellular receptors that induce apoptosis—the body’s natural suicide mechanism—to destroy malfunctioning cells. These are particularly of interest in cancer research, as this mechanism is tampered with, resulting in cancer cell proliferation. In this study, the viability of venom toxins from the Theraphosidae family of spiders to induce apoptosis by binding to human death receptors is investigated by carrying out anti-cancer screening, molecular docking, ADMET evaluation, then molecular dynamics and thermodynamic analysis twice, first to ascertain the best receptor–peptide systems per receptor, and secondly to more comprehensively describe binding stability and thermodynamics. Results point to favorable receptor–peptide interactions due to similarities in equilibrium behavior with the death ligand–death receptor systems, along with favorable end-state binding energies and ADMET analysis results. Further inquiry is recommended to assess the real-life efficacy and viability of theraphotoxins as apoptosis therapeutics and further improve on their ability to induce apoptosis.


Quiambao, J. I., Fowler, P. M., & Tayo, L. L. (2024). Potential Role of Tarantula Venom Peptides in Targeting Human Death Receptors: A Computational Study. Applied Sciences, 14(19), 8701.