Snake Venom and Antivenom Pharmacology

Posted by
  SNAKE VENOM & ANTIVENOM Chemistry, Composition, Mechanisms and Pharmacology Abstract This integrated teaching session for Phase III MBBS students focused on the pharmacology and toxicology of snake venom and the principles of antivenom therapy. The lecture covered the chemistry, composition, mechanisms of action, and pharmacological effects of snake venoms and antivenoms. Rational use of antivenoms, indications, administration protocols, adverse reactions, and supportive management strategies were discussed. The session also highlighted the translational importance of venom-derived compounds in modern drug development. Recent advances in antivenom research, including recombinant human monoclonal antibodies, toxin-specific inhibitors, synthetic antibody technologies, and next-generation broad-spectrum antivenoms, were reviewed. Current discoveries and emerging approaches aimed at improving efficacy, safety, affordability, and accessibility of antivenom therapy were also explor...

Blue benzoquinone from scorpion venom shows bactericidal activity against drug-resistant strains of the priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii

Posted by

 


Blue benzoquinone from scorpion venom shows bactericidal activity against drug-resistant strains of the priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant global health threat, particularly pathogens resistant to last-resort antibiotics, such as those listed as priority pathogens by the World Health Organization. Addressing this challenge requires the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Previously, we identified a blue 1,4-benzoquinone isolated from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Diplocentrus melici as a potent antimicrobial compound effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, we devised a cost-effective synthetic route for its production. In this study, we demonstrate that the blue benzoquinone exhibits antibacterial activity against additional pathogens, including the priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Notably, the compound effectively killed clinical strains of A. baumannii resistant to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenem and colistin. Furthermore, A. baumannii did not develop resistance to the benzoquinone even after multiple growth cycles under sub-inhibitory concentrations, unlike the tested antibiotics. These findings underscore the potential of this blue benzoquinone as a lead compound for the development of a new class of antibiotics targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria.

I., J., Banda, M. M., N., E., Zare, R. N., Possani, L. D., & Bustamante, V. H. (2025). Blue benzoquinone from scorpion venom shows bactericidal activity against drug-resistant strains of the priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. The Journal of Antibiotics, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-025-00809-8