Antitumor activity of scorpion venom-derived peptides: A meta-analysis of preclinical studies

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  Antitumor activity of scorpion venom-derived peptides: A meta-analysis of preclinical studies Abstract Despite advances in cancer therapeutics, there are still challenges in improving drug toxicity and selectivity. Peptides from various venous species have recently garnered attention for their biopharmaceutical potential, particularly in cancer. The present study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of the antitumor activity of scorpion venom-derived peptides (SVDPs) previously reported in preclinical models. The bibliographic research included original and review articles written in English published from 2015 to 2026. Studies within the scope were retrieved from the EBSCO Discovery Service, PubMed, and WIPO databases. A total of 27 articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this research, and the collected data were synthesized through a meta-analysis. In the included in vitro and in vivo studies, the effect of SVDPs on breast/mammary gland, cervical,...

Morpho-Molecular Identification of Female Black Widow, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) Inhabiting Olive Orchard at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

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Morpho-Molecular Identification of Female Black Widow, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) Inhabiting Olive Orchard at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

The Mediterranean widow spider, or "Dolmak," Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790), family Theridiidae, is one of the medically significant spiders. Also, it is listed as a dangerous animal due to its extensive geographic range and its deadly or seriously problematic toxic bites. A holistic understanding of L. tredecimguttatus requires combining knowledge derived from both morphological and molecular investigations. Thus, this study aimed to offer researchers a framework for investigating these essential species and to educate farms and visitors about the importance of avoiding any behaviour that could antagonize the spiders. For this study, specimens of L. tredecimguttatus were manually collected randomly from some olive orchards between September 2023 and August 2024 at Sadat City, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. The morphological parameters utilized for identification were the total body length, carapace width, abdomen length, and (1st,3rd, and 4th legs) length. Results indicated that the total length of females ranged from 8.92 to 10.15mm. The female dorsal pattern if present; consists of several orange spots (usually in young females). Adult females lack the dorsal pattern and ventral hourglass reduced to two transverse oranges to red Markings. The results of the mitochondrial CO1 gene confirm that our tested species identified as Latrodectus tredecimguttatus under the accession number (PQ358290.1) in GenBank for the first time in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. So, the identification of a female Black Widow according to morphological and molecular genetic methods is of great importance. 
Aboulnasr, G., El-Gendy, A., Mousa, S. (2025). 'Morpho-Molecular Identification of Female Black Widow, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790) Inhabiting Olive Orchard at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt', Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, B. Zoology, 17(1), pp. 242-250. doi: 10.21608/eajbsz.2025.424075