The underlying mechanism of scorpion venom peptide BmK AS in reducing epilepsy seizures: mediated through dual modulation of Nav1.6 and the inflammasome pathway

Posted by
  The underlying mechanism of scorpion venom peptide BmK AS in reducing epilepsy seizures: mediated through dual modulation of Nav1.6 and the inflammasome pathway Abstract Introduction:  Voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) dysregulation, particularly of the Nav1.6 subtype, is a core mechanism underlying epileptogenesis and its associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The scorpion venom peptide BmK AS has demonstrated anticonvulsant potential, but its efficacy in chronic epilepsy and the precise mechanisms of action remain undefined. Methods:  Here, we show that BmK AS exerts robust anti-epileptic and neuroprotective effects through converging mechanisms. In a kainic acid-induced mouse model, BmK AS treatment reduced mortality and seizure parameters. Electrophysiological studies assessed BmK AS modulation of VGSC subtypes. The functional relevance of Nav1.6 targeting was confirmed by the loss of BmK AS’s anti-seizure efficacy upon its pharmacological blockade in a PTZ-in...

First Report of the Medically Significant Argentine Scorpion Tityus carrilloi (Buthidae) in Paraguay: Epidemiological Implications Amid Rising Regional Scorpionism

Posted by

 


First Report of the Medically Significant Argentine Scorpion Tityus carrilloi (Buthidae) in Paraguay: Epidemiological Implications Amid Rising Regional Scorpionism

Abstract

We report the first record of the medically important scorpion Tityus carrilloi in Paraguay, from the metropolitan area of Encarnación, Itapúa Department, near the Argentine border. Known for causing severe and fatal envenomings across northern Argentina, the presence of this species in southeastern Paraguay highlights the risk of cross-border dispersion. Along with the regional spread of the Brazilian Tityus serrulatus, this finding has significant epidemiological implications and underscores the urgent need for improved surveillance, diagnostics, and coordinated public health responses in Paraguay and neighboring countries, within the evolving landscape of scorpionism in southern South America.
Borges, A., Caballero, C., Rojas de Arias, A., Smith, P., Owen, M., Nishi, A., Maluff, Y., & Wieczorko, T. (2025). First Report of the Medically Significant Argentine Scorpion Tityus carrilloi (Buthidae) in Paraguay: Epidemiological Implications Amid Rising Regional Scorpionism. Toxicon, 108456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108456