Examining ecological niche for six species of whip spider in Colombia

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  Examining ecological niche for six species of whip spider in Colombia  Abstract The conditioning variables for the establishment of Amblypygi populations and their ecological interactions are currently poorly studied. Delving deeper into this can help to conserve this group of short-range distribution species, which are useful as a model in biogeographic research. In this study, we evaluated the distribution and overlapping patterns of ecological niche in six species of amblypygids ( Phrynus araya , P. panche , P. pulchripes , Heterophrynus batesii , H. boterorum , H. cervinus ) in the Andean and Amazonian ecosystems of Colombia, revealing a clear biogeographic segregation driven by environmental gradients: Phrynus species were associated with inter-Andean valleys with high thermal and water seasonality.  While the Heterophrynus occupied more stable and humid conditions of foothills and middle elevations. Overlap analyses showed significant divergence (e.g., D=0.105 b...

Scorpion venoms from the Buthidae family: A dual study of proteomic composition and anticancer potentials

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Abstract

Scorpion venom comprises complex proteins/peptides (neurotoxins and enzymes), organic compounds, inorganic salts, mucopolysaccharides, and other organic compounds. Understanding the composition of scorpion venom and its mechanism of action will help treat victims and develop new therapeutic drugs. The present study objectives were to fractionate the crude venom of Buthus occitanus, Androctonus crassicauda, Leiurus quinquestriatus, and Parabuthus granulatus and identify significant protein/peptide compositions thereof, and to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of these scorpion crude venoms and fractions on different cancer cell lines. The LC-MS/MS results allowed the identification of several toxins, such as neurotoxins acting on ion channels, including sodium toxins (NaTxs), potassium toxins (KTxs), chloride toxins (ClTxs), and calcium toxins (CaTxs), as well as orphan peptides, chlorotoxin, kurtoxin, mauriporin, and ikitoxin. The venoms exerted cytotoxic effects on the A375 cell line in a dose-dependent manner, while on the other cancer cell lines, a mild effect for A. crassicauda (MCF-7), L. quinquestriatus (HeLa), and P. granulatus (HeLa) was observed. The current study has thus revealed and identified components of the four scorpion venoms that are likely involved in the envenomation and may also have helpful therapeutic activities. Furthermore, the scorpion venoms anticancer efficacy seems to be cancer-specific. The results obtained add to the increasing body of evidence supporting the anticancer potential of scorpion venoms.
Mabunda, I. G., Offor, B. C., Muller, B., Motadi, L. R., & Piater, L. A. (2025). Scorpion venoms from the Buthidae family: A dual study of proteomic composition and anticancer potentials. Toxicon, 108542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108542