Could venom-derived therapeutics resolve treatment resistance in refractory EAC?

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  Could venom-derived therapeutics resolve treatment resistance in refractory EAC? Abstract The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is rising in Western countries. Despite advances in chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the prognosis remains poor, with an overall 5-year survival rate below 15%. A major challenge is the cancer’s poor and often unpredictable response to current treatments. Animal venoms represent a promising yet underexplored source of therapeutic agents, offering millions of structurally diverse and highly potent bioactive peptides that can modulate a wide array of molecular targets. However, only a small fraction of these peptides has been pharmacologically characterized. This review presents the therapeutic potential of venom-derived peptides in cancer treatment, summarizes the role of ion channels in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and discusses peptides targeting ion channels that may offer new opportunities for future EAC treatment. Freuville L, Matthys C, Gill...

New taxonomic and faunistic data on Moroccan spiders (Arachnida: Araneae), including the description of five new species

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New taxonomic and faunistic data on Moroccan spiders (Arachnida: Araneae), including the description of five new species

Abstract

As a result of an examination of a small, recent collection, new faunistic and taxonomic data on the spiders of Morocco are provided. A total of 20 species from 12 families were identified, including five species newly described herein: Gorbiscape amazighus sp. nov. (♂♀; Marrakech–Safi Region) [Agelenidae], Liocranum atlasicum sp. nov. (♂♀; Marrakech–Safi Region) [Liocranidae], Zelotes maroccanus sp. nov. (♀; Tanger–Tétouan–Al Houceima Region), Z. reuteri sp. nov. (♂; Marrakech–Safi Region) [Gnaphosidae], and Zodarion neblibohakrostorum sp. nov. (♂; Tanger–Tétouan–Al Houceima Region) [Zodariidae]. Ballus chalybeius (Walckenaer, 1802) [Salticidae] and the genus Liocranum L. Koch, 1866 are newly recorded from Morocco, while Psilochorus simoni (Berland, 1911) [Pholcidae] is recorded in Africa for the first time. Additionally, photographic illustrations and SEM images are provided for Lycosoides murphyorum Bosmans, 2022 [Agelenidae] and Rhode scutiventris Simon, 1882 [Dysderidae]. Finally, four species are transferred from Agelena Walckenaer, 1805 [Agelenidae] to Gorbiscape Zamani & Marusik, 2020: G. canariensis (Lucas, 1838) comb. nov. from the Canary Islands and Northwest Africa, and G. gomerensis (Wunderlich, 1992) comb. nov., G. gonzalezi (Schmidt, 1980) comb. nov. and G. tenerifensis (Wunderlich, 1992) comb. nov. from the Canary Islands.

Zamani, A. & Marusik, Y.M. (2025) New taxonomic and faunistic data on Moroccan spiders (Arachnida: Araneae), including the description of five new species. Zootaxa, 5692 (2), 321–337. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5692.2.6