Cicileus derradji sp. nov., a new species from southern Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Posted by
  Cicileus derradji sp. nov., a new species from southern Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Abstract A new scorpion species, Cicileus derradji sp. nov., is described from Tin Zaouatine District, In Guezzam Province, southern Algeria. The description is based on an adult male holotype, an adult female paratype and a juvenile specimen, and is supported by detailed morphological analyses, including colouration, morphometrics, carination patterns and trichobothrial arrangement. This discovery extends the known distribution of the genus Cicileus approximately 500 km southwestward within Algeria. With the addition of this species, the number of recognised species in the genus increases to six. The new species is compared with all previously known species of Cicileus , and detailed colour photographs, including images taken under ultraviolet illumination, are provided. Derradj, L., Aydın Yağmur, E., Benali, N., & Bikada, M. (2026). Cicileus derradji sp. nov., a new species from south...

Successful venom immunotherapy with avapritinib in a patient with systemic mastocytosis

Posted by

 


Successful venom immunotherapy with avapritinib in a patient with systemic mastocytosis

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a clonal mast cell (MC) disorder characterized by tissue infiltration of MCs driving clinical symptoms.1 The disorder is characterized by activating mutations in the KIT protein, classically KIT p.D816V. SM is treated in a symptom-guided manner with therapies targeted toward bioactive MC mediators. However, the recent discoveries of targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors have changed the treatment paradigm of indolent SM (ISM).2 Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have demonstrated to reduce MC burden and improve quality of life. To date, they have not been used to facilitate venom immunotherapy (VIT). Patients with mastocytosis and Hymenoptera venom allergy may have recurrent anaphylaxis during VIT, and adjunctive therapies are a significant unmet need to protect this patient population. Although omalizumab has been found to be effective in a subset of patients, non-IgE-mediated mechanisms may be activated by Hymenoptera venom and an increased mutated MC burden may contribute to life-threatening symptoms. We report, here, the first case of successful VIT in a patient with ISM treated with avapritinib.

Depina, L., Karmarkar, S. N., Moeller, S., Lazarovich, M., De Magalhães, A. R., Castells, M., & Giannetti, M. P. (2025). Successful venom immunotherapy with avapritinib in a patient with systemic mastocytosis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 135(3), 343-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2025.06.015