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...

Unveiling the diversity of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae) in Colombia: new species, records and comments on their distribution

Posted by

 


Unveiling the diversity of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae) in Colombia: new species, records and comments on their distribution

Abstract

The taxonomic knowledge of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 in Colombia, currently represented by eight species, is increased with the description of six new species: Eutichurus luisdiazi sp. nov. (♂♀), Eutichurus tibacuy sp. nov. (♂♀), Eutichurus meta sp. nov. (♂♀), Eutichurus yariguies sp. nov. (♀), Eutichurus muisca sp. nov (♂), and Eutichurus andresgarcia sp. nov (♂). In addition, new morphological data are provided for Eutichurus arnoi Bonaldo, 1994, whose male is described for the first time. Furthermore, the first accurate locality record for E. cumbia Bonaldo & Ramírez, 2018 in Tabio, Cundinamarca is presented. New records from Colombia are also provided for Eutichurus marquesae Bonaldo, 1994, Eutichurus tropicus (L. Koch, 1866) and Eutichurus valderramai Bonaldo, 1994. We provide an updated taxonomic key and new distribution maps for all the species included in this study, as well as new photographic documentation for several species previously known to occur in Colombia (E. arnoi, E. cumbia, E. putus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898, E. tropicus, E. marquesae, and E. valderramai). Additionally, specimens of E. putus, E. sigillatus Chickering, 1937 and E. furcifer, from non-Colombian localities, are photographed here for the first time, accompanied by comments regarding their geographic distribution. With the new species proposed herein, the genus is now represented by 14 species in the country.

Casas, C.M., Villarreal-Blanco, E., Morales, A., Osorio, C. & Martínez, L. (2025) Unveiling the diversity of Eutichurus Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Cheiracanthiidae) in Colombia: new species, records and comments on their distribution. Zootaxa, 5691 (3), 399–448. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5691.3.2