Notes on the identity of the orb-weaver spider Araneus nox Simon, 1877 (Araneae: Araneidae) from India, including its transfer to Eriovixia Archer, 1951 and one new synonymy

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  Notes on the identity of the orb-weaver spider Araneus nox Simon, 1877 (Araneae: Araneidae) from India, including its transfer to Eriovixia Archer, 1951 and one new synonymy The orb-weaver genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 has historically served as a heterogeneous assemblage for numerous araneid spiders lacking clear generic placement, and several Asian species formerly assigned to Araneus have subsequently been transferred to more narrowly defined genera. One species that still needs further investigation on its true identity is Araneus nox (Simon, 1877), originally described as Epeira nox Simon, 1877 from Basilan Island, Philippines, and later transferred to Araneus by Simon (1905). In the same year as the description of Epeira nox, Thorell (1877) described Epeira pilula from the Moluccas (Indonesia), which was subsequently synonymised under Epeira nox by Simon (1880). Despite its broad Oriental distribution, the taxonomic identity and generic placement of A. nox have remained insuff...

Functional and Immunological Variability of Viperid Venoms Across Continents and Cross-Neutralization by Peruvian Antivenoms

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Functional and Immunological Variability of Viperid Venoms Across Continents and Cross-Neutralization by Peruvian Antivenoms

Abstract

Snake envenomation remains a significant neglected tropical disease primarily treated with antivenoms, which, despite inherent limitations, continue to be the gold standard therapy. Snake venoms exhibit extensive compositional and functional diversity, posing challenges for universal antivenom efficacy. This study comprehensively evaluated venom composition, enzymatic activities, and immunological cross-reactivity across 24 Viperidae species from diverse geographic regions. Using protein profiling, enzymatic assays (proteolytic, amidolytic, clotting, and PLA2 activities), and phylogenetic analyses, we revealed marked interspecific variation. Bothrops species exhibited elevated SVMP-driven proteolytic activity, while Crotalus venoms demonstrated more balanced enzymatic profiles. Phylogenetic clustering highlighted evolutionary divergence and functional convergence among taxa. Immunoreactivity assays with Peruvian antibothropic, anticrotalic, and antilachesic antivenoms showed broad cross-recognition within Bothrops and Crotalus venoms, but limited efficacy against more distantly related Viperinae species. Western blot analyses confirmed these specificity patterns. Neutralization assays revealed differential inhibition: antibothropic antivenom effectively neutralized proteolytic activity, whereas anticrotalic antivenom preferentially inhibited PLA2-mediated effects. This functional variability highlights the biochemical complexity of viperid venoms and the constraints of current antivenoms. Our findings emphasize the urgent need to develop improved, broadly effective antivenom formulations capable of targeting the diverse toxin profiles of geographically and phylogenetically distinct viperid species, ultimately enhancing clinical management of snakebite envenomation worldwide.
Torrejón, D., Llontop, A., Proléon, A., Lazo, F., Urra, F. A., Yarlequé, A., & Vivas-Ruiz, D. E. (2025). Functional and Immunological Variability of Viperid Venoms Across Continents and Cross-Neutralization by Peruvian Antivenoms. Biochimie. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2025.10.013