A new Cataleptoneta species (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from sulfidic caves in Greece and Albania

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  A new Cataleptoneta species (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from sulfidic caves in Greece and Albania Abstract A new species of the genus Cataleptoneta Denis, 1955, Cataleptoneta sulfur sp. nov ., is described from caves in the Vromoner Canyon (Sarandaporo River Valley), on the Greek–Albanian border (northwestern Greece and southern Albania), on the basis of both sexes. Drawings, scanning electron micrographs, and digital images of diagnostic features are presented. Analysis of COI mitochondrial barcode sequences confirmed the species distinction from all the other sequences. Within the species two separate lineages, unique to each cave were found. The genus Cataleptoneta is not monophyletic as now circumscribed and confirmed also by the phylogenetic analysis of the sequences. Urák I, Ştefan A, Motoc RM, Brad T, Zsigmond A-R, Sarbu SM, Szűts T (2026) A new Cataleptoneta species (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from sulfidic caves in Greece and Albania. ZooKeys 1294: 89-107. https://doi.org/...

The content of inflammatory, antiphlogistic and stress biomarkers in the heart after Leiurus macroctenus envenomation

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The content of inflammatory, antiphlogistic and stress biomarkers in the heart after Leiurus macroctenus envenomation

Abstract

Scorpions belonging to the species Leiurus macroctenus are known to be very dangerous, but the effect of their venom on cytokine and stress biomarkers levels in heart, is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyse the pro‑inflammatory, anti‑inflammatory and stress biomarkers content in rat heart after L. macroctenus envenomation. A significant increase in the content of both pro-inflammatory cytokines: tumour necrosis factor‑α (TNF-α), interleukins-1β, -8, -6 (IL‑1β, IL-8, IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokines: interferon‑γ (IFN‑γ), interleukins-4, -10 (IL-4, IL-10), as well as an increase in transcription factor Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), and the heat shock proteins (HSP60 and HSP70) content were found in heart tissue. All this may indicate that L. macroctenus envenomation may cause significant destruction of the cellular microenvironment in the heart with certain changes in the innate immune response, leading to systemic poisoning. Moreover, a decrease in the level of all analysed indicators was detected 72 hours after the introduction of the venom, which may be a sign of the beginning of reparative processes in the organ.

The content of inflammatory, antiphlogistic and stress biomarkers in the heart after Leiurus macroctenus envenomation. (2025). Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino Della Società Italiana Di Biologia Sperimentale, 98. https://doi.org/10.4081/jbr.2025.14144