The largest fossil of the segmented spider Parvithele muelleri Wunderlich, 2017 (Mesothelae: Parvithelidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

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  The largest fossil of the segmented spider Parvithele muelleri Wunderlich, 2017 (Mesothelae: Parvithelidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber Abstract A new specimen of the fossil spider Parvithele muelleri Wunderlich, 2017 (Araneae: Mesothelae) is described from the mid-Cretaceous (ca. 99 Ma) Burmese amber of Myanmar. Like the original holotype, the new specimen is a mature male, which clearly preserves a series of tibial macrospines, similar to the condition in the extant genus Liphistius Schiødte, 1849. Given that the single extant mesothele family, Liphistiidae, is predicted to have radiated ca. 39–58 million years ago, the occurrence of somewhat modern-looking male pedipalp spination in older fossil mesotheles is of considerable interest. The new specimen also shows spinnerets in a relatively posterior position, although variability observed in extant species suggests that this trait may be of limited systematic value. Of particular note is the presence of a large and well-dev...

Translating Venom to Medicine: A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Chlorotoxin in Glioblastoma Diagnosis and Therapy

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Translating Venom to Medicine: A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Chlorotoxin in Glioblastoma Diagnosis and Therapy

Glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumor, carries a dismal prognosis, with median survival remaining under 15 months despite standard therapies. This is largely because of the tumor’s infiltrative nature, the restrictive blood–brain barrier, and intratumoral heterogeneity. Chlorotoxin (CTX), a 36-amino acid peptide derived from scorpion venom, has emerged as a promising multifunctional agent with high specificity for neuroectodermal tumors. In this comprehensive review, we highlight CTX’s potential to address critical limitations of current glioma treatments by bridging diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Diagnostic advancements include CTX-conjugated near-IF fluorophores and nanoparticles for fluorescence-guided surgery and multimodal imaging to enhance intraoperative accuracy. On the therapeutic front, CTX enables targeted delivery of siRNA, radioisotopes, and novel immunotherapies such as CTX-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cells. We also examine emerging clinical data supporting the safety and preliminary efficacy of CTX-based interventions. Collectively, CTX represents a paradigm shift in neuro-oncology, offering a single molecule with both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Its utility may also extend beyond gliomas to metastases and other malignancies within and beyond the central nervous system.

Deryn Ramsoomair, Christian K. Ramsoomair, Manav Daftari, Vratko Himic, Nathan A. Shlobin, Sarah E. Wang, Michael E. Ivan, Ricardo J. Komotar, Ashish H. Shah; Translating Venom to Medicine: A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Chlorotoxin in Glioblastoma Diagnosis and Therapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2025; https://doi.org/10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-25-0329