Scorpion Venom Peptides: Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Inflammatory and Hepatic Disorders

Posted by
  Scorpion Venom Peptides: Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Inflammatory and Hepatic Disorders Abstract Chronic hepatic disorders, such as metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH), alcohol associated liver disease (ALD), and viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B Virus [HBV]/Hepatitis C Virus [HCV]), are primarily driven by persistent immune-mediated inflammation and hepatic stellate cell activation leading to fibrosis, yet conventional therapies lack tissue and molecular specificity. Scorpion venom peptides, refined through evolutionary selection, provide highly potent, target specific scaffolds capable of modulating intrahepatic inflammatory networks. Recent in vivo preclinical studies indicate that voltage gated potassium (Kv1.3) channel blocking peptides, such as BmKK2, significantly reduce macrophage activation and inhibit downstream cytokine production, effectively ameliorating diet-induced steatohepatitis and tissue scarring in murine models. Engineered hepatotropic ca...

Characterization of Hottentotta judaicus Scorpion Venom: Toxic Effects and Neurobehavioral Modulation in Insect Models

Posted by

 


Characterization of Hottentotta judaicus Scorpion Venom: Toxic Effects and Neurobehavioral Modulation in Insect Models

Abstract

Scorpion venom is a rich source of diverse bioactive molecules with medicinal importance. While the venoms of many Buthidae scorpions have been extensively studied for their toxicity and therapeutic potential, Hottentotta judaicus scorpion venom (HjSV) remains poorly explored. In this study, using LC-ESI-MS, we show that HjSV has a complex composition. We find that HjSV has no significant cytotoxic effects on three human cancer cell lines, even at concentrations of up to 1000 µg/mL. However, it exerts a dose-dependent insecticidal effect against Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established genetic model organism, and two medically relevant mosquito species, Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens. These findings highlight the venom’s selective activity and reveal a species-dependent susceptibility in insects, with mosquitoes being more sensitive than Drosophila. Furthermore, we show that at sub-lethal doses, HjSV alters D. melanogaster behavioral patterns, significantly reducing locomotor activity and increasing sleep duration. Altogether, our results provide new insights into the dual role of HjSV as both an insecticidal agent and behavioral modulator, shedding light on its ecological function in prey subduing and its potential application in pest control strategies.

Wehbe, R., Karaki, A., Dassouki, Z., Rima, M., Borges, A., Roufayel, R., Legros, C., Fajloun, Z., & Kambris, Z. (2025). Characterization of Hottentotta judaicus Scorpion Venom: Toxic Effects and Neurobehavioral Modulation in Insect Models. Toxins, 17(11), 546. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17110546