Venom Mass Fingerprints for Species Delimitation, Reloaded: A Test Case with Italian Scorpions (Euscorpius)

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  Venom Mass Fingerprints for Species Delimitation, Reloaded: A Test Case with Italian Scorpions (Euscorpius) Abstract Scorpion venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive compounds including proteins, peptides and enzymes. Although venoms exhibit substantial intraspecific variation, some compounds appear to be species-specific, highlighting their potential as chemotaxonomic markers. Venom mass fingerprints (MFPs) derived from Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry (MS) have been proposed as a means of delimiting species. However, their utility for species delimitation has rarely been evaluated against independent sources of taxonomic evidence. In the present study, the performance of MALDI-TOF MS-based venom peptide barcoding (mass ranges of m/z 800‒4500 and m/z 3000‒10,000) was assessed in 52 populations of eight Italian species of the scorpion genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876, representing different levels of evolutionary divergenc...

Patentability of natural products from Venomous Organisms: A guide for life science researchers

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Patentability of natural products from Venomous Organisms: A guide for life science researchers

Abstract

This report is built on insights gathered during the European Venom Network (EUVEN) workshop on the patentability of natural compounds, with a particular focus on venom-derived molecules, held online on June 10, 2022. The program explored key aspects of Intellectual Property (IP) rights relevant to the development of therapeutic agents derived from natural sources, including animal venoms and toxins. Topics included IP considerations in biotechnology, strategies for building and managing IP portfolios, and licensing pathways from academic research to industry. The review further discusses the specific challenges and opportunities in patenting venom-based compounds, and outlines recommended practices for IP sharing within collaborative research consortia such as EUVEN. Finally, it incorporates perspectives from industry on fostering academic partnerships to advance the translational potential of venom-derived therapeutics. This document aims to serve as a practical guide for researchers at all career stages working in life sciences, particularly those engaged in the discovery and development of natural product-based innovations.
Ikonomopoulou, M. P., Anderluh, G., Coskun, S., Merello Luna, F., Modica, M. V., Procházka, J., Rivera-de-Torre, E., Tarallo, A., & Violette, A. (2025). Patentability of natural products from Venomous Organisms: A guide for life science researchers. Toxicon, 108927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108927