Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil

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  Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil ABSTRACT Aim Beta diversity analyses clarify mechanisms structuring ecological communities, but their multidimensional facets remain poorly explored in arthropods. Here, we quantified taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity in scorpions, partitioned these facets into species replacement and richness differences, and evaluated the relative importance of spatial structure and environmental conditions in driving community assembly. Location Northeastern Brazil, South America. Taxon Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Methods Taxonomic beta diversity was estimated using species presence across 70 sites in northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic turnover was calculated from a multi-locus molecular tree, and functional beta diversity was derived from morphometric and ecological traits. All beta diversity facets were decomposed into replacement and richness-difference component...

The recombinant protein of scorpion venom phospholipase A2 exhibits potential anti-leishmanial activity

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By Guy Haimovitch - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630282

The recombinant protein of scorpion venom phospholipase A2 exhibits potential anti-leishmanial activity

Abstract

The venom of scorpions contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including mucoproteins, nucleotides, and enzymes. Among these, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) plays a critical role in hydrolyzing plasma membrane phospholipids, leading to the release of fatty acids and lysophospholipids. In this study, characterized Maurolipin was selected as a candidate for recombinant protein production and evaluation of its anti-leishmanial activity. The recombinant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli strain Origami (DE3) and purified using a Ni-NTA resin column. The anti-parasitic activity of Maurolipin was tested against Leishmania major promastigotes, the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). The growth inhibitory effect was assessed across a range of concentrations (40 to 0.07 μg/ml). Leishmanicidal activity was determined by propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry, while cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 macrophages was evaluated using an MTT assay. Maurolipin exhibited potent anti-leishmanial effects, with a 24-hour growth inhibition IC50 of 6.5 μg/ml and a leishmanicidal LC50 of 9.06 μg/ml after 3 hours of exposure. Cytotoxic effects on macrophages were dose- and time-dependent. These findings suggest that recombinant Maurolipin possesses growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing properties, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for leishmaniasis.

Soltan-Alinejad, P., Ramezani, A., Asgari, Q. et al. The recombinant protein of scorpion venom phospholipase A2 exhibits potential anti-leishmanial activity. Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29796-4