AaTs-1, a Tetrapeptide from Scorpion Venom Mitigates Demyelination and Neuroinflammation in a Cuprizone-Induced Model of Multiple Sclerosis

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  AaTs-1, a Tetrapeptide from Scorpion Venom Mitigates Demyelination and Neuroinflammation in a Cuprizone-Induced Model of Multiple Sclerosis Abstract Purpose This study focuses on the evaluation of the therapeutic potential of Tetrascorpin-1 (AaTs-1), a tetrapeptide isolated from Androctonus australis hector venom, proposed as a putative formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) antagonist, in a cuprizone-induced murine model of Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Methods Acute demyelination was induced in mice by administering cuprizone (0.2% w/w in the diet) for six weeks. During the sixth week of cuprizone intake, demyelinated mice received intranasal administration of AaTs-1 at a dose of 50–100 µg/kg for five consecutive days, with 24-hour intervals between treatments. Results Behavioral assessments, immunological assays, and histological analyses revealed that AaTs-1 improved body weight, reduced behavioral impairments...

Antivenoms, recombinant antibodies, inhibitors, and the future of snakebite envenoming therapy

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Antivenoms, recombinant antibodies, inhibitors, and the future of snakebite envenoming therapy

Abstract

Encouraging developments are taking place in the field of the therapy of snakebite envenoming (SBE), including innovations in animal-derived antivenoms and novel possibilities in the discovery of recombinant antivenom antibodies and new inhibitors of venom toxins. This narrative review presents an overview of these developments and highlights the challenges faced to improve current antivenom therapies and to move the new therapeutics from the development stage to preclinical and clinical testing, manufacture and distribution. The future of the management of SBE is likely to involve a combination of these three types of therapeutics depending on the different contexts. Likewise, innovative mechanisms should be implemented to guarantee that they will be available and accessible to countries of high incidence of SBE. The fulfillment of these tasks demands the integration of a diverse set of stakeholders, within a frame of cooperation, including researchers, developers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, clinicians, funding organizations, non-governmental initiatives, public health authorities, and organized communities.
Gutiérrez, J. M. (2026). Antivenoms, recombinant antibodies, inhibitors, and the future of snakebite envenoming therapy. Toxicon, 271, 108964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108964