Spider venom peptides Ht1a and Gg1a are toxic to honeybee parasite Varroa destructor by topical application

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  Spider venom peptides Ht1a and Gg1a are toxic to honeybee parasite Varroa destructor by topical application Abstract Global food supply strongly depends on honeybee pollination services, which are threatened by insecticides and pests such as parasitic Varroa destructor mites. Chemical varroacides/acaricides are hampered by resistance development, necessitating the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives, with arthropod venom peptides being considered promising sources of acaricidal toxins. With only a few acaricidal venom peptides being reported, we performed a systematic topical screening of 50 arthropod venoms against V. destructor , with 78% of the venoms causing 100% mortality after 24 h. Deconvolution of the venoms from the Tasmanian cave spider Hickmania troglodytes and the Giant Japanese funnel-web spider Gigathele gigas led to identification of the varroacidal peptides Ht1a and Gg1a. Topical application of Ht1a and Gg1a reduced varroa mite ...

Scorpion venom as a molecular treasure: emerging bioactive compounds and translational therapeutic insights

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Scorpion venom as a molecular treasure: emerging bioactive compounds and translational therapeutic insights

Abstract

Scorpion venom contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including peptides, proteins, enzymes, and alkaloids, which hold significant medicinal potential despite their toxicity due to interactions with voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium channels affecting the autonomic nervous system. A comprehensive study analyzing literature from esteemed scientific databases (2000–2025) evaluates the structural and functional properties of these venom components. Enzymes and proteins exhibit anticancer properties through apoptosis induction, angiogenesis inhibition, and immune modulation, while ion channel modulators show promise in treating neurological disorders, pain, and cardiac arrhythmias. Antimicrobial peptides demonstrate high efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Certain alkaloids also offer antioxidant and immunoregulatory benefits. A pioneering study on advanced nano-systems derived from scorpion venom has highlighted their potential to enhance drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy. Translational promise is further supported by advancements in recombinant expression, structure–activity relationship investigations, and innovative delivery strategies, despite challenges such as toxicity and stability. Scorpion venom thus represents a rich source of compounds with significant medicinal and biological applications.

Dahiya, R., Goyal, K., Sharma, K. et al. Scorpion venom as a molecular treasure: emerging bioactive compounds and translational therapeutic insights. Arch Toxicol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-025-04251-5