Snake Venom and Antivenom Pharmacology

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  SNAKE VENOM & ANTIVENOM Chemistry, Composition, Mechanisms and Pharmacology Abstract This integrated teaching session for Phase III MBBS students focused on the pharmacology and toxicology of snake venom and the principles of antivenom therapy. The lecture covered the chemistry, composition, mechanisms of action, and pharmacological effects of snake venoms and antivenoms. Rational use of antivenoms, indications, administration protocols, adverse reactions, and supportive management strategies were discussed. The session also highlighted the translational importance of venom-derived compounds in modern drug development. Recent advances in antivenom research, including recombinant human monoclonal antibodies, toxin-specific inhibitors, synthetic antibody technologies, and next-generation broad-spectrum antivenoms, were reviewed. Current discoveries and emerging approaches aimed at improving efficacy, safety, affordability, and accessibility of antivenom therapy were also explor...

The chemosensory toolkit of the cursorial spider Pisaura mirabilis

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The chemosensory toolkit of the cursorial spider Pisaura mirabilis

Abstract

Chemical sensing is essential for animals to locate food, avoid predators, and find mates. Like many arthropods, spiders rely on chemosensory inputs, but their toolkit remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate the basics of chemosensing in the cursorial spider Pisaura mirabilis. Using electron microscopy, we identified two types of chemosensory sensilla. Tip-pore sensilla occur on legs and pedipalps of both sexes, while wall-pore sensilla are found on walking legs of adult males only. Tip-pore sensilla are classified as contact chemosensilla, while wall-pore sensilla are classified as odor-detecting sensilla. Our behavioral studies confirm that males are attracted to female odor. The distribution of these sensilla types supports their functions: tip-pore sensilla occur mainly at the tips of the legs, whereas wall-pore sensilla occur closer to leg bases, not contacting the substrate. These findings expand our knowledge of chemosensing in spiders and have implications for research on arthropod chemical ecology.

Talukder, M. B., Müller, C. H., Fischer, A., Mahimkar, V., Wolff, J. O., & Uhl, G. B. (2025). The chemosensory toolkit of the cursorial spider Pisaura mirabilis. Communications Biology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-09127-z