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 gecko's last dance: Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) prey on Mediodactylus kotschyi (Steindacher, 1870) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Greece

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The gecko's last dance: Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) prey on Mediodactylus kotschyi (Steindacher, 1870) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Greece

Abstract

Scorpions mainly feed on insects and other invertebrates. However, several species include small vertebrates in their diets. Here, we report a case of lizard consumption by a Mediterranean scorpion. This is the first documented case of Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Buthidae) preying on the gecko Mediodactylus kotschyi, adding to a limited body of reports of lizard predation by European scorpions.

Freideriki Karavatsou, Apostolos Christopoulos, Aris Deimezis-Tsikoutas, Evdokia Beleri, Panayiotis Pafilis "The gecko's last dance: Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) prey on Mediodactylus kotschyi (Steindacher, 1870) (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Greece," The Journal of Arachnology, 53(3), 171-173, (2 January 2026) https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-24-034