Humanized synthetic nanobody library for antivenom development

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  Humanized synthetic nanobody library for antivenom development Abstract Humanized synthetic nanobodies are increasingly important in biomedical research and therapeutic antibody development owing to their high specificity, small size, superior tissue penetration, and reduced immunogenicity. In this study, we constructed a humanized synthetic nanobody library by combining eight sub-libraries. Each sub-library comprised four framework regions derived from human immunoglobulin framework sequences, whereas the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) were designed based on camelid nanobody sequences. The resulting combined library reached a titer of 1.8 × 10 8  CFU/mL, with approximately 80% of clones containing correct inserts. To evaluate the functionality of the library, a synthetic 15-mer peptide mimic (Asp49-41) corresponding to an enzymatic region of Asp49 phospholipase A 2  (PLA 2 ) from snake ( Crotalus atrox ) venom was synthesized and used as the target antigen. Four...

A New Species of the Medically Important Scorpion Genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae Pocock, 1893) from Kurdistan, Iraq

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A New Species of the Medically Important Scorpion Genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae Pocock, 1893) from Kurdistan, Iraq

Abstract

The scorpion genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 is renowned for its medically important species, particularly Hemiscorpius lepturus Peters, 1861, the type species of the genus and only species previously recorded in Iraq. However, the scorpion diversity of the rugged, arid landscapes of the Kurdistan Region, especially Erbil Governorate, in northern Iraq, remains largely unknown. Extensive fieldwork in Erbil Province in 2024 resulted in the discovery of a previously unknown species, described herein as Hemiscorpius kurdistanus sp. n. The Halgurd-Sakran Mountains in the Bradost Region, to which it appears to be endemic, probably played a role in its speciation, providing a barrier that contributed to geographical isolation. The new discovery supports the hypothesis that Kurdistan represents an area of endemism for arthropods due to its isolation and unique environmental conditions. The addition of a new, potentially medically important scorpion species to the Iraqi fauna emphasizes the need for continued studies on the systematics of Hemiscorpius and other scorpion taxa as well as updated public health awareness and envenomation management strategies across the Middle East.

Hussen FS, Kadir HS, Ahmed AI, Prendini L. A New Species of the Medically Important Scorpion Genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae Pocock, 1893) from Kurdistan, Iraq. Diversity. 2026; 18(2):121. https://doi.org/10.3390/d18020121