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

Posted by
  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 ...

Snake Venom and Envenomation: From Molecular Insights to Clinical Translation (Call for Submissions)

Posted by

 


Snakebite envenomation remains a major neglected tropical disease with significant global health impact, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This Collection aims to showcase multidisciplinary research on snake venoms and envenomation, integrating molecular and omics-based characterisation of venom components with mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical insights into toxin-induced pathology.

The Collection welcomes original research, reviews, and translational studies covering venomics, proteomics, metabolomics, mechanisms of envenomation, antivenom development, innovative therapeutic strategies, and public health perspectives. Emphasis is placed on bridging fundamental venom biology with clinical translation and real-world impact in snakebite management.

Journal: Discover Life