The pholcid spiders of Tunisia (Araneae: Pholcidae): new species, new records, and deep COI divergence in Holocnemus reini

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  The pholcid spiders of Tunisia (Araneae: Pholcidae): new species, new records, and deep COI divergence in Holocnemus reini Abstract Tunisia features a rapid transition between Mediterranean and Saharan biogeographical zones, resulting in a high degree of environmental heterogeneity. Despite this ecological diversity, Tunisian spiders have received limited attention compared to those of neighboring Maghreb countries. Here we combine the results of recent collections in Tunisia focusing on Pholcidae with a comprehensive review of previously published information, resulting in a total of six genera and eleven species. We present first records of the genera Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen, 1987 and Spermophorides Wunderlich, 1992 for Tunisia, represented by four new species: M. kahinae Huber sp. nov., M. echebbii Huber sp. nov., S. nabilae Huber & Kmira sp. nov., S. bchirae Huber sp. nov.; in addition, we redescribe S. huberti (Senglet, 1973) from Tunisian specimens,...

The Venom Revolution in Biomedicine: Unlocking Nature’s Toxin Toolkit for Therapeutic Innovation

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The Venom Revolution in Biomedicine: Unlocking Nature’s Toxin Toolkit for Therapeutic Innovation

Abstract

Once known only for its deadly effects, venom is now valued for its medicinal potential. The transformation of venomous substances into therapeutic agents, focusing on the synergy between natural toxins and drugs, is a recent topic of interest to the scientific community worldwide. Venom is a concoction of various biomolecules, including proteins, enzymes, peptides, protease inhibitors, and more. This review focuses on different categories of venomous species, their venom composition, the mechanism of venom deployment, and the pharmacokinetics. Besides this, it also focuses on the technological innovations while tracing venom's medical use from ancient practices to modern therapies. Additionally, it addresses the challenges and future directions, such as regulatory obstacles related to the approval processes for venom-derived drugs, illustrating the ongoing evolution from toxins to cure.
Bose, D., Srinivasan, K., Patil, S. S., Nayak, A. G., & Hariharapura, R. C. (2026). The Venom Revolution in Biomedicine: Unlocking Nature’s Toxin Toolkit for Therapeutic Innovation. Toxicology Reports, 16, 102227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2026.102227