First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae

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  First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae Abstract Flies of the genus Megaselia Rondani, 1856 exhibit exceptional ecological flexibility, with certain species acting as facultative parasites. This study presents the first documented cases of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) infesting captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae, Ceratogyrus darlingi Pocock, 1897 and Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994) in terrarium settings. Our observations demonstrate that M . abdita colonise artificial habitats and exploit spider hosts similarly to Megaselia scalaris . Citation: Szymański, D.M., Szymański, D., Kłonowski, P. (2026). First record of Megaselia abdita (Schmitz, 1959) (Diptera: Phoridae) infestation in captive tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Dipteron, 42, 25-29. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23137389

Lansbermin-I, a disintegrin from Porthidium lansbergii lansbergii venom as a potential anticancer prototype: In vitro and in silico effects on cervical cancer cells

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Lansbermin-I, a disintegrin from Porthidium lansbergii lansbergii venom as a potential anticancer prototype: In vitro and in silico effects on cervical cancer cells

Abstract

We report the cytotoxic effects of Lansbermin-I, a disintegrin from Porthidium lansbergii lansbergii venom, on HeLa cervical cancer cells but not on leukemic, non-tumorigenic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or fibroblast lines. Lansbermin-I reduced HeLa cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, impaired adhesion to fibronectin and collagen, and inhibited migration and clonogenicity. Docking analysis suggested interaction with the RGD domain of integrin α5β1. These results identify Lansbermin-I as a potential antitumor prototype against cervical cancer.
Osorno-Valencia, D., Montoya-Gómez, A., Sevilla-Sánchez, M. J., Burbano-Guerrero, N., Mosquera-Escudero, M., & Jiménez-Charris, E. (2026). Lansbermin-I, a disintegrin from Porthidium lansbergii lansbergii venom as a potential anticancer prototype: In vitro and in silico effects on cervical cancer cells. Toxicon, 109063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109063