Transcriptomic Insights Into the Evolution of Snake Venom: Mechanisms, Diversity, and Adaptation

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  Transcriptomic Insights Into the Evolution of Snake Venom: Mechanisms, Diversity, and Adaptation Abstract Snake venoms are evolutionarily refined biochemical arsenals composed of diverse toxins with complex functional roles in predation, defense, and competition. Over the past 2 decades, transcriptomic approaches have transformed venom research by enabling high-resolution insights into gene expression dynamics, molecular diversity, and the evolutionary mechanisms driving venom variation across lineages. In this review, we present a comprehensive synthesis of snake venom transcriptomics literature and propose a conceptual framework structured around three major axes: (1) gene family expansion through duplication and neofunctionalization; (2) regulatory complexity encompassing transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and epigenetic modulation; and (3) ecological selection pressures shaping venom profiles in response to diet, habitat, and interspecific interactions. We integrate findin...

Comparison of two populations of the scorpion Centruroides mascota: venom composition and neutralization by a human recombinant antibody

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Centruroides mascota scorpion was described in 2011 by Ponce Saavedra's group as a species of medical importance in the state of Jalisco. In this study, we characterized two populations of scorpions collected in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Through a morphometric analysis, the determination of the LD50 of the respective venoms, electrophoresis, separation of their components by HPLC, mass spectrometry, and neutralization tests, it has been possible to establish that they correspond to the same species, distributed in different habitats. The scFv 10FG2 antibody fragment, which shows broad cross-neutralization of various scorpion toxins, was evaluated for the first time in the recognition of toxins from this venom and in its neutralization. The recombinant antibody fragment 10FG2 neutralizes 2 LD50 of venom of Centruroides mascota from both localities.

Gómez-Ramírez, I. V., Gonzalez-Santillán, E., Romero-Moreno, J. A., Fernández-Taboada, G., Güereca, L., Zamudio, F., Possani, L. D., Riaño-Umbarila, L., & Becerril, B. (2026). Comparison of two populations of the scorpion Centruroides mascota: Venom composition and neutralization by a human recombinant antibody. Toxicon, 109095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109095