Qualitative and Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Venoms from Mexican Rattlesnakes

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  Qualitative and Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Venoms from Mexican Rattlesnakes Abstract Despite the vast biodiversity of Mexican vipers, venom of endemic species has been barely studied. Here we analyzed the venom composition of three endemic species of rattlesnakes: Crotalus aquilus , C. triseriatus , and C. ravus . We used quantitative chromato-mass-spectrometry and compared venoms with C. molossus , a species commonly found in North America, in a comparative and phylogenetic framework. In total, we identified 165 proteins grouped in 19 main protein families, consistent with previous reports for viperid venoms. In C. aquilus and C. triseriatus , the most predominant protein-family type was Serine Proteases, and in C. triseriatus and C. molossus it was Snake Venom Metalloproteases. The Label-free quantification revealed a high proportion of Snake Venom Metalloproteases in C. aquilus , C. triseriatus , and C. molossus , reaching 28–47% of the total venom. In contrast, in ...

Identification and testing of sex pheromone components of the invasive Australian redback spider (Lactrodectus hasseltii)

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By Toby Hudson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18357388

Identification and testing of sex pheromone components of the invasive Australian redback spider (Lactrodectus hasseltii)

Abstract

Australian redback spiders Latrodectus hasseltii, known for their strong neurotoxic venom, are a quarantine threat for much of the world. Female redback spiders produce a sex pheromone that attracts males of the species, yet the compounds involved in their attraction remain unresolved. Our project set out to identify these compounds and use them to trap male redback spiders as the first step in the development of a pest management/surveillance tool for these spiders. Headspace volatiles from the silk of virgin and mated female redback spiders was collected by solid phase microextraction and analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Silk samples were also solvent extracted for analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Comparison with synthetic standards on multiple column phases identified the candidate volatile pheromone components as 2-methylpropanoic acid, (S)-2-methylbutanoic acid and 2-pyrrolidone, while N-3-methylbutanoyl-O-(S)-2-methylbutanoyl-L-serine was identified as the main candidate short-range cue. Bioassays with a combination of these four compounds showed similar levels of attraction to the natural virgin female’s silk. Field trapping trials using a mixture of all four compounds successfully trapped male redback spiders in New Zealand vineyards.

Twidle, A.M., Sullivan, T.E.S., Arahanga, M.T. et al. Identification and testing of sex pheromone components of the invasive Australian redback spider (Lactrodectus hasseltii). Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-49837-w