Envenomization with Snake Versus Scorpion Venom: Postmortem Repercussions on the Successional Dynamics of Carcass-Attracted Flies in a Forensic Context

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  Envenomization with Snake Versus Scorpion Venom: Postmortem Repercussions on the Successional Dynamics of Carcass-Attracted Flies in a Forensic Context Abstract Background: Animal venoms may alter postmortem carcass conditions and thereby influence carrion-associated insects. However, it remains unclear whether lethal envenomization affects adult Diptera as a broad assemblage-level response or as taxon-specific changes during decomposition. Methods: Fifteen rabbits were assigned to control, snake-envenomized, or scorpion-envenomized treatments (with five carcasses each). Carcasses were exposed under semi-natural conditions, until complete dryness, over 11 days postmortem. Adult flies were collected daily for analyzing abundance at total, family, and selected species levels, using negative GLMM, with carcass identity as a random effect and postmortem day as a nonlinear predictor. Results: A total of 5497 adult flies representing 13 species in seven families was recorded. Total fly...

Assessment of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Apoptosis and Stress Protein Biomarkers in the Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

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Assessment of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Apoptosis and Stress Protein Biomarkers in the Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs), increasingly prevalent due to technological advancements, have raised significant concerns regarding their potential biological effects on living organisms. While much attention has focused on human health, growing evidence suggests that EMFs can also affect invertebrates, which play vital ecological roles. This study investigates the biochemical and cell death biomarker responses to EMF exposure for 24 h or 72 h in Parasteatoda tepidariorum. The focus is placed on the 10 MHz frequency, which is relevant to environmental exposure scenarios. Biochemical biomarkers include heat shock proteins (HSP70) and the percentage of apoptotic and living cells in individuals at their embryonic, young and adult stages. Results indicate that exposure to EMFs can induce measurable stress responses at the biochemical level, with variations depending on developmental stage and protective structures. Embryos outside of the egg sac exhibited significantly elevated levels of HSP70 and apoptosis markers compared to those within the sac, suggesting a partial protective effect of the cocoons. Furthermore, differences in biomarker sensitivity were observed across all the developmental stages and increased with prolonged exposure. These findings contribute to the understanding of EMF-induced biological effects in invertebrates and support the use of P. tepidariorum as a model species for environmental electromagnetic pollution.

Porc, W., Rozpędek, K., Glenszczyk, M., Lis, A., & Babczyńska, A. (2026). Assessment of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Apoptosis and Stress Protein Biomarkers in the Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27094088