Comparative characterization of Bothrops atrox venom compositional profiles and in vitro activities across distinct localities in the Brazilian Amazon

Posted by
  Comparative characterization of Bothrops atrox venom compositional profiles and in vitro activities across distinct localities in the Brazilian Amazon Abstract Bothrops atrox is responsible for most of the snakebite accidents in the Brazilian Northen region. Understanding the intraspecific variability in the snake venom of this species contributes to a better understanding and treatment of snakebite symptoms. This study presents a descriptive comparative characterization of the individual venom composition and in vitro functional profiles of Bothrops atrox specimens from distinct localities across the Amazon Basin. Individual venoms were analyzed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and evaluated for proteolytic, phospholipase-A 2 and L-amino acid oxidase, and indirect hemolytic activities. Multivariate statistical approaches (Multiple Factor Analysis and Factor Analysis of Mixed Data followed by Hierarchical Clustering of Principal Components) were appl...

Scorpion Group 1 discovered in the venom of Anuroctonus phaiodactylus

Posted by

 


Scorpion Group 1 discovered in the venom of Anuroctonus phaiodactylus

Abstract

Scorpion Group 1 (SG1) represents a novel, highly divergent lineage of symbiotic bacteria within the class Mollicutes (phylum Mycoplasmatota). Currently, SG1’s distribution remains restricted - it has been identified exclusively within the scorpion family Vaejovidae, specifically in the genera Vaejovis and Mesomexovis. To date, SG1 has not been detected in other major scorpion families, suggesting a specialized host-symbiont relationship. In this study, we utilized the long-read capabilities of Oxford Nanopore Technology to sequence the 16S rRNA gene from the venom of two scorpion species: Paruroctonus becki (family Vaejovidae) and Anuroctonus phaiodactylus (family Anuroctonidae). We aimed to uncover cryptic microbial diversity, such as SG1, that may have been overlooked by previous short-read sequencing platforms. Our results revealed SG1 was indeed present in A. phaiodactylus but its presence was undetected in P. becki. We thus extend the host range of SG1 beyond Vaejovidae to include Anuroctonidae, refining the evolutionary boundaries of this unusual Mollicutes-scorpion association.

Heidorn, A., Graham, M. R., & Murdoch, B. (2026). Scorpion Group 1 discovered in the venom of Anuroctonus phaiodactylus. Frontiers in Arachnid Science, 5, 1858835. https://doi.org/10.3389/frchs.2026.1858835