Scorpion Venoms: Pathogenesis and Biotherapies

Abstract

Accidental pathogenesis, such as that attributed to scorpion stings, required an emergency treatment. Scorpion envenoming (SE) is an accidental disease encountered in tropical and subtropical countries. This accident is considered as a public health problem due to its induced pathophysiological effects, which could be fatal to humans. Observed clinical cases after scorpion stings are often different from one species to another. The severity of the symptoms depends on the health of the victim and the injected amount of the venom by sting and predominantly on patient's age (stung children seem to be the more vulnerable). Some symptoms appear rapidly and could evolve and worsen to multivisceral damage (MVD) leading to the fatal outcome. In regions at risk, immunotherapy is the most commonly used approach to treat stung victims. This therapy is associated with symptomatic treatment according to the health state of each patient. The specific treatment may have a limited therapeutic value mainly due to neutralizing capacity of the used antibodies and also to other environment the factors such as the time taken to reach at the health sectors. This review emphasizes SE as a public health problem raging not only in Maghreb regions but also in the rest of the world. Understanding of the induced effects after stings is essential to optimize the treatment.

Cytotoxic activity of Androctonus australis hector venom and its toxic fractions on human lung cancer cell line

“…The non-toxic fraction is a mixture of mucopolysaccharides, hyaluronidases, phospholipases and enzymes inhibitors. The lethal effects of scorpion venoms were largely attributed to the toxic fraction which consists mainly in highly specific neurotoxins to ion channels (sodium, potassium, calcium or chloride) of excitable and non excitable cells [ 18 ]. Androctonus australis hector (Aah) scorpion is the most endemic species from North Africa belonging to Buthidae family [ 19 ].…”

Neuro‐Modulation of Immuno‐Endocrine Response Induced by Kaliotoxin of Androctonus Scorpion Venom

“…Moreover, KTX significantly increased NO release as well as Aah and its toxic components due to the neuronal activation of NO synthase [9][10][11]. Neutrophil and eosinophil recruitment at the site of injury were a major source of oxygen free radicals and cytotoxic leukocyte-derived products which can induce a tissue damage endothelial cell disorganization [21,28]. Resulting free radical from cellular stress can also induce a membrane permeability increase and tissue injury [29,30].…”

Guiding recombinant antivenom development by omics technologies

“…Among the tropical diseases, snakebite envenoming remains one of the most neglected, causing mortality and morbidity to thousands of victims worldwide each year [1][2][3]. In addition, envenomings by other species, particularly scorpions and spiders, also constitute a medically important challenge for public health [4][5][6][7]. Modern approaches based on biotechnology and medicinal chemistry are starting to see the light of day through neutralization of animal toxins by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecule inhibitors [8,9].…”