Serum production of Androctonus crassicauda (scorpion) venom: Evaluating the impact of high-quality protein diets

Scorpion ( Androctonus crassicauda) venom limits growth of transformed cells (SH-SY5Y and MCF-7) by cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest

Scorpion venoms from the Buthidae family: A dual study of proteomic composition and anticancer potentials.

Short and long-term effects of manipulating dietary CP content and diet quality in weaner diets on health and performance of pigs were investigated in a 2 x 2 factorial combination of CP inclusion (high-CP, 230 g of CP/kg vs. low-CP, 170 g of CP/kg) and diet quality (high-quality, cooked cereals, and animal protein vs. low-quality, raw cereals, and plant protein). Diets were fed ad libitum for 14 d postweaning to pigs weaned at 29.4+/-3.1 d of age and 9.9+/-1.0 kg of BW. From d 14 to slaughter at 104+/-3 kg, all pigs were fed the same series of standard commercial diets. There were 15 replicates per treatment in the weaner phase (<30 kg) and 5 replicates per treatment in the grower-finisher phase (>30 kg). High-quality diets promoted gut health as indicated by improved fecal lactobacilli to coliform ratio (P=0.002) and decreased fecal enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli counts on d 11 postweaning (P=0.028), reducing the risk of postweaning diarrhea and improving pig health from weaning to the end of the weaner phase. Reducing CP content had no effect on gut health. High-CP (P=0.053) and high-quality (P=0.025) diets independently increased ADG during the first 14 d postweaning compared with low-CP and low-quality diets, respectively. There were no interactions between dietary CP content and quality on any of the response criteria investigated. Despite differences in the immediate postweaning period, there was no effect of manipulating diet quality or CP content for 2 wk postweaning on lifetime performance with pigs reaching slaughter weight in 128+/-7 d. These results indicate that high-quality diets may protect pig gut health during the immediate postweaning period. However, it may be possible to use less expensive, decreased quality weaner diets without any adverse effects on long-term performance when weaning older, heavier pigs and where health status, environmental control, and stock management are all maintained to a high standard.

Summary 1. In insects, cuticular melanization and immune function are strongly dependent on the quantity of dietary protein ingested. However, relatively little is known about the role played by the quality of nitrogenous resources in determining phenotypic variation in the degree of melanization and correlated immunological functions. We explored this issue in a generalist-feeding caterpillar, Spodoptera littoralis , by providing larvae with one of two semi-artificial diets differing in their quality of protein supplement (high-quality casein vs. low-quality zein). 2. Larvae given a high-quality protein diet had higher survival and faster growth rates than larvae on the low-quality protein diet; they also had more heavily melanized cuticles. Two components of constitutive immunity were assayed: lysozyme-like antibacterial activity and phenoloxidase (PO) activity. PO activity was not affected by diet quality, but antibacterial activity was higher for insects on the high-quality diet, providing a potential physiological mechanism for observed survival differences between the two dietary treatments. 3. Analysis of nitrogen conversion efficiency using chemically defined diets indicated that proteinquality had little effect on ingestion rates (i.e. nitrogen acquisition), but that post-ingestive utilization of nitrogen was reduced for larvae on the low-quality protein diet. This result implies that proteinquality had a significant influence on the nitrogen pool potentially available for investment in melanin production and immune function. 4. A split-plot, full-sib family breeding experiment was used to dissect the genetic control of cuticular melanization from the effects induced by dietary treatment. Estimates of broad-sense heritability indicated that the expression of melanization had a significant genetic basis, but there was little evidence for a genotype × environment interaction. 5. These results suggest that nutrition is a key factor that influences insect melanization and mediates its coupling with important physiological functions linked to survival.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are increasingly recognized as a promising and sustainable solution for upcycling low quality side streams into high-quality protein, but the underlying genetic and environmental mechanisms influencing their performance remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of cross-generational dietary changes on BSF performance and larval gut microbiome composition. We used BSF lines that had been maintained on either low-quality (wheat bran) or high-quality (chicken feed) diets for 30 generations (parental diets) and subjected them to dietary shifts across three generations (F1-F3). Results revealed improvement of growth and reproductive traits when larvae were raised on a high-quality diet, regardless of the parental diet. We also identified subtle effects of parental diet on offspring growth traits when larvae were fed the same diet. However, in most cases this latter effect was transient and disappeared in the F3 generation, suggesting a strong environmental influence on the performance traits. The gut microbiome of BSFL was significantly shaped by dietary changes, with a marked change in composition and generally higher microbial diversity when larvae were reared on wheat bran diets. In addition, a small but significant trans-generational effect of wheat bran parental diet was detected, revealing a potential signal of host/microbiome adaptive response to this diet. However, this potential link between gut microbiome composition and BSF larvae performance was not evident in the traits measured here. These findings provide valuable insight into the effects of diets on fitness components and the microbiome in BSF and offer potential avenues for optimizing farming of this species.

Teh venoms of teh scorpions Androctonus crassicauda and Leuris abdullahbayrami, scorpion species each of teh two members of teh Buthidae family, were analyzed by MALDI–TOFMS in a mass range between 1 and 50 kDa. Interspecies differentiation was evaluated over peptide and protein molecules in dis mass range. Teh similarities and differences between two different scorpion species were revealed wif teh TEMPprincipal component analysis study, which was conducted wif spectral patterns including peptide and protein profiles. Teh similarity rate of teh LAB-123 and teh LAB460 scorpion venoms of teh same species was found as 66% while teh similarity rates of venoms of teh ACR species to teh LAB species ranged from zero to 37%. It was demonstrated dat scorpion venoms belonging to two different species from teh Buthadia family can be differentiated wif teh halp of dendrogram and gel profile, CCI color matrix, 3D or 2D-scattering profile, spectral mass loading data formed by peptide and protein spectral patterns of eleven scorpion venoms. It is anticipated dat dis approach, which was used for teh first time wif teh application of MALDI-TOFMS-based PCA analysis for teh differentiation of scorpion venoms, will be useful in differentiating venoms wif different spectral patterns.

Armenia is home to a rich diversity of unique species. Scorpion venom is a complex mixture of biologically active compounds that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Recent studies have confirmed that scorpion venom contains antimicrobial peptides effective against various bacteria. Additionally, it exhibits immunosuppressive and anticancer properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the composition and selected biological activities of venom from two scorpion species native to Armenia. The proteolytic and hemolytic activities of venom and hemolymph from Mesobuthus caucasicus and Androctonus crassicauda scorpions were analyzed using 12% SDS-PAGE. Protein fractions were separated based on their molecular weight under denaturing conditions. Antibacterial activity of the crude venom, hemolymph, and isolated protein fractions was assessed using the agar diffusion method. The venom and hemolymph of Mesobuthus caucasicus and Androctonus crassicauda exhibit narrow-spectrum antibacterial activity. Notably, the protein composition of venom and hemolymph differs between the two species. Antibacterial effects are attributed to only two specific protein and/or glycoprotein fractions present in the venom. Furthermore, nutritional status appears to influence the protein profile of both venom and hemolymph. In addition to their antimicrobial properties, the venom and hemolymph also demonstrate proteolytic and hemolytic activities. The venom and hemolymph of Mesobuthus caucasicus and Androctonus crassicauda demonstrate distinct protein compositions and exhibit significant antibacterial, proteolytic, and hemolytic activities, highlighting their potential for biotechnological and therapeutic applications.

Effects of Supplemental Fat and Protein Source on Ruminal Fermentation and Nutrient Flow to the Duodenum in Dairy Cows

BackgroundAbout 50 species of scorpions cause fatal scorpionism worldwide. Most of these are members of the Buthidae family, and include, among others, Mesobuthus eupeus, Androctonus crassicauda, Leiurus abdullahbayrami, Leiurus quinquestriatus, Tityus pachyurus and Androctonus australis. Because high doses of scorpion venom and antivenom can cause death and hypersensitive reactions, there is a need to develop a formula that can be used to calculate both lethal and effective doses for scorpion venom and antivenom, respectively, thereby obviating the need for laboratory experiments.MethodsIn view of this, a literature search was carried out with the aim of modifying the formula (LD50=ED503×Wa×10−4) for calculation of the median lethal dose (LD50) of scorpion venom and the ED50 of antivenom. The human equivalent dose (HED) formula was assessed for extrapolation of LD50 and ED50 from animals to human for comparison and relevance with the new formula.ResultsThe findings showed that the newly developed formula (LD50 = ED50 1/3 × W a × 10−4) yielded results that are very close to the reported values. Therefore, the newly developed and HED formulas can be used for calculation of LD50 and ED50 values for scorpion venom and antivenom, respectively.ConclusionThe new formula yielded better results than the HED formula, confirming its predictive validity, precision, and reliability, thereby obviating the need for rigorous experiments and justifying the principles of reduction, refinement, and replacement (3Rs).

Evaluation of the in vitro antimicrobial activity of selected Saudi scorpion venoms tested against multidrug-resistant micro-organisms.

One of the innovative methods in cancer treatment with fewer side effects is the use of active principles produced by animals and microorganisms to generate new drugs with diagnosis and treatment capability for cancer. Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom has high potential as an anti-tumor agent and has the ability to interfere with human physiology but is still unknown. Therefore, labeling venom with radionuclides is very important to study the biological distribution of toxins for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes of various diseases, especially cancer. In this research, the toxic fraction of this venom was labeled with 99mTc. The radiochemical purity of the labeled toxic fraction was obtained by using chromatographic systems. Animal biodistribution studies were performed after injecting the labeled compound into normal rats and 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice. The radiochemical purity of 90% was obtained for labeled compound. Biological distribution studies showed relatively rapid clearance of the labeled compound from the blood circulation system. The accumulation of the labeled compound in the liver and kidney was the highest among the organs, which could indicate the possibility of toxin excretion metabolism from liver and the kidneys. The accumulation rate of the labeled compound after 15 min was 7% in the breast cancer mass, and the ratio of the distribution of the labeled compound in the breast cancer mass to the blood was 155% at 15 min post injection. The study results indicated that scorpion venom labeling with 99mTc could be a useful tool for the biodistribution and kinetic studies of the venoms for clinical use. On the other hand, based on the results of the biological distribution of the labeled compound in tumor-bearing mice, the 99mTc-venom complex can be used as an imaging agent to diagnose breast cancer. Moreover at the same time, with some measures, it can be used as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer with more consideration. We hope that the results of this study will be a step in the future for the clinical diagnostic and therapeutic purposes of cancer using natural products.

Scorpion venom is a substance that shows strong neurotoxic effects with its complex protein content and thus plays an important role for the scorpion in catching and digesting the hunt. Human body stung by a scorpion can show life-threatening systemic effects in a short time, ranging from erythema, pain, edema and local fever to abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diplopia and even coma. Scorpion venome is known to possess antimicrobial activity, and some of its compounds have potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. Leishmaniasis is a common vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Leishmania sp. protozoa and can lead skin, mucosa and fatal internal organs involvement in patients . There is a need for new drugs in the treatment of leishmaniasis, because it has been documented lately that there is a growing resistance against antimonial compounds which have been used in its treatment for decades. Leishmania species are known to be susceptible to antimicrobial peptides that act as ion-channel inhibitors, which are known to be present in scorpion venome. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the anti-leishmanial activity of scorpion venome extract obtained from Androctonus crassicauda species in our country. In this context, Leishmania tropica promastigotes which were thawed from liquid nitrogen in our laboratory and first grown in NNN and then RPMI-1640 media, were exposed to different dilutions of the extract containing A.crassicauda venom and meglumine antimonate used in the standard treatment of leishmaniasis and the efficacies on the promastigotes were compared and measured in vitro. This was followed by XTT cell viability test, which assessed whether anti-leishmanial dose of the extract was lethal for human cells or not. Trials showed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the venome extract and meglumine antimoniate were 18.12 µg/ml (17.33-18.94) and 8.411 µg/ml (7.922- 8.927), respectively. This preliminary study showed that scorpion venome can be lethal on L.tropica promastigotes in vitro, on relatively higher doses compared to meglumine antimonate. Next step will be to determine the anti-leishmanial proteins in the extract and thus to identify new drug candidates with more specific studies.

Scorpion Envenomation in Children: Should All Stings Be Given Antivenom?

Toxicological and epidemiological studies of scorpion sting cases and morphological characterization of scorpions (Leiurusquin questriatus and Androctonus crassicauda) in Luxor, Egypt

IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ANTISCORPION SERUM AND ANTIVENIN