Mass spectrometric analysis of Odonthobuthus Doriae scorpion venom and its non-neutralized fractions after interaction with commercial antivenom Abstract It is believed that antivenoms play a crucial role in neutralizing venoms. However, uncontrolled clinical effects appear in patients stung by scorpions after the injection of antivenom. In this research, non-neutralized components of the venom of the Iranian scorpion Odonthobuthus doriae were analyzed after interacting with the commercial antivenom available in the market. The venom and antivenom interaction was performed ..read more

  Overview of the scorpion fauna of Morocco (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Abstract Morocco hosts one of the most abundant and diverse scorpion faunas in North Africa and the Mediterranean region. This scorpion fauna is notable for marked endemism and medical significance, as it encompasses species confirmed to pose a danger to humans. The present study serves as a synthesis of the knowledge gathered regarding the inventory of this scorpion fauna from previously published works. The current checklist of this scorpion fauna includes 68 species and subspecies distributed across 12 genera and tw ..read more

  Review of the distribution of ??????????? ???????? (Audouin, 1825) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Morocco Abstract This is a brief synoptic review of ??????????? ???????? (Audouin, 1825) in Morocco. A summary of its morphological description is provided. Five new localities of this species in Morocco from Errachidia (1 station) and Tinghir (4 stations) provinces are reported, substantiated by photos of live specimens observed therein. Based on previous ecological study of this species, with its observation records on iNaturalist and geographical references from satellite images, we sugge ..read more

  Two cases of malformation in the scorpion genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Central Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Abstract  This note concerns two cases of Androctonus species recently sampled from Ghardaïa region (Central Algeria). A remarkable malformation of one chela in Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1825) and a case of an enlargement of one chelicera in Androctonus australis (Linnaeus, 1758). Oumyma, Zouatine & Bissati, Samia & Sadine, Salah. (2024). Two cases of malformation in the scorpion genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Central Algeria (Scorpiones ..read more

  A new African species of the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Mali (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Abstract A new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the mountain system of Adrar des Iforas, Cercle of Kidal, in Mali. The new species, Leiurus tamajeq sp. n. is most certainly associated to Leiurus hoggarensis, described from the Hoggar mountain system in Algeria, both species presenting an almost parapatric geographic distribution. Nevertheless, these closed related mountain systems have been isolated during past palaeoclimatic viciss ..read more

  Proteomic analysis and Lethality of the venom of Aegaeobuthus nigrocinctus, a scorpion of medical significance in the Middle East ABSTRACT The scorpion Aegaeobuthus nigrocinctus inhabits areas in Turkey and the Levant region of the Middle East where severe/lethal envenomings have been reported. Previous research indicated its extreme venom lethality to vertebrates and distinct envenomation syndrome. We report on the composition of A. nigrocinctus venom from Lebanese specimens using nESI-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF MS, SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC. Venom lethality in mice was also as ..read more

  Update in the Peruvian Caponiidae: New records and new species of Nyetnops Platnick & Lise, 2007 (Araneae: Caponiidae) ABSTRACT An update on the diversity and distribution of Caponiidae from Peru is presented. New distributional records for Caponina cajabamba Platnick, 1994 are given and the male is described for the first time. Additionally, three new species of the genus Nyetnops Platnick & Lise, 2007 are described: Nyetnops alexanderi Villarreal & Martínez sp. nov. (♂♀), Nyetnops madre Villarreal & Martínez sp. nov. (♂♀) and ..read more

  Diversity and Functionality of Bacteria Associated with Different Tissues of Spider Heteropoda venatoria Revealed through Integration of High-Throughput Sequencing and Culturomics Approaches Abstract Spiders host a diverse range of bacteria in their guts and other tissues, which have been found to play a significant role in their fitness. This study aimed to investigate the community diversity and functional characteristics of spider-associated bacteria in four tissues of Heteropoda venatoria using HTS of the 16S rRNA gene and culturomics technologies, as well as the functi ..read more

  Short-Chained Linear Scorpion Peptides: A Pool for Novel Antimicrobials Abstract Scorpion venom peptides are generally classified into two main groups: the disulfide bridged peptides (DBPs), which usually target membrane-associated ion channels, and the non-disulfide bridged peptides (NDBPs), a smaller group with multifunctional properties. In the past decade, these peptides have gained interest because most of them display functions that include antimicrobial, anticancer, haemolytic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Our current study focuses on the short (9–19 amino acids) antimicro ..read more

Development and Efficacy of the Antivenom Specific to Severe Envenomations in Morocco and North Africa: Advancements in Scorpion Envenomation Management Abstract Scorpion envenomation poses a global public health issue, with an estimated 1,500,000 cases worldwide annually resulting in 2600 deaths. North Africa, particularly Morocco, experiences severe envenomations, mainly attributed to Androctonus mauretanicus and Buthus occitanus in Morocco, and Buthus occitanus and Androctonus australis hector in Algeria and Tunisia, with case numbers often underest ..read more