BACKGROUND Despite evidence suggesting a role in plant defence, the use of plant lectins in crop protection has been hindered by their low and species-specific insecticidal activity. Snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin; GNA) is transported to the haemolymph of insects after oral ingestion, and can be used as a basis for novel insecticides. Recombinant proteins containing GNA expressed...

OBJECTIVE To study cardiovascular haemodynamics following scorpion envenomation. SETTING Intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS Eight patients with Indian red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus) stings. INTERVENTION Captopril (6.25 to 12.5 mg orally) every 30 minutes until pulmonary oedema resolved. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Haemodynamic data obtained by pulmonary artery catheteri...

Chelicerates are a diverse group of arthropods, with around 65,000 described species occupying a wide range of habitats. Many phylogenies describing the relationships between the various chelicerate orders have been proposed. While some relationships are widely accepted, others remain contentious. To increase the taxonomic sampling of species available for phylogenetic study based on mitochondr...

Chelicerates are a diverse group of arthropods, with around 65,000 described species occupying a wide range of habitats. Many phylogenies describing the relationships between the various chelicerate orders have been proposed. While some relationships are widely accepted, others remain contentious. To increase the taxonomic sampling of species available for phylogenetic study based on mitochondr...

This study evaluated the effects of Mesobuthus eupeus (Me) scorpion venom on inflammatory response following injection. Additionally, the present study examined whether immunotherapy at specific time intervals would be effective on inflammatory response after Me venom inoculation. Animals were divided randomly into four groups: the first group received LD50 of venom and the second and third gro...

Scorpion (Buthus tamulus) venom was subjected to neutralization by treating the venom with various chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, thiourea, formaldehyde, zinc sulphate, acetic acid and trichloroacetic acid. The venom was also subjected to heat treatment. The levels of total protein, free amino acids and protease activity in neutralized venom decreased significantly. The ...

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are transmembrane proteins responsible for generation and conduction of action potentials in excitable cells. Physiological and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that VGSCs play a critical role in chronic pain associated with tissue or nerve injury. Many long-chain peptide toxins (60-76 amino acid residues) purified from the venom of Asian scorpion ...