Recent Advances in Research on Widow Spider Venoms and Toxins

Recent Advances in Research on Widow Spider Venoms and Toxins

Widow spiders have received much attention due to the frequently reported human and animal injures caused by them. Elucidation of the molecular composition and action mechanism of the venoms and toxins has vast implications in the treatment of latrodectism and in the neurobiology and pharmaceutical research. In recent years, the studies of the widow spider venoms and the venom toxins, particula...

Toxins and venoms

be explored. Darwin claims to have agonized over the evolution of the eye and much is made of the actual ease of its evolution in terms of dioptrics. Less often is it remembered that the hallmarks of any eye, its transparency and transduction mechanisms, depend on proteins (respectively crystallins and opsins) that evolved long before there were any eyes. And this molecular inherency underpins ...

Black widow spider bite.

These two cases illustrate many classical features of latrodectism. A subclinical bite followed by extensive systemic signs and symptoms in a recognizable pattern is strongly suggestive of the diagnosis. Pain and muscle spasms are refractory to standard therapy but are relieved by intravenous calcium. Finally, there should be complete resolution of the symptoms after only one vial of antivenin ...

General aspects and recent advances on bacterial protein toxins.

Bacterial pathogens produce protein toxins to influence host-pathogen interactions and tip the outcome of these encounters toward the benefit of the pathogen. Protein toxins modify host-specific targets through posttranslational modifications (PTMs) or noncovalent interactions that may inhibit or activate host cell physiology to benefit the pathogen. Recent advances have identified new PTMs and...

Recent Advances and Research Challenges