It is shown that Echis carinatus venom activates both coagulation factor II and coagulation factor X. The activation of both proenzymes by the venom is Ca++-dependent; phospholipids are not necessary. The activation of factor II by the venom is a slow process and, in the absence of factor X, the clotting activity towards fibrinogen is generated only very slowly. Because Echis carinatus venom cl...

Scorpion venom is a rich source of biomolecules, which can perturb physiological activity of the host on envenomation and may also have a therapeutic potential. Scorpion venoms produced by the columnar cells of venom gland are complex mixture of mucopolysaccharides, neurotoxic peptides and other components. This study was aimed at cataloguing the elemental composition of venoms obtained from me...

The venom gland is a conserved organ in Hymenoptera that shows adaptations associated with life-style diversification. Few studies have investigated venom components and function in the highly diverse parasitic wasps and all suggest that the venom regulates host physiology. We explored the venom of the endoparasitoid Hyposoter didymator (Campopleginae), a species with an associated polydnavirus...

Existing protocols for antivenom treatment of snake envenomations are generally not well optimized due partly to inadequate knowledge of the toxicokinetics of venoms. The toxicokinetics of Naja sputatrix (Javan spitting cobra) venom was investigated following intravenous and intramuscular injections of the venom into rabbits using double-sandwich ELISA. The toxicokinetics of the venom injected ...

Venom of some species of scorpions induces apoptosis and arrests proliferation in cancer cells. This is an important property that can be harnessed and can lead to isolation of compounds of therapeutic importance in cancer research. Cytotoxicity was investigated using MTT reduction and confirmed with lactate dehydrogenase release following venom exposure. Apoptosis was evaluated with determinat...

Variation in venom composition is a ubiquitous phenomenon in snakes and occurs both interspecifically and intraspecifically. Venom variation can have severe outcomes for snakebite victims by rendering the specific antibodies found in antivenoms ineffective against heterologous toxins found in different venoms. The rapid evolutionary expansion of different toxin-encoding gene families in differe...

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...

The injection of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom into the foot pad of mice did not induce a significant inflammatory response as evaluated by oedema formation, increased vascular permeability and cell migration. The subcutaneous injection of the venom, or its addition to cell cultures, had an inhibitory effect on the spreading and phagocytosis of resident macrophages, without affecting the v...

background: immunotherapy is the only specific treatment for scorpion envenomation. in the present study, the protective effects of polyvalent antivenom against histopathological complications in kidneys and marker changes (bun and creatinine) induced by mesobuthus eupeus (me) scorpion venom was investigated in anesthetized rabbits. methods: twenty four rabbits were randomized into four groups:...

buthotus saulcyi is one of the six most important scorpion species in khuzestan province, which its venom causes probable general effects on its victims. due to insufficient knowledge about mechanism of the venom functions and its target organs and highly dependence of health to normal function of kidney, this survey has been accomplished. in present study, 75 male wistar rats were selected and...