Covali-Pontes Henrique Ranieri, Lima Fernandes Mila Marluce, Corrêa de Lima Laís, Rodrigues Macedo Maria Ligia, Giannesi Giovana Cristina, Bastos de Oliveira Maria Antônia, Teixeira Ferreira Alda Maria, Farias Frihling Breno Emanuel, Migliolo Ludovico, Pereira Dos Santos Natália Gabrielly, Abreu Falla Monica Viviana, Coelho Guilherme Rabelo, Neilson de Lucena Malson
Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
Toxicon. 2025 Apr;258:108332. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108332. Epub 2025 Mar 27.
Scorpionism is a serious public health problem in Brazil, where scorpion stings are the most frequent accidents caused by venomous animals. Scorpion venoms comprise a complex mixture of different classes of molecules, some of which may possess pharmacological properties. This study aimed to investigate the biological activity and composition of the venom and hemolymph of Tityus paraguayensis, an endemic species found in Mato Grosso do Sul State. The hemolymph showed proteolytic and lipase activities associated with innate immunity and digestive processes, respectively. Although these activities are not believed to be involved in the manifestations of envenomation, they might prove valuable in the prospection of compounds with antimicrobial activity. The venom exhibited phospholipase and lipase activities and stimulated (Na,K)-ATPase activity. The venom was also analyzed for activity against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. In this assay, T. paraguayensis venom inhibited parasite growth. The venom did not cause cytotoxicity to Vero cells. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed proteins ranging from 10 to 140 kDa, as well as bands with molecular mass <10 kDa, possibly corresponding to neurotoxic peptides. HPLC analysis of T. paraguayensis venom revealed that the highest number of peaks had retention times of 1-20 min (0-35 % acetonitrile). The partial sequence of peak 10 was determined by Q-TOF analysis and was partially identified as a peptide (Tp10) that possible act as a K channel ligand (KTx). Additionally, 5 toxins related to potassium channel toxins, 3 toxins related to sodium channel toxins and a metalloproteinase were identified by shotgun proteomic of T. paraguayensis venom. This is the first report of the biological activities, HPLC profile, electrophoretic pattern and proteomic analysis of T. paraguayensis venom. These findings suggest that T. paraguayensis venom may be a valuable source for the identification of molecules with pharmacological applications.
在巴西，蝎蜇伤是由有毒动物导致的最常见事故，蝎毒中毒是一个严重的公共卫生问题。蝎毒是不同种类分子的复杂混合物，其中一些可能具有药理特性。本研究旨在调查巴拉圭蒂犹斯蝎（Tityus paraguayensis）的毒液和血淋巴的生物活性及成分，该物种是南马托格罗索州的特有物种。血淋巴分别表现出与先天免疫和消化过程相关的蛋白水解活性和脂肪酶活性。尽管这些活性被认为与中毒表现无关，但它们可能在寻找具有抗菌活性的化合物方面具有价值。毒液表现出磷脂酶和脂肪酶活性，并刺激（钠，钾）-ATP酶活性。还分析了毒液对克氏锥虫（Trypanosoma cruzi）前鞭毛体形式的活性。在该试验中，巴拉圭蒂犹斯蝎毒液抑制了寄生虫生长。毒液对Vero细胞没有细胞毒性。SDS-PAGE分析显示蛋白质分子量范围为10至140 kDa，以及分子量<10 kDa的条带，可能对应于神经毒性肽。巴拉圭蒂犹斯蝎毒液的HPLC分析表明，最高数量的峰保留时间为1 - 20分钟（0 - 35%乙腈）。通过Q-TOF分析确定了峰10的部分序列，并部分鉴定为可能作为钾通道配体（KTx）的肽（Tp10）。此外，通过巴拉圭蒂犹斯蝎毒液的鸟枪法蛋白质组学鉴定出5种与钾通道毒素相关的毒素、3种与钠通道毒素相关的毒素和一种金属蛋白酶。这是关于巴拉圭蒂犹斯蝎毒液的生物活性、HPLC图谱、电泳模式和蛋白质组学分析的首次报告。这些发现表明，巴拉圭蒂犹斯蝎毒液可能是鉴定具有药理学应用分子的宝贵来源。
