Researchers from the Butantan Institute described, for the first time, the composition of brown scorpion venom. The species, called Tityus bahiensiswhich can cause serious accidents, is found in Bahia and in the Midwest, Southeast and South regions of Brazil.
The study opens the way for the analysis of the proteins present in the animal’s venom, which could help in understanding the secondary effects of envenomation and expand the search for new treatments.
In the last 10 years, there has been a 149.3% increase in notifications of accidents by scorpions in the country, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
protein analysis
When investigating the proteins isolated from the venom, the researchers discovered a peptide capable of increasing the number of neurons in cell culture and in animals. The next step will be to test it in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease.
“Since scorpion venom is neurotoxic, we tested the toxins in nervous system cells. And so we identified this peptide that, instead of killing neurons, increased their cell viability. The molecule itself was already known, but this function had never been described,” explains researcher Emidio Beraldo-Neto, first author of the article, in a statement.
The scholars also identified, for the first time, the presence of the ACE enzyme in the venom, a molecule never before found in scorpions. In mammals, this enzyme has the function of regulating blood pressure. One of the scientists’ hypotheses is that ACE, together with other components in the venom, could contribute to the cases of variation in blood pressure that are described in poisonings.
According to researcher Daniel Pimenta, who supervised the study, the articles used to describe only the predominant proteins of the venoms, which in general were the most toxic and, consequently, the most important for envenomation. “The evolution of detection systems has made it possible to identify and characterize molecules that were not so well known before, and that may give rise to new biotechnological tools”, he points out.
The complete description of the proteins starts to compose a kind of database that can be used in future studies on the evolution of the brown scorpion, on envenomation and the identification of new therapeutic approaches. The research had the participation of the Biochemistry, Genetics and Pharmacology laboratories of Butantan.
See how to protect yourself
In accidents with scorpions, poisoning happens from contact with the sting. Predominant in the tropical and subtropical zones of the world, scorpions have a higher incidence in the hot and humid months.
According to the Ministry of Health, at least five species of the genus Tityus are important in public health in Brazil: yellow scorpion (T. serrulatus), brown scorpion (T. bahiensis), northeastern yellow scorpion (T. stigmurus) and the Amazonian black scorpion (T. obscurus).
Widely distributed throughout the country, the yellow scorpion represents the species of greatest concern due to the greater potential for the severity of poisoning and its easy adaptation to the urban environment.
Preventive measures are similar to those recommended against spiders, including combating the proliferation of cockroaches and avoiding putting bare hands in holes, under rocks and rotten logs.
Source: CNN Brasil
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