Electrophysiological Characterization of the Venom and Toxins from the Scorpion Tityus championi Targeting Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels and Molecular Modeling of Tch3, a Toxin with Therapeutic Potential for Pain Relief

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  Electrophysiological Characterization of the Venom and Toxins from the Scorpion Tityus championi Targeting Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels and Molecular Modeling of Tch3, a Toxin with Therapeutic Potential for Pain Relief Abstract Scorpion neurotoxins are small peptides that target ion channels and offer opportunities for novel therapeutic discovery. This study analyzed the functional effects of the venom and toxins from the Costa Rican endemic scorpion,  Tityus championi . Initially, crude venom was tested on different isoforms of voltage-gated sodium channels. Our findings revealed that the venom contains toxins that affect mammalian Na V 1.6 and Na V 1.7, as well as the cockroach BgNa V 1 channel. Increased currents through Na V 1.6 and BgNa V 1 channels were associated with bigger window currents and inhibition of inactivation. Decreased Na V 1.7 currents were associated with smaller conductance. Crude venom and TCh3 toxin inhibited action potential generation in invertebr...

Rolando Teruel (1974-2023)

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Rolando Teruel (1974-2023)

Ph. D. Senior Researcher at Grupo de Sistemática y Ecología de Artrópodos Caribeños
Havana, Cuba


This morning, I was saddened to find out that Rolando Teruel lost his battle with cancer. Over the course of the last few years, Rolando and I would communicate regularly. First, through my group when it was on Facebook, and later, simply by email. Rolando knew I had institutional access to journal libraries and other repositories, so I always offered to make any references he needed available. 

It's hard to explain how deeply saddened this news has made me, considering that I never had the distinct pleasure of having ever met him in person. I firmly believe that part of my relationship with him stems from his being a Cuban native, as I am also Cuban-American, as both of my parents emigrated from Cuba in the 1960s. We briefly shared some of this information by mail once and that opened the door to a friendship between him and me.

To all of you in the scientific community who knew him and had the pleasure of working with him, you have my deepest condolences. If this blog makes it to those in his family, I would also like to express my deepest condolences. His friendship, humility, and work ethic as well as his commitment to the sciences will be deeply missed. 

Rest in peace, my friend. 

Jan Ove Rein shares his story and condolences for Rolando, here on his blog, "The Scorpion Files" http://scorpion-files.blogspot.com/2023/08/rolando-teruel-1974-2023-rip.html

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Esta mañana me entristeció saber que Rolando Teruel perdió su batalla contra el cáncer. En el transcurso de los últimos años, Rolando y yo nos comunicábamos regularmente, primero a través de mi grupo cuando estaba en Facebook, y luego, simplemente por correo electrónico. Rolando sabía que yo tenía acceso institucional a bibliotecas de revistas y otros repositorios, por lo que siempre me ofrecí a poner a su disposición las referencias que necesitara.

Es difícil explicar cuán profundamente me entristece esta noticia, considerando que nunca tuve el placer de haberlo conocido en persona. Creo firmemente que parte de mi relación con él se debe a que es nativo de Cuba, ya que yo también soy cubano-americano, ya que mis padres emigraron de Cuba en la década de 1960's. Una vez compartimos brevemente parte de esta información por correo y eso abrió la puerta a una amistad entre él y yo.

A todos los miembros de la comunidad científica que lo conocieron y tuvieron el placer de trabajar con él, mi más sentido pésame. Si este blog llega a los miembros de su familia, también me gustaría expresar mi más sentido pésame. Extrañaremos profundamente su amistad, humildad y ética de trabajo, así como su compromiso con las ciencias.

Descansa en paz amigo mío.

Jan Ove Rein shares his story and condolences for Rolando, here on his blog, "The Scorpion Files" http://scorpion-files.blogspot.com/2023/08/rolando-teruel-1974-2023-rip.html