Biochemical characterisation and substrate-specific proteolytic diversity of venom metalloproteinases in African puff adders

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  By 4028mdk09 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11200575 Biochemical characterisation and substrate-specific proteolytic diversity of venom metalloproteinases in African puff adders Abstract The puff adder ( Bitis arietans ) is a highly venomous viper responsible for many snakebite fatalities in Africa, yet there have been few geographically comprehensive analyses of its venom proteins, particularly of the proteases that play a key role in pathology of envenoming. To address this, we have isolated, identified and characterised the bioactivity of the venom metalloproteases of puff adders obtained from a range of localities. Prominent in all venoms was a PI snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP), derived from a larger PII precursor. This protein existed as either non-glycosylated (21 kDa) or glycosylated, the latter containing either one (26 kDa) or two N-glycans (30 kDa). All the venoms we tested contained either one or the other form: none had...

Dyskinetic syndrome in tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae) (2018)

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Dyskinetic syndrome in tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae)

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ABSTRACT:

There have been increasing reports of cases of erratic movements and ataxia followed by death in tarantula species. This paper covers a brief review of what we know about the condition and what to look for in a tarantula patient. This is the first paper on this syndrome and thus hypotheses on causality and treatment options are in their infancy. The paper concludes with a call for more case reports to be published or sent to the attention of the authors such that we can continue to build on the data we already have to seek a better treatment option.

Emily Draper (RVN Cert VNES) & Steven A. Trim (BSc Cbiol MRSB) (2018) Dyskinetic syndrome in tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae), Veterinary Nursing Journal, 33:8, 230-232, DOI: 10.1080/17415349.2018.1484677