Biotechnological Trends in Spider and Scorpion Antivenom Development

• Published in: Toxins Vol. 8; no. 8; p. 226
• Main Authors: Laustsen, Andreas Hougaard, Solà, Mireia, Jappe, Emma Christine, Oscoz, Saioa, Lauridsen, Line Præst, Engmark, Mikael
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23.07.2016; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; antibodies; antitoxin; Antivenins - chemistry; Antivenins - therapeutic use; antivenom; antivenom design; Biotechnology - trends; Computational Biology - trends; Databases, Protein - trends; Drug Discovery - trends; Humans; Review; Scorpion Stings - drug therapy; Scorpion Stings - immunology; Scorpion Stings - metabolism; scorpion venom; Scorpion Venoms - antagonists & inhibitors; Scorpion Venoms - immunology; Scorpion Venoms - metabolism; Spider Bites - drug therapy; Spider Bites - immunology; Spider Bites - metabolism; spider venom; Spider Venoms - antagonists & inhibitors; Spider Venoms - immunology; Spider Venoms - metabolism; venom neutralization; venomics; antivenom design; antitoxin; antivenom; venomics; antibodies; venom neutralization; spider venom; scorpion venom
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins8080226

Spiders and scorpions are notorious for their fearful dispositions and their ability to inject venom into prey and predators, causing symptoms such as necrosis, paralysis, and excruciating pain. Information on venom composition and the toxins present in these species is growing due to an interest in using bioactive toxins from spiders and scorpions for drug discovery purposes and for solving crystal structures of membrane-embedded receptors. Additionally, the identification and isolation of a myriad of spider and scorpion toxins has allowed research within next generation antivenoms to progress at an increasingly faster pace. In this review, the current knowledge of spider and scorpion venoms is presented, followed by a discussion of all published biotechnological efforts within development of spider and scorpion antitoxins based on small molecules, antibodies and fragments thereof, and next generation immunization strategies. The increasing number of discovery and development efforts within this field may point towards an upcoming transition from serum-based antivenoms towards therapeutic solutions based on modern biotechnology.