title: Biotechnological applications of brown spider (Loxosceles genus) venom toxins.
abstract: Loxoscelism (the term used to define accidents by the bite of brown spiders) has been reported worldwide. Clinical manifestations following brown spider bites are frequently associated with skin degeneration, a massive inflammatory response at the injured region, intravascular hemolysis, platelet aggregation causing thrombocytopenia and renal disturbances. The mechanisms by which the venom exerts its noxious effects are currently under investigation. The whole venom is a complex mixture of toxins enriched with low molecular mass proteins in the range of 5-40 kDa. Toxins including alkaline phosphatase, hyaluronidase, metalloproteases (astacin-like proteases), low molecular mass (5.6-7.9 kDa) insecticidal peptides and phospholipases-D (dermonecrotic toxins) have been identified in the venom. The purpose of the present review is to describe biotechnological applications of whole venom or some toxins, with especial emphasis upon molecular biology findings obtained in the last years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senff-Ribeiro
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Henrique da Silva
authors.forename: Olga Meiri
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Chaim
authors.forename: Luiza Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gremski
authors.forename: Kátia Sabrina
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Paludo
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bertoni da Silveira
authors.forename: Waldemiro
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gremski
authors.forename: Oldemir Carlos
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Mangili
authors.forename: Silvio Sanches
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Veiga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013112:Spiders / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013111:Spider Venoms; C055161:loxosceles venom; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases