title: Scorpions: a presentation.
abstract: Scorpions, at least the species of the family Buthidæ whose venoms are better known, appear as animals that have evolved very little over time. The composition of their venoms is relatively simple as most toxins have a common structural motif that is found in other venoms from primitive species. Moreover, all the scorpion venom toxins principally act on membrane ionic channels of excitable cells. The results of recent works lead to the conclusion that in scorpions there is a close relationship between venomous function and innate immune function both remarkably efficient.
authors.affiliation: Department RDDM, National Museum of Natural History, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France. mgoyffon@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goyffon
authors.affiliation: Unit "Interactions Host-Pathogen", IRBA, BP 73, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France. jean-nicolas.tournier@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Nicolas
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Tournier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D012605:Scorpions / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms