title: Biotechnological Trends in Spider and Scorpion Antivenom Development.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. ahola@bio.dtu.dk.|Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark. ahola@bio.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Andreas Hougaard
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Laustsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. mireia.sc9@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solà
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. emma.cjappe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emma Christine
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Jappe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. saio_jere@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Saioa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oscoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. turtle_line@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Line Præst
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lauridsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. miken@bio.dtu.dk.|Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. miken@bio.dtu.dk.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engmark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000639:trends*; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000639:trends; D030562:Databases, Protein / Q000639:trends; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D065008:Scorpion Stings / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D013111:Spider Venoms
keywords: antibodies; antitoxin; antivenom; antivenom design; scorpion venom; spider venom; venom neutralization; venomics