Human uses of scorpions

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Humans use scorpions both practically, for medicine, food, and pets, and symbolically, whether as gods, to ward off harm, or to associate a product or business with the evident power of the small but deadly animal.

Contents

Practical uses

Medicine

The deathstalker's powerful venom contains the 36-amino acid peptide chlorotoxin. This blocks small-conductance chloride channels, immobilizing its prey. Chlorotoxin.png
The deathstalker's powerful venom contains the 36-amino acid peptide chlorotoxin. This blocks small-conductance chloride channels, immobilizing its prey.

Short-chain scorpion toxins constitute the largest group of potassium (K+) channel-blocking peptides. An important physiological role of the KCNA3 channel, also known as KV1.3, is to help maintain large electrical gradients for the sustained transport of ions such as Ca2+ that controls T lymphocyte (T cell) proliferation. Thus KV1.3 blockers could be potential immunosuppressants for the treatment of autoimmune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis). [2] The venom of Uroplectes lineatus is clinically important in dermatology. [3]

Several scorpion venom toxins have been investigated for medical use. Chlorotoxin from the deathstalker scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus); the toxin blocks small-conductance chloride channels; [1] [4] Maurotoxin from the venom of the Tunisian Scorpio maurus blocks potassium channels. [5] Some antimicrobial peptides in the venom of Mesobuthus eupeus ; meucin-13 and meucin-18 have extensive cytolytic effects on bacteria, fungi, and yeasts, [6] while meucin-24 and meucin-25 selectively kill Plasmodium falciparum and inhibit the development of Plasmodium berghei , both malaria parasites, but do not harm mammalian cells. [7]

Food

Fried scorpion is traditionally eaten in Shandong, China. [8]

As pets

"My pet scorpion", 1899. The animal is a whip scorpion from Florida, most probably Mastigoproctus giganteus. PSM V54 D628 Whip scorpion.png
"My pet scorpion", 1899. The animal is a whip scorpion from Florida, most probably Mastigoproctus giganteus .

Scorpions are sometimes kept as pets, in the same way as other dangerous animals like snakes and tarantula spiders. Popular Science Monthly carried an article entitled "My pet scorpion" as early as 1899. [9]

Symbolic uses

Middle Eastern culture

The scorpion is a significant animal culturally, appearing as a motif in art, especially in Islamic art in the Middle East. [10] A scorpion motif is often woven into Turkish kilim flat-weave carpets, for protection from their sting. [11] The scorpion is perceived both as an embodiment of evil and a protective force such as a dervish's powers to combat evil. [10] In another context, the scorpion portrays human sexuality. [10] Scorpions are used in folk medicine in South Asia, especially in antidotes for scorpion stings. [10]

One of the earliest occurrences of the scorpion in culture is its inclusion, as Scorpio , in the 12 signs of the Zodiac by Babylonian astronomers during the Chaldean period. [12] In ancient Egypt, the goddess Serket was often depicted as a scorpion, one of several goddesses who protected the Pharaoh. [13]

Alongside serpents, scorpions are used to symbolize evil in the New Testament. In Luke 10:19 it is written, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Here, scorpions and serpents symbolize evil. [14] Revelation 9:3 speaks of "the power of the scorpions of the earth." [15]

Western culture

The scorpion with its powerful sting has been used as the name or symbol of various products and brands, including Italy's Abarth racing cars. [16] In the Roman army, the scorpio was a torsion siege engine used to shoot a projectile. [17] The British Army's FV101 Scorpion was an armoured reconnaissance vehicle or light tank in service from 1972 to 1994. [18] It holds the Guinness world record for the fastest production tank. [19] A version of the Matilda II tank, fitted with a flail to clear mines, was named the Matilda Scorpion. [20] Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Scorpion, including an 18-gun sloop in 1803, [21] a turret ship in 1863, [22] and a destroyer in 1910. [23] A hand- or forearm-balancing asana in modern yoga as exercise with the back arched and one or both legs pointing forwards over the head is called Scorpion pose, a pose of yoga which was originated in ancient India and influential practice in classical Hinduism which is currently becoming popular in the West. [24] A variety of martial arts films and video games have been entitled Scorpion King. [25] [26] [27] A Montesa scrambler motorcycle was named Scorpion. [28]

Scorpions have equally appeared in western artforms including film and poetry: the surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel made symbolic use of scorpions in his 1930 classic L'Age d'or (The Golden Age), [29] while Stevie Smith's last collection of poems was entitled Scorpion and other Poems. [30]

Other cultures

Scorpions are among the many animals modelled in the art of the Moche culture of Peru. [31] Mimbres artists in the south of New Mexico created painted ceramics of scorpions and many other symbolic and mythological animals on funerary bowls. A hole was ritually punched through the bottom of the bowl to "kill" it during a funeral. [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpion</span> Predatory order of arachnids

Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always ending with a stinger. The evolutionary history of scorpions goes back 435 million years. They mainly live in deserts but have adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. There are over 2,500 described species, with 22 extant (living) families recognized to date. Their taxonomy is being revised to account for 21st-century genomic studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serket</span> Ancient Egyptian deity

Serket is the goddess of healing venomous stings and bites in Egyptian mythology, originally the deification of the scorpion. Her family life is unknown, but she is sometimes credited as the daughter of Neith and Khnum, making her a sister to Sobek and Apep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charybdotoxin</span> Chemical compound, scorpion neurotoxin

Charybdotoxin (ChTX) is a 37 amino acid neurotoxin from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus (deathstalker) that blocks calcium-activated potassium channels. This blockade causes hyperexcitability of the nervous system. It is a close homologue of agitoxin and both toxins come from Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus. It is named after Charybdis, a sea monster from Greek myth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deathstalker</span> Species of arachnid

The deathstalker is a species of scorpion, a member of the family Buthidae. It is also known as the Palestine yellow scorpion, Omdurman scorpion, and Naqab desert scorpion, as well as by many other colloquial names, which generally originate from the commercial captive trade of the animal. To eliminate confusion, especially important with potentially dangerous species, the scientific name is normally used to refer to them. The name Leiurus quinquestriatus roughly translates into English as "five-striped smooth-tail". In 2014, the subspecies L. q. hebraeus was separated from it and elevated to its own species Leiurus hebraeus. Other species of the genus Leiurus are also often referred to as "deathstalkers". Leiurus quinquestriatus is yellow, and 30–77 millimetres (1.2–3.0 in) long, with an average of 58 mm (2.3 in).

<i>Scorpio maurus</i> Species of scorpion

Scorpio maurus is a species of North African and Middle Eastern scorpion, also known as the large-clawed scorpion or Israeli gold scorpion and lesser known as Zerachia scorpion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chlorotoxin</span> Chemical compound

Chlorotoxin is a 36-amino acid peptide found in the venom of the deathstalker scorpion which blocks small-conductance chloride channels. The fact that chlorotoxin binds preferentially to glioma cells has allowed the development of methods for the treatment and diagnosis of several types of cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scyllatoxin</span> Scorpion toxin

Scyllatoxin (also leiurotoxin I) is a toxin, from the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus, which blocks small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. It is named after Scylla, a sea monster from Greek mythology. Charybdotoxin is also found in the venom from the same species of scorpion, and is named after the sea monster Charybdis. In Greek mythology, Scylla and Charybdis lived on rocks on opposing sides of a narrow strait of water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurotoxin</span> Toxin in scorpions

Maurotoxin is a peptide toxin from the venom of the Tunisian chactoid scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus, from which it was first isolated and from which the chemical gets its name. It acts by blocking several types of voltage-gated potassium channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpion toxin</span>

Scorpion toxins are proteins found in the venom of scorpions. Their toxic effect may be mammal- or insect-specific and acts by binding with varying degrees of specificity to members of the Voltage-gated ion channel superfamily; specifically, voltage-gated sodium channels, voltage-gated potassium channels, and Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels. The result of this action is to activate or inhibit the action of these channels in the nervous and cardiac organ systems. For instance, α-scorpion toxins MeuNaTxα-12 and MeuNaTxα-13 from Mesobuthus eupeus are neurotoxins that target voltage-gated Na+ channels (Navs), inhibiting fast inactivation. In vivo assays of MeuNaTxα-12 and MeuNaTxα-13 effects on mammalian and insect Navs show differential potency. These recombinants exhibit their preferential affinity for mammalian and insect Na+ channels at the α-like toxins' active site, site 3, in order to inactivate the cell membrane depolarization faster[6]. The varying sensitivity of different Navs to MeuNaTxα-12 and MeuNaTxα-13 may be dependent on the substitution of a conserved Valine residue for a Phenylalanine residue at position 1630 of the LD4:S3-S4 subunit or due to various changes in residues in the LD4:S5-S6 subunit of the Navs. Ultimately, these actions can serve the purpose of warding off predators by causing pain or to subdue predators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpion sting</span> Medical condition

A scorpion sting is an injury caused by the stinger of a scorpion resulting in the medical condition known as scorpionism, which may vary in severity. The anatomical part of the scorpion that delivers the sting is called a "telson". In typical cases, scorpion stings usually result in pain, paresthesia, and variable swelling. In serious cases, scorpion stings may involve the envenomation of humans by toxic scorpions, which may result in extreme pain, serious illness, or even death depending on the toxicity of the venom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lq2</span>

Lq2 is a component of the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus. It blocks various potassium channels, among others the inward-rectifier potassium ion channel ROMK1.

<i>Leiurus</i> Genus of scorpions

Leiurus is a genus of scorpion of the family Buthidae. The most common species, L. quinquestriatus, is also known under the common name Deathstalker. It is distributed widely across North Africa and the Middle East, including the western and southern Arabian Peninsula and southeastern Turkey. At least one species occurs in West Africa.

<i>Mesobuthus eupeus</i> Species of scorpion

Mesobuthus eupeus is a polymorphic scorpion species belonging to the well-known family Buthidae. Commonly known as the lesser Asian scorpion or the mottled scorpion. It is thought to be the most widely dispersed species of the genus Mesobuthus, perhaps even of the family Buthidae.

BeKm-1 is a toxin from the Central Asian scorpion Buthus eupeus. BeKm-1 acts by selectively inhibiting the human Ether-à-go-go Related Gene (hERG) channels, which are voltage gated potassium ion channels.

Hemitoxin (HTX; α-KTx6.15) is a 35-mer basic peptide from the venom of the Iranian scorpion Hemiscorpius lepturus, which reversibly blocks Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.3voltage-gated K+ channels.

Tamulotoxin is a venomous neurotoxin from the Indian Red Scorpion.

HsTx1 is a toxin from the venom of the scorpion Heterometrus spinifer. HsTx1 is a very potent inhibitor of the rat Kv1.3 voltage-gated potassium channel.

MeuKTX, which belongs to the α-KTx toxin subfamily, is a neurotoxin present in the venom of Mesobuthus eupeus. This short-chain peptide blocks potassium channels, such as Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.3.

<i>Leiurus abdullahbayrami</i> Species of scorpion

Leiurus abdullahbayrami is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Its venom is highly toxic to humans, but can be used in medical development.

Alpha-Insect Toxin LqhαIT is a neurotoxic protein found in the venom of the Leiurus hebraeus, commonly known as the Hebrew deathstalker scorpion. It is classified as an alpha-toxin due to its effect on insect voltage-gated sodium channels, causing prolonged neuronal firing that leads to paralysis in affected insects. This toxin has been widely studied for its unique interaction with insect nervous systems and has potential applications in neurophysiological research.

References

  1. 1 2 DeBin, J. A.; G. R. Strichartz (1991). "Chloride channel inhibition by the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus". Toxicon . 29 (11): 1403–1408. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(91)90128-E. PMID   1726031.
  2. ↑ Chandy, K. George; Heike Wulff; Christine Beeton; Michael Pennington; George A. Gutman; Michael D. Cahalan (May 2004). "K+ channels as targets for specific immunomodulation". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences . 25 (5): 280–289. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2004.03.010. PMC   2749963 . PMID   15120495.
  3. ↑ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. p. 1315. ISBN   978-1-4160-2999-1.
  4. ↑ Deshane, Jessy; Craig C. Garner; Harald Sontheimer (2003). "Chlorotoxin inhibits glioma cell invasion via matrix metalloproteinase-2". Journal of Biological Chemistry . 278 (6): 4135–4144. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M205662200 . PMID   12454020.
  5. ↑ Carlier, E.; S. Geib; M. De Waard; V. Avdonin; T. Hoshi; Z. Fajloun; H. Rochat; J.-M. Sabatier; R. Kharrat (2000). "Effect of maurotoxin, a four disulfide-bridged toxin from the chactoid scorpion Scorpio maurus, on Shaker K+ channels". The Journal of Peptide Research . 55 (6): 419–427. doi:10.1034/j.1399-3011.2000.00715.x. PMID   10888198.
  6. ↑ Gao, Bin; Patrick Sherman; Lan Luo; John Bowie; Shunyi Zhu (2009). "Structural and functional characterization of two genetically related meucin peptides highlights evolutionary divergence and convergence in antimicrobial peptides". FASEB Journal. 23 (4): 1230–1245. doi: 10.1096/fj.08-122317 . PMID   19088182. S2CID   13235803.
  7. ↑ Gao, Bin; Jia Xu; Maria del Carmen Rodriguez; Humberto Lanz-Mendoza; Rosaura Hernández-Rivas; Weihong Du; Shunyi Zhu (2010). "Characterization of two linear cationic antimalarial peptides in the scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus". Biochimie. 92 (4): 350–359. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2010.01.011. PMID   20097251.
  8. ↑ Forney, Matthew (June 11, 2008). "Scorpions for Breakfast and Snails for Dinner". The New York Times.
  9. 1 2 Robinson, Norman (1899). "My pet scorpion". Popular Science Monthly. 54: 605–613.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Frembgen, Jürgen Wasim (2004). "The scorpion in Muslim folklore". Asian Folklore Studies . 63 (1): 95–123.
  11. 1 2 Erbek, Güran (1998). Kilim Catalogue No. 1 (1st ed.). May Selçuk A. S.
  12. ↑ Polis, Gary (1990). The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press. p. 462. ISBN   978-0-8047-1249-1. OCLC   18991506.
  13. 1 2 "Pharaonic Gods". Egyptian Museum. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008.
  14. ↑ Pulpit Commentary on Luke 10, accessed 29 October 2018
  15. ↑ Revelation 9:3
  16. ↑ "Abarth Logo: Design and History". Famouslogos.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
  17. 1 2 Vitruvius, De Architectura, X:10:1-6.
  18. 1 2 "FV101 Scorpion: Keeping the Light Tank Relevant". HistoryNet. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "Fastest tank". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 26 March 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  20. ↑ Fletcher, David (2017). British Battle Tanks: British-made Tanks of World War II. Bloomsbury. p. 37. ISBN   978-1-4728-2003-7.
  21. ↑ Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. p. 291. ISBN   978-1-86176-246-7.
  22. ↑ Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN   1-55750-075-4.
  23. ↑ The Times (London), Wednesday, 31 August 1910, p. 5
  24. 1 2 YJ Editors; Budig, Kathryn (1 October 2012). "Kathryn Budig Challenge Pose: Scorpion in Forearm Balance". Yoga Journal .{{cite journal}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  25. ↑ Wallis, J. Doyle (2004). "Operation Scorpio". DVD Talk . Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  26. ↑ "The Scorpion King". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  27. ↑ Provo, Frank (2002). "The Scorpion King: Sword of Osiris Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  28. ↑ Salvadori, Clement (17 January 2019). "Retrospective: 1974-1977 Montesa Cota 247-T". Rider Magazine. Retrieved 25 June 2020. Permanyer persisted, built larger engines, and in 1965 showed the 247cc engine (21 horsepower at 7,000 rpm) in a Scorpion motocrosser.
  29. ↑ Weiss, Allen S. (1996). "Between the sign of the scorpion and the sign of the cross: L'Age d'or". In Rudolf E. Kuenzli (ed.). Dada and Surrealist Film. MIT Press. pp.  159–175. ISBN   978-0-262-61121-3.
  30. ↑ "Stevie Smith: Bibliography". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  31. ↑ "Scorpion ( Accession Number: 1981.459.5)". Metropolitan Museum of Art . Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  32. ↑ "Bowl, Scorpions". Metropolitan Museum of Art . Retrieved 28 June 2020.
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