Mesobuthus eupeus

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Mesobuthus eupeus
Mesobuthus eupeus in human hand.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Buthidae
Genus: Mesobuthus
Species:
M. eupeus
Binomial name
Mesobuthus eupeus
(Koch, 1839)
Synonyms   [1] [2]
  • Buthus eupeusKoch, 1839

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. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Description

M. eupeus can reach a size of 4 to 5 centimetres (1.6 to 2.0 in) in length. The entire body is yellow to yellowish brown. The dorsal segments (tergites) of the mesosoma often have longitudinal irregular stripes that are black to dark brown. [3] They exhibit sexual dimorphism, the adult females being generally larger than males but have a lower number of pectinal teeth (16 to 23, as opposed to 22 to 28 in males). [4]

The pedipalps of M. eupeus have a maximum of ten diagonal rows of granules on the fixed finger and eleven on the movable finger. The pedipalp chelae (pincers) are wider than the patella (segment IV). The segments of the metasoma are thick and have eight keels (octocarinate). The telson is subglobose with a flat dorsal surface. [4]

Taxonomy

M. eupeus were first described by the German arachnologist Carl Ludwig Koch in 1839. It is classified under the genus Mesobuthus and belongs to the largest family of scorpions, the thick-tailed scorpion family Buthidae. [3] Currently, more than 23 subspecies of M. eupeus are recognized. [5]

Ecology

M. eupeus feed on small insects such as crickets or small cockroaches. [6] Cannibalism is very rare in this species. They do not dig burrows and prefer using natural spaces and burrows under stones and other objects. They have slender pedipalps so they usually rely on their stings for killing their prey. [7]

Venom

The venom of M. eupeus is not as potent as that of other dangerous buthid species.[ citation needed ] Victims of stings feel intense pain, hyperemia, swelling and a burning sensation in the affected area, while numbness and itching were also reported in some cases. [8]

As in other scorpions, the venom of M. eupeus contains various neurotoxic proteins that interact specifically with ion channels. A number of unique proteins in this scorpion's venom have been identified, [9] cloned and investigated for clinical applications. For instance, MeuKTX, structurally related to BmKTX (α-KTx3.6) from M. martensii , potently inhibits rKv1.1, rKv1.2 and hKv1.3 channels but does not affect rKv1.4, rKv1.5, hKv3.1, rKv4.3, and hERG channels even at high concentrations. [10] In contrast, BeKm-1 specifically inhibits hERG channels, [11] which are potassium channels critical to maintaining normal electrical activities in the heart, [12] but showed no effects on various other potassium channels tested. [11] Inhibitors of sodium channels have also been found in this venom. [13] [14] MeuNaTxa-12 and MeuNaTxa-13 can affect cloned mammalian Nav subtypes rNav1.1, rNav1.2, rNav1.4 and mNav1.6, but not rNav1.5. In vivo assays showed that these two toxins have potential to be insecticidal agents, with MeuNaTxa-12 having 5-fold higher toxicity than MeuNaTxa-13. [15]

A number of antimicrobial peptides have also been found in the venom of M. eupeus. Meucin-13 and Meucin-18 exhibited extensive cytolytic effects on bacteria, fungi and yeasts. [16] Furthermore, Meucin-24 and Meucin-25, first identified from genetic sequences expressed in their venom gland, were shown to selectively kill Plasmodium falciparum and inhibit the development of Plasmodium berghei , both malaria parasites, but do not harm mammalian cells. These two venom-derived proteins are therefore attractive candidates for the development of anti-malarial drugs. [17]

Habitat and distribution

Mesobuthus eupeus mostly lives in arid or semi-arid habitats with little or no vegetation. Its geographical distributions consists of eastern Turkey, [4] Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, southern Russia, northern Syria, eastern Iraq, Iran, [18] Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Australia, southern Mongolia and northern China.[ citation needed ]

List of subspecies

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buthidae</span> Family of scorpions

The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera are known, but a high number of species-poor or monotypic ones also exist. New taxa are being described at a rate of several new species per year. They have a [cosmopolitan] distribution throughout tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. Together with four other families, the Buthidae make up the superfamily Buthoidea. The family was established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1837.

<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.

<i>Hottentotta</i> Genus of scorpions

Hottentotta is a genus of scorpions of the family Buthidae. It is distributed widely across Africa, except for most of the Sahara desert. Species in the genus also occur in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, southeastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Cape Verde Islands, and Sri Lanka (introduced).

<i>Hottentotta tamulus</i> Species of scorpion

Hottentotta tamulus, the Indian red scorpion, also known as the eastern Indian scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It occurs in most of India, eastern Pakistan and the eastern lowlands of Nepal, and recently from Sri Lanka.

Birtoxin is a neurotoxin from the venom of the South African Spitting scorpion. By changing sodium channel activation, the toxin promotes spontaneous and repetitive firing much like pyrethroid insecticides do

BmKAEP is a neurotoxin from the venom of the Manchurian scorpion (Mesobuthus martensii). It is a β-toxin, which shift the activation voltage of sodium channels towards more negative potentials.

<i>Olivierus martensii</i> Species of scorpion

Olivierus martensii is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Its common names include Chinese scorpion, Manchurian scorpion, Chinese armor-tail scorpion and Chinese golden scorpion. Despite its common name, this scorpion is not only found in Manchuria or China, but also in Mongolia and Korea. The record from Japan is doubtful. Its preferred habitat is warm, dry areas with little vegetation. O. martensii can grow to about 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long, with females usually slightly larger, and has a life-span of about 4 to 6 years.

In molecular biology, the BmKK2 toxins are a family of scorpion toxins. They belong to the scorpion toxin subfamily alpha-KTx 14. They include a novel short-chain peptide from the Asian scorpion Mesobuthus martensii Karsch, a potassium channel blocker composed of 31 amino acid residues. The peptide adopts a classical alpha/beta-scaffold for alpha-KTxs. BmKK2 selectively inhibits the delayed rectifier K+ current, but does not affect the fast transient K+ current.

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.

Ergtoxin is a toxin from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides noxius. This toxin targets hERG potassium channels.

Tamulotoxin is a venomous neurotoxin from the Indian Red Scorpion.

AmmTX3, produced by Androctonus mauretanicus, is a scorpion toxin of the α-KTX15 subfamily. The toxin is known for its ability to act as a specific Kv4 channel blocker, and thereby reducing the A-type potassium current through this channel.

Spinoxin is a 34-residue peptide neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the Malaysian black scorpion Heterometrus spinifer. It is part of the α-KTx6 subfamily and exerts its effects by inhibiting voltage-gated potassium channels, specifically Kv1.2 and Kv1.3.

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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tst26</span>

The Tst26 toxin is a voltage-gated potassium channel blocker present in the venom of Tityus stigmurus, a species of Brazilian scorpion. Tst26 selectively blocks Kv1.2 and Kv1.3 channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OdK2</span>

OdK2 is a toxin found in the venom of the Iranian scorpion Odonthobuthus doriae. It belongs to the α-KTx family, and selectively blocks the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 (KCNA3).

BmK NSPK is a toxin isolated from the venom of the Chinese armor-tail scorpion, which specifically targets voltage gated potassium channels (Kv), resulting in a direct inhibition of outward potassium current.

DKK-SP1 is one of the many neurotoxins present in the scorpion Mesobuthus martensii. This toxin inhibits the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8.

Syb-prII-1 is a β-type neurotoxin from the venom of the scorpion Olivierus martensii. It reduces the activity and the expression of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mesobuthus eupeus". National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
  2. 1 2 Mesobuthus eupeus (Lesser Asian scorpion) (Buthus eupeus), UniProt Taxonomy database
  3. 1 2 3 Cheng-Min Shi; Zu-Shi Huang; Lei Wang; Li-Jun He; Yue-Ping Hua; Liang Leng; De-Xing Zhang (2007). "Geographical distribution of two species of Mesobuthus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in China: insights from systematic field surveys and predictive models" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology . 35 (2): 215–226. doi:10.1636/T06-20.1. JSTOR   25067833. S2CID   7105197.
  4. 1 2 3 Ayşegül Karataş & Ahmet Karataş (2003). "Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Turkey" (PDF). Euscorpius — Occasional Publications in Scorpiology. 7: 1–6.
  5. ↑ Teruel, Rolando (2002). "First Record of Mesobuthus eupeus (Kock, 1939) from Western Turkey (Scorpiones: Buthidae)" (PDF). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología . 5 (31–VII): 75–76. ISSN   1576-9518.
  6. ↑ "Mesobuthus eupeus feeding". YouTube. 28 June 2006.
  7. ↑ Dong Sun & Zhen-Ning Sun (2011). "Notes on the genus Mesobuthus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in China, with description of a new species". Journal of Arachnology . 39 (1): 59–75. doi:10.1636/Ha10-36.1. S2CID   84331221.
  8. ↑ Ozkan, O.; Kat, I. (Oct 30, 2005). "Mesobuthus eupeus scorpionism in Sanliurfa region of Turkey" (PDF). J. Venom. Anim. Toxins Incl. Trop. Dis. 11 (4): 479–491. doi: 10.1590/S1678-91992005000400008 . ISSN   1678-9199 . Retrieved Sep 20, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Results for organism:"Buthus eupeus (Lesser Asian scorpion) (Mesobuthus eupeus) [34648]" in UniProtKB". UniProtKB . UniProt Consortium . Retrieved Sep 18, 2011.
  10. ↑ Gao, B; Peigneur, S; Tytgat, J; Zhu, S (2010). "A potent potassium channel blocker from Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion venom". Biochimie. 92 (12): 1847–53. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2010.08.003. PMID   20713119.
  11. 1 2 Korolkova, YV; Kozlov, SA; Lipkin, AV; Pluzhnikov, KA; Hadley, JK; Filippov, AK; Brown, DA; Angelo, K; et al. (2001). "An ERG channel inhibitor from the scorpion Buthus eupeus". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 276 (13): 9868–76. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M005973200 . PMID   11136720.
  12. ↑ Sanguinetti MC, Tristani-Firouzi M (March 2006). "hERG potassium channels and cardiac arrhythmia". Nature. 440 (7083): 463–9. doi:10.1038/nature04710. PMID   16554806. S2CID   929837.
  13. ↑ Gao, B; Zhu, L; Zhu, S (2011). "A naturally-occurring carboxyl-terminally truncated α-scorpion toxin is a blocker of sodium channels". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 411 (4): 673–8. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.06.178. PMID   21763288.
  14. ↑ Possani, LD; Becerril, B; Delepierre, M; Tytgat, J (1999). "Scorpion toxins specific for Na+-channels". European Journal of Biochemistry. 264 (2): 287–300. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.1999.00625.x . PMID   10491073.
  15. ↑ Zhu, Limei; Peigneur, Steve; Gao, Bin; Tytgat, Jan; Zhu, Shunyi (1 September 2013). "Two recombinant α-like scorpion toxins from Mesobuthus eupeus with differential affinity toward insect and mammalian Na+ channels". Biochimie. 95 (9): 1732–1740. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2013.05.009. PMID   23743216.
  16. ↑ Gao, B.; Sherman, P.; Luo, L.; Bowie, J.; Zhu, S. (2008). "Structural and functional characterization of two genetically related meucin peptides highlights evolutionary divergence and convergence in antimicrobial peptides". The FASEB Journal. 23 (4): 1230–45. doi:10.1096/fj.08-122317. PMID   19088182. S2CID   13235803.
  17. ↑ Gao, B; Xu, J; Rodriguez Mdel, C; Lanz-Mendoza, H; Hernández-Rivas, R; Du, W; Zhu, S (2010). "Characterization of two linear cationic antimalarial peptides in the scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus". Biochimie. 92 (4): 350–9. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2010.01.011. PMID   20097251.
  18. ↑ Omid Mirshamsi; Alireza Sari; Elahe Elahi; Shidokht Hosseinie (2011). "Mesobuthus eupeus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Iran: a polytypic species complex" (PDF). Zootaxa . 2929: 1–21. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2929.1.1.
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