Main description:

Scorpions have fascinated humans for a long time, first and foremost because of the harm the sting of a few species could cause but also due to their unique natural history and for the many biologically active compounds found in their venoms. This volume of the Toxinology handbook series covers all those aspects. The subjects are divided into seven sections starting with an introduction to the general aspects of scorpion biology and ecology, followed by the description of the "envenomation" pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of venoms and their complex interactions with the immune system. The future of anti-scorpion venom therapy is then covered in two chapters dedicated to alternatives to the century-old techniques currently used to produce "anti-venoms". The next section presents a world tour of "scorpionism" and dangerous scorpion species and their impact on human health. It is worth remembering that envenomation due to scorpion stings is a substantial health hazard in Asian, Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American countries, with over one million people stung by scorpions every year, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths. Species-centered overviews of "scorpion venoms" are presented in the next section, after which a section details the two main types of "scorpion toxins". The last section covers high-throughput transcriptome and proteome screenings now known as "venomics".

This volume provides chapters that are accessible to a broad audience, yet also contains the depth of knowledge and detail which makes it of interest to experts in the field. Readers of this reference work will leave well informed on the current state of the art of scorpion venom research.

Contents:

Poultry IgY Alternatives to Antivenom Production.- Recombinant Neutralizing Antibodies, A New Generation of Antivenoms.- New Insights on the Pharmacokinetics of Venoms and Antivenoms.- Scorpion Venom Interactions with the Immune System.- Scorpion Venoms: Pathogenesis and Biotherapies.- Introduction to Scorpion Biology and Ecology.- Scorpion Diversity and Distribution: Past and Present Patterns.- Androctonus Toxins Targeting Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels.- Molecular Description of Scorpion Toxin Interaction with Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels.- Potassium Channel Blocking Peptide Toxins from Scorpion Venom.- Scorpion Venom Research Around the World: Tityus serrulatus.- Scorpion Venom Research Around The World: Chinese Scorpion Mesobuthus martensii Karsch.- Scorpion Venom Research Around The World: Heterometrus Species.- Scorpion Venom Research Around the World: Indian Red Scorpion.- Scorpion Venom Research Around the World: Turkish Scorpions.- Scorpionism and Dangerous Scorpions in Central America and the Caribbean Region.- Scorpionism and Dangerous species of Brazi.- Scorpionism and Dangerous Species of Colombia.- Scorpionism and Dangerous Species of Jordan.- Scorpionism and Dangerous Species of Mexico.- Scorpionism and Dangerous Species of Venezuela.- Modern Venom Profiling: Mining into Scorpion Venom Biodiversity.- Scorpion Venom Gland Transcriptomics.