Brown Spider Venom Toxins: Biological Activities, Molecular Mechanisms, Cell Biology, Biotechnological Applications, and Targets for the Therapeutic Management of Loxoscelism

Dear Colleagues,

Brown spider venoms primarily consist of protein toxins used for predation and defense, which may act synergistically when present in tissue. Some of these toxins, such as phospholipases D, have already been recombinantly produced and extensively studied, demonstrating a pivotal role in the development of clinical manifestations following a Loxosceles bite. Other toxins, including hyaluronidases, allergen factors, serpin, TCTP, and knottins (ICK peptides), have also been identified and produced as recombinant proteins. Comprehensive data on their biochemical and biological activities have been elucidated, revealing numerous potential applications, although much information is still to be uncovered. The interest in the potential applications of brown spider toxins has been steadily increasing  in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields, as therapeutic targets for managing patients affected by brown spider bites. This Special Issue is dedicated to consolidating all these scattered pieces of information and introducing new findings regarding these remarkable toxins. We welcome reviews, communications, and articles presenting novel data on biological activities, molecular mechanisms, cell biology and promising applications of these molecules.

Prof. Dr. Luiza Helena Gremski
Prof. Dr. Sílvio Sanches Veiga
Guest Editors

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• Loxosceles
• brown spider
• venom
• phospholipase D
• sphingomyelinase D
• hyaluronidase
• knottin
• serpin
• TCTP