Latrodectus Spider venoms

A. Latrodectus (black widow) spider venom contains alpha-latrotoxin, which causes opening of nonspecific cation channels, leading to an increased influx of calcium and indiscriminate release of acetylcholine (at the motor endplate) and norepinephrine. 

I. Pharmacology. To produce the antivenom, horses are hyperimmunized with Latrodectus mactans (black widow spider) venom. The lyophilized protein product from pooled equine seta contains antibodies specific to certain venom fractions, as well as residual serum proteins such as albumin and globulins. After intravenous administration, the antivenom distributes widely throughout the body, where it binds to venom. 

Antivenins capable of neutralizing the toxins present in the venom of various poisonous spiders are also available. The major preparations available include Latrodectus mactans antivenin, which contains antibodies raised against the venom of the black widow spider, and... 

Silva AM, Liu-Gentry J, Dickey AS et al (2005) a-Latrotoxin increases spontaneous and depolarization-evoked exocytosis from pancreatic islet P-cells. J Physiol 565 783-99 Siu R, Fladd C, Rotin D (2006) N-cadherin is an in vivo substrate for PTPo and partidpates in PTPo-mediated inhibition of axon growth. Mol Cell Biol 27 208-19 Smith DS, Russell FE (1966) Structure of the venom gland of the black widow spider Latrodectus mactans. A preliminary light and electron microscopic study. In Russell FE, Saunders PR (eds) Animal Toxins, Oxford, Pergamon, pp 1-15... 

The widow spiders are Latrodectus species. Unlike the Loxosceles species described above, the bite sites from widow spiders show virtually no damage. The symptoms of widow spider poisoning are many and varied. They include pain, cramps, sweating, headache, dizziness, tremor, nausea, vomiting, and elevated blood pressure. The venom contains several proteins, including a proteinaceous neurotoxin with a molecular mass of about 130,000. 

A—Latrotoxin is the major protein neurotoxin in the venom of the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans). The red back spider, L. nasseltii, produces the same toxic effects. Pain, sweating, circulatory collapse, muscular rigidity, respiratory failure, death. Depletes nerve endings of ACh, adrenaline and glutamate acts on vesicle membrane. 

Lyovac Antivenin, Black widow spider antivenin. Prepd from the serum of horses immunized against the venom of the New World spider Latrodectus maclans Fabr, Araneae. 

Q Later it was discovered that the venom of various scorpions, like Tityus serrula-tus and Buthus occitanus, as well as spiders, like the Southern or Mediterranean Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus), also contains hradykinin-potentiating peptides. [3]... 

Spider toxins toxic substances produced in the venom glands of many spiders. They serve to paralyse and kill prey, and are dangerous to humans only in rare cases, e.g. the toxin of the South European La-trodectus tredecimgutlatus, or the American black widow (Latrodectus mactans). The active principles of S.t. are proteinaceous and related to those of snake and scorpion venoms. They contain hyaluronidase and proteolytic activity, but phospholipases and hemolytic or blood clotting activities are absent. 

Lunev, A.V., Demin, V.V., Zaitsev, O.L, Spadar, S.L, and Grishin, E.V., 1991. Electron microscopy of a-latrotoxin from the venom of black widow spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus, Bioorg.Khim. 17 1021-1026. 

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL STUDIES OF LATRODECTIN FROM THE VENOM OF BLACK WIDOW SPIDER (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus)... 

Grasso, A., 1976. Preparation and properties of a neurotoxin purified from the venom of the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus), Biochim. Biophys. Acta 439, 409-412. 

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