Identification and Venom Characterization of Two Scorpions from the State of Chihuahua Mexico: <i>Chihuahuanus coahuliae</i> and <i>Chihuahuanus crassimannus</i>
Carolina Alvarado-Gonzalez,
Herlinda Clement,
Lourdes Ballinas-Casarrubias,
Angelica Escarcega-Avila,
Ivan Arenas-Sosa,
Karla Sofia Lopez-Contreras,
Fernando Zamudio,
Gerardo Corzo,
Gerardo Pavel Espino-Solis
Affiliations
Carolina Alvarado-Gonzalez
Traslational Research Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biomédicas, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario s/n, Campus II, Chihuahua 31125, Mexico
Herlinda Clement
Instituto de Biotecnología—UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
Lourdes Ballinas-Casarrubias
Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario s/n, Campus II, Chihuahua 31125, Mexico
Angelica Escarcega-Avila
Veterinary Sciences Department, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, Ciudad Juarez 32310, Mexico
Ivan Arenas-Sosa
Instituto de Biotecnología—UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
Karla Sofia Lopez-Contreras
Traslational Research Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biomédicas, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario s/n, Campus II, Chihuahua 31125, Mexico
Fernando Zamudio
Instituto de Biotecnología—UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
Gerardo Corzo
Instituto de Biotecnología—UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico
Gerardo Pavel Espino-Solis
Traslational Research Laboratory, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias Biomédicas, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario s/n, Campus II, Chihuahua 31125, Mexico
Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico. The ecosystem of this region is composed of large area of bushes, forests, and grasslands, which allows for a specific diversity of fauna; among them are interesting species of non-lethal scorpions. Most of the Chihuahuan scorpions have been previously morphologically and molecularly described; however, this manuscript could be the first to describe the composition of those venoms. This work aimed at the collection of two scorpion species from the region of Jiménez (Southwest of the State of Chihuahua), which belong to the species Chihuahuanus cohauilae and Chihuahuanus crassimanus; the two species were taxonomically and molecularly identified using a 16S DNA marker. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) of C. coahuilae and C. crassimanus venoms allowed the identification of three fractions lethal to mice. Additionally, three fractions of each scorpion displayed an effect on house crickets. In the end, three new fractions from the venom of C. coahuilae were positive for antimicrobial activity, although none from C. crassimanus venom displayed growth inhibition. Despite being a preliminary study, the venom biochemical analysis of these two uncharacterized scorpion species opens the opportunity to find new molecules with potential applications in the biomedical and biotechnological fields.
