Toxins (Nov 2021)

<i>Lonomia obliqua</i> Envenoming and Innovative Research

  • Miryam Paola Alvarez-Flores,
  • Renata Nascimento Gomes,
  • Dilza Trevisan-Silva,
  • Douglas Souza Oliveira,
  • Isabel de Fátima Correia Batista,
  • Marcus Vinicius Buri,
  • Angela Maria Alvarez,
  • Carlos DeOcesano-Pereira,
  • Marcelo Medina de Souza,
  • Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13120832
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 12
p. 832

Abstract

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As a tribute to Butantan Institute in its 120th anniversary, this review describes some of the scientific research efforts carried out in the study of Lonomia envenoming in Brazil, a country where accidents with caterpillars reach over 42,000 individuals per year (especially in South and Southeast Brazil). Thus, the promising data regarding the studies with Lonomia’s toxins contributed to the creation of new research centers specialized in toxinology based at Butantan Institute, as well as to the production of the antilonomic serum (ALS), actions which are in line with the Butantan Institute mission “to research, develop, manufacture, and provide products and services for the health of the population”. In addition, the study of the components of the Lonomia obliqua bristle extract led to the discovery of new molecules with peculiar properties, opening a field of knowledge that could lead to the development and innovation of new drugs aimed at cell regeneration and inflammatory diseases.

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