Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida

Esmaeilishirazifard, Elham; Usher, Louise; Trim, Carol M.; Denise, Hubert; Sangal, Vartul; Tyson, Gregory H.; Barlow, Axel; Redway, K.; Taylor, John D.; Kremyda-Vlachou, Myrto; Davies, S. T.; Loftus, T.D.; Lock, M.M.G.; Wright, K.; Dalby, Andrew R.; Snyder, Lori; Wüster, Wolfgang; Trim, S.; Moschos, Sterghios A.

doi:10.1128/spectrum.02408-21

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…One would expect that since the scorpion telson contains bacteria, the venom should also contain bacteria. Indeed, bacteria have been successfully isolated from the venom of snakes and spiders [23], even though venom extraction and analysis can be challenging. For example, Esmaeilishirazifard et al, 2018 [22], attempted to culture bacteria from scorpion venoms, including H. arizonensis studied here, but no bacterial growth was reported, due to sampling limitations that included scorpion availability and low volumes (<1 to 30 ul) of venom.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date there are few reports of bacteria in the telson. Attempts to grow bacteria from the venom of H. arizonensis and Heterometrus spinifer were inconsistent due in part to the variable and small volumes of venom isolated, despite having success culturing bacteria from the venom of numerous snake species [22,23]. Wolbachia was detected in 10/20 (50%) of venom gland samples of the highly cytotoxic Hemiscorpius lepturus [9], however the study did not assess taxa beyond this single genus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A first molecular characterization of the scorpion telson microbiota of Hadrurus arizonensis and Smeringurus mesaensis

et al. 2023

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Scorpions represent an ancient lineage of arachnids that have radiated across the globe and are incredibly resilient—since some thrive in harsh environments and can exist on minimal and intermittent feedings. Given the emerging importance of microbiomes to an organism’s health, it is intriguing to suggest that the long-term success of the scorpion bauplan may be linked to the microbiome. Little is known about scorpion microbiomes, and what is known, concentrates on the gut. The microbiome is not limited to the gut, rather it can be found within tissues, fluids and on external surfaces. We tested whether the scorpion telson, the venom-producing organ, of two species, Smeringurus mesaensis and Hadrurus arizonensis, contain bacteria. We isolated telson DNA from each species, amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes, and identified the collection of bacteria present within each scorpion species. Our results show for the first time that telsons of non-buthid scorpion species do indeed contain bacteria. Interestingly, each scorpion species has a phylogenetically unique telson microbiome including Mollicutes symbionts. This study may change how we view scorpion biology and their venoms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first molecular characterization of the scorpion telson microbiota of Hadrurus arizonensis and Smeringurus mesaensis

et al. 2023

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“…These methods may also significantly increase the risk of developing microbial infections. Therefore, the clinical management of SBE should consider the risk of wound infections, including from antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, and hence develop robust antibiotic strategies as part of the treatment protocol to successfully treat victims [ 17 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effectiveness of Antibiotics in Managing Bacterial Infections on Bite Sites following Snakebite Envenomation

Salim

Almeida

Williams

et al. 2023

Toxins

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Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a life-threatening medical emergency with a high mortality rate. Common secondary complications following SBE, such as wound infections, are significant due to their impact on worsening local tissue damage and causing systemic infection. Antivenoms are not effective to treat wound infections following SBE. Moreover, in several rural clinical settings, broad-spectrum antibiotics are often used without clear guidelines or based on limited laboratory data, resulting in undesirable side effects and exacerbated treatment costs. Therefore, robust antibiotic strategies should be developed to tackle this critical issue. Currently, there is limited information available on the bacterial profiles of SBE-induced infections and antibiotic susceptibility. Hence, it is essential to improve the knowledge of bacterial profiles and their antibiotic sensitivity in SBE victims to develop better treatment strategies. This study aimed to address this issue by examining the bacterial profiles of SBE victims with a specific focus on Russell’s viper envenomation. The most frequently found bacteria in the bites of SBE victims were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Linezolid, clindamycin, colistin, meropenem, and amikacin were some of the most effective antibiotics for commonly grown bacteria in SBE victims. Similarly, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, amoxiclave, cefixime, and tetracyclin were the least effective antibiotics for common bacteria found in the wound swabs of SBE victims. These data provide robust guidance for infection management following SBE and offer useful insights to aid in designing effective treatment protocols for SBE with serious wound infections in rural areas where laboratory facilities may not be readily available.

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“…This resilience and capability of adaptation to stressful conditions presented by the Enterococcus genus is very much a concern, and it goes beyond antibiotics and biocides, with reports indicating possible decreases of susceptibility even to venoms [ 227 ].…”

Section: Biocide Tolerancementioning

confidence: 99%

Enterococcus Virulence and Resistant Traits Associated with Its Permanence in the Hospital Environment

et al. 2022

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Enterococcus are opportunistic pathogens that have been gaining importance in the clinical setting, especially in terms of hospital-acquired infections. This problem has mainly been associated with the fact that these bacteria are able to present intrinsic and extrinsic resistance to different classes of antibiotics, with a great deal of importance being attributed to vancomycin-resistant enterococci. However, other aspects, such as the expression of different virulence factors including biofilm-forming ability, and its capacity of trading genetic information, makes this bacterial genus more capable of surviving harsh environmental conditions. All these characteristics, associated with some reports of decreased susceptibility to some biocides, all described in this literary review, allow enterococci to present a longer survival ability in the hospital environment, consequently giving them more opportunities to disseminate in these settings and be responsible for difficult-to-treat infections.

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Bacterial Adaptation to Venom in Snakes and Arachnida

Cited by 17 publications

References 77 publications

A first molecular characterization of the scorpion telson microbiota of Hadrurus arizonensis and Smeringurus mesaensis

A first molecular characterization of the scorpion telson microbiota of Hadrurus arizonensis and Smeringurus mesaensis

The Effectiveness of Antibiotics in Managing Bacterial Infections on Bite Sites following Snakebite Envenomation

Enterococcus Virulence and Resistant Traits Associated with Its Permanence in the Hospital Environment

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