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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2017

1 result

Evaluation of the physiological activity of venom from the Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens.

Kowalski K, Marciniak P, Rosiński G, Rychlik L

Frontiers in zoology30 Sept 2017Cited by 16 (Europe PMC)

PMID29026428 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5622582 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1186/s12983-017-0230-0 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-29026428
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Summary

BackgroundAnimal toxins can have medical and therapeutic applications. Principally, toxins produced by insects, arachnids, snakes and frogs have been characterized. Venomous mammals are rare, and their venoms have not been comprehensively investigated. Among shrews, only the venom of Blarina brevicauda has been analysed so far, and blarina toxin has been proven to be its main toxic component. It is assumed that Neomys fodiens employs its venom to hunt larger prey. However, the toxic profile, properties and mode of action of its venom are largely unknown. Therefore, we analysed the cardio-, myo- and neurotropic properties of N. fodiens venom and saliva of non-venomous Sorex araneus (control tests) in vitro in physiological bioassays carried out on two model organisms: beetles and frogs. For the first time, we fractionated N. fodiens venom and S. araneus saliva by performing chromatographic separation. Next, the properties of selected compounds were analysed in cardiotropic bioassays in the Tenebrio molitor heart.ResultsThe venom of N. fodiens caused a high decrease in the conduction velocity of the frog sciatic nerve, as well as a significant decrease in the force of frog calf muscle contraction. We also recorded a significant decrease in the frog heart contractile activity. Most of the selected compounds from N. fodiens venom displayed a positive chronotropic effect on the beetle heart. However, one fraction caused a strong decrease in the T. molitor heart contractile activity coupled with a reversible cardiac arrest. We did not observe any responses of the insect heart and frog organs to the saliva of S. araneus. Preliminary mass spectrometry analysis revealed that calmodulin-like protein, thymosin β-10, hyaluronidase, lysozyme C and phospholipase A2 are present in the venom of N. fodiens, whereas thymosin β4, lysozyme C and β-defensin are present in S. araneus saliva.ConclusionOur results showed that N. fodiens venom has stronger paralytic properties and lower cardioinhibitory activity. Therefore, it is highly probable that N. fodiens might use its venom as a prey immobilizing agent. We also confirmed that S. araneus is not a venomous mammal because its saliva did not exhibit any toxic effects.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01LabEndogenous levelIn vitro (cell-free)Other

    In saliva of the non-venomous shrew Sorex araneus, preliminary mass spectrometry detected the animal's own thymosin β4.

    In plain wordsIn shrews, preliminary lab analysis found the animal's own thymosin β4 in the saliva of a non-venomous species.

    Peptide
    Thymosin beta-4 (human)
    Outcome
    Not applicableThymosin β4 detected in shrew saliva
    Study

    Sorex araneusn: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Endogenous peptide levels · Whole body

    Source sentences

    Summary
    whereas thymosin β4, lysozyme C and β-defensin are present in S. araneus saliva.

    This result measures the body's own Thymosin beta-4 (human). Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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