PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Silent scorpion-sting epidemic in Brazil driven by urbanization and climate change

Q&A with Prof Eliane Candiani Arantes and Prof Manuela Berto Pucca, authors of a recently published Frontiers in Public Health article

2025-05-08
(Press-News.org) What inspired you to become a researcher?

Arantes: I have always enjoyed learning and sharing knowledge, and conducting research aligns perfectly with both of these activities. Studying venomous animals is exciting and dynamic, as it constantly presents new challenges and generates knowledge that can benefit many people.

Pucca: Between the ages of 12 and 15 I had a science teacher who didn’t just explain the natural world—she revealed its magic. Her classes felt like stepping into a secret universe, where every question had the power to open a door. That’s when I knew I didn’t just want to learn science—I wanted to live it. For me, science turns a simple ‘why?’ into something that can transform lives.

 

Can you tell us about the research you’re currently working on?

Arantes: In recent projects, my group focused on the expression of snake toxins with healing properties or effects on the coagulation system, as well as scorpion toxins with immunosuppressive effects. Additionally, we are working to improve the potential of these toxins as pharmaceutical drugs.

Pucca: At UNESP, within the Immunology and Toxinology Laboratory, we study a remarkable diversity of venomous species—including snakes, scorpions, spiders, and even certain types of frogs. These molecules—some of the most lethal in nature—can also become powerful tools for healing when studied deeply.

 

Are there any common misconceptions about this area of research? How would you address them?

Pucca: Yes, and one of the most widespread is the idea that venomous animals are our enemies. They're not. These animals act defensively, not offensively. They're part of the natural world and play essential ecological roles, from controlling pest populations to maintaining biodiversity. Another misconception is that envenomations are rare or only happen in the wild. In reality, in countries like Brazil, snakebites and scorpion stings are a significant public health issue which is often invisible in the broader public discourse.

Arantes: To challenge these misconceptions, we need to bring science closer to society—through education, dialogue, and respect for both scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom. Understanding that these animals are not threats, but part of the ecosystem we all share, is a crucial first step toward coexistence—and better public health.

 

What would you like people to know if they get stung by a scorpion?

Arantes: First: stay calm but act quickly. Arantes: First: stay calm but act quickly. If someone is stung, don’t wait for symptoms to worsen—go to the nearest healthcare facility immediately. In Brazil, the SUS provides treatment for scorpion stings free of charge, and antivenom (soro antiescorpiônico) is available at reference hospitals and emergency centers throughout the country. It’s most effective when administered early, especially in moderate to severe cases.

Pucca: At home, do not apply tourniquets, cut the wound, or try to suck out the venom. These outdated methods are ineffective and potentially harmful. Clean the area with soap and water, apply a cold compress for pain relief, and get to a hospital as soon as possible. Finally, prevention is key: Scorpions thrive in cluttered, humid environments. Keep areas clean, seal cracks in walls, use screens on drains, and always check shoes, towels, and clothes before using them.

 

Tackling the reasons for more stings is anything but easy, but are there any practical and feasible interventions?

Pucca: We need to start with the basics. I’ve been working in places where scorpion stings are a daily fear, especially in poor and crowded areas. People are living side by side with Tityus serrulatus, and most don’t even realize how quickly this species spreads— One scorpion alone can start a whole colony.  But there are things we can do. Simple things—cleaning up debris, improving waste collection, sealing walls and drains.

Arantes: We also need more education. People need to know how to protect themselves, what symptoms to watch for, and where to go in case of a sting. Prevention is possible. We just need to take it seriously. We also need to strengthen our public health system, especially in rural and underserved areas.

 

What are some of the areas of research you’d like to see tackled in the years ahead?

Arantes: One of the most urgent needs is the modernization of antivenom production. Right now, most antivenoms are still made using a method that’s over a hundred years old—injecting venom into horses, then extracting and purifying antibodies from their blood. These serums can save lives, but they can also cause serious side effects and are difficult to distribute in remote or underserved areas.

Pucca: We urgently need to invest in next-generation antivenoms, especially fully human antibodies. These promise safer, more effective, and more accessible treatments. Beyond treatment, we’re also unlocking the therapeutic potential of venom itself. Nature has evolved these molecules over millions of years—we're just beginning to understand how they can be turned into tools for healing, not just harm.

 

In your opinion, why is your research important?

Arantes: The research conducted by my team helps improve treatments for snake and scorpion envenomation, expands our understanding of molecules with promising therapeutic effects, and modifies these molecules to make them more suitable for therapeutic use.

Pucca: Our work goes far beyond the lab. In Brazil’s Amazon region, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate directly with Indigenous communities, including the Yanomami people. Where healthcare access is limited, a venomous sting or bite can be fatal if treatment isn’t immediate and effective. That’s why we’re also focused on developing next-generation antivenoms—safer, more effective, and accessible to those who need them most. If we can help close that gap, then we are not only advancing knowledge, but honoring the lives of those who’ve been invisible for far too long.

 

How has open science benefited the reach and impact of your research?

Pucca: Open science has completely transformed the way my research connects with the world. By making our data, results, and publications openly accessible, we’ve been able to reach not just scientists—but also healthcare professionals, policymakers, and even directly affected communities.

Arantes: It’s helped amplify the visibility of neglected issues, especially in Brazil. Through open access, researchers from under-resourced institutions—who may not have access to paywalled journals—can collaborate, build on our work, and take action locally. That kind of impact matters.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

GP-led talking therapy eases PTSD symptoms after critical illness

2025-05-07
A brief spell of talking therapy with a general practitioner reduces symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for survivors of critical illness, finds a trial from Germany published by The BMJ today. The effects of this brief psychological intervention were modest, but may help to bridge long waiting times between discharge from an intensive care unit (ICU) and access to specialist mental health services, say the researchers. Around one in five patients experience PTSD symptoms after intensive care. Most aftercare is provided in general practice as access to mental health services is often limited with long waiting lists, but structured interventions for ...

Removing ovaries and fallopian tubes linked to lower risk of early death among breast cancer patients with BRCA cancer genes

2025-05-07
Women diagnosed with breast cancer who carry particular BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants are offered surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes as this dramatically reduces their risk of ovarian cancer. Now, Cambridge researchers have shown that this procedure – known as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) – is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of early death among these women, without any serious side-effects. Women with certain variants of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 have a high risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer. ...

The Lancet: Nearly half of sexual abuse first happens at age 15 or younger

2025-05-07
The prevalence of sexual violence against children (SVAC) is high, with nearly one out of five women and one out of seven men around the globe who are survivors.  Regardless of regional or economic status, SVAC prevalence among women is substantial, even in high-income countries such as the Netherlands (30%), New Zealand (29%), the US (28%), and the UK (24%).  Low- and middle-income nations like Chile, Costa Rica, India, and Rwanda recorded a high prevalence among women of at least 30%; among men in Bangladesh and Côte d’Ivoire, the prevalence was 28%.     SEATTLE, Wash., May 7, 2025 ...

Satellites observe glacier committing “ice piracy”

2025-05-07
Under embargo until: 00.01am BST on Thursday May 8, 2025   (19.01 ET, Wednesday May 7) WITH PICS via https://www.dropbox.com/t/oL4yD9tjQpkChoLL  A glacier in Antarctica is committing “ice piracy” - stealing ice from a neighbour – in a phenomenon that has never been observed in such a short time frame, say scientists.   This activity was previously believed to take place over hundreds or even thousands of years.   However, high-resolution satellite observations reveal one ...

Non-inherited genes affect children’s development

2025-05-07
Parents’ genes – even when not directly inherited by a child – may play a role in their educational and mental health outcomes, finds a new report by UCL researchers. The report, Understanding the intergenerational transmission of educational (under)achievement, which was funded by the Nuffield Foundation, evaluated how parental genetics can influence child development through the environment provided by their parents (for example, reading habits or access to better resources), also known as “genetic nurture” or “indirect genetic effects”. The ...

Social media platform tailoring could support more fulfilling use, study finds

2025-05-07
Redesigning social media to suit different needs of users could make their time online more focused, according to new research by University of Bristol academics. The study, presented today at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Yokohama, Japan, suggests that the key to a having a positive experience online is finding the right level of personal investment – neither too much nor too little. Conducted by researchers examining digital self-regulation, they reveal distinct user types and propose that social media platforms could be remodelled to support more intentional use. Lead author Dan Bennett from Bristol’s ...

The hope for detecting Parkinson’s disease much earlier with a simple brain scan

2025-05-07
An international team, led by researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation (CF), has shown – for the first time in a realistic way – that it may be possible to diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD) years before it becomes untreatable, by scanning people’s brains with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).  Their results were published today (May 8th, 2025) in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. The study was funded by the €200,000 Mantero Belard Award, a neuroscience prize attributed ...

MRI breakthrough could revolutionize diagnosis of common heart problem aortic stenosis

2025-05-07
University of East Anglia scientists have developed cutting-edge MRI technology to diagnose a common heart problem more quickly and accurately than ever before. Aortic stenosis is a progressive and potentially fatal condition, affecting an estimated 300,000 people in the UK. It affects about five per cent of 65-year-olds in the US, with increasing prevalence in advancing age. A new study, published today, reveals how a four-dimensional flow (4D flow) MRI scan can diagnose aortic stenosis more reliably than current ultrasound techniques. The superior accuracy of the new test means doctors can better predict when patients ...

Enhanced CAR T cell therapy offers new strategy for lymphoma

2025-05-07
PHILADELPHIA – A next-generation “armored” CAR T cell therapy showed promising results in a small study of patients whose B-cell lymphomas continued to resist multiple rounds of other cancer treatments, including commercially available CAR T cell therapies. The new therapy diminished cancer in 81 percent of patients and resulted in complete remission in 52 percent, with some of the earliest patients treated experiencing durable remission for two years or more. The findings, led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.  While ...

Researchers identify measure of pulse rate that can predict faster cognitive decline in older adults

2025-05-07
Healthy hearts are adaptable, and heartbeats exhibit complex variation as they adjust to tiny changes in the body and environment. Mass General Brigham researchers have applied a new way to measure the complexity of pulse rates, using data collected through wearable pulse oximetry devices. The new method, published in Journal of the American Heart Association, provides a more detailed peek into heart health than traditional measures, uncovering a link between reduced complexity and future cognitive decline. “Heart rate complexity is a hallmark of healthy physiology,” said senior author Peng Li, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Common lung bacteria team up to evade immune defenses

Eating ultra-processed foods may harm your health

Major US cities are sinking

New study traces sharp regional shifts in ischemic heart disease burden — a global warning signal

Too fast to see

All of the biggest U.S. cities are sinking

Database reveals vital ocean links to aid conservation

Robotic dog mimics mammals for superior mobility on land and in water

Mammal’s lifespans linked to brain size and immune system function, says new study

Top EU food & agri institutes launch new science alliance

How to reduce global CO2 emissions from industry

Nature visits can improve well-being disparities among urban dwellers

Silent scorpion-sting epidemic in Brazil driven by urbanization and climate change

GP-led talking therapy eases PTSD symptoms after critical illness

Removing ovaries and fallopian tubes linked to lower risk of early death among breast cancer patients with BRCA cancer genes

The Lancet: Nearly half of sexual abuse first happens at age 15 or younger

Satellites observe glacier committing “ice piracy”

Non-inherited genes affect children’s development

Social media platform tailoring could support more fulfilling use, study finds

The hope for detecting Parkinson’s disease much earlier with a simple brain scan

MRI breakthrough could revolutionize diagnosis of common heart problem aortic stenosis

Enhanced CAR T cell therapy offers new strategy for lymphoma

Researchers identify measure of pulse rate that can predict faster cognitive decline in older adults

Discovery of dopamine receptors in a previously overlooked part of the brain sheds light on the complex circuitry for anxiety and depression

No one to play with? UCLA’s PEERS for Preschoolers program is changing that

New method provides fresh insights into insect decline

Foot traffic can predict COVID-19 spread in New York City neighborhoods

Janice R. Lachance, J.D., FASAE selected for top position of global earth and space science association

Eating ultra processed foods may speed up early signs of Parkinson's disease

Sleep apnea during REM sleep linked to memory-related brain changes

[Press-News.org] Silent scorpion-sting epidemic in Brazil driven by urbanization and climate change
Q&A with Prof Eliane Candiani Arantes and Prof Manuela Berto Pucca, authors of a recently published Frontiers in Public Health article