Fungal infections represent major threats to agriculture. In fact, pathogenic fungi are responsible for 35% of all crop loss worldwide. Developing new fungicides is of paramount importance. Tityus discrepans scorpions are extremely susceptible to fungal infections because of their habitat. In order to cope, they spray themselves with their own venom. The complex mixture contains numerous compounds with antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Some function by interfering with fungal cell wall development and others by altering membrane permeability. The synergistic effect of all of the antifungal proteins acting in concert makes the venom a potent fungicide.
"M. phaseolina underwent gross structural changes after exposure to F1, F2, F5, and F7. These toxins induced chitin increase along the hyphae...Fungi under the action of F2 and F7 showed a considerable enhancement of septum thickness. Increments in chitin may be due to activation of chitin synthases...M. phaseolina exposure to F3, F4, F5, and F6 resulted in a decrease of the intracellular Na...Shunting bacterial and fungal membrane permeability is an efficient way to kill prokaryonts..." (Joya et al. 2011:6334)
"Interfering with sterol synthesis is an important mechanism behind the effect of the antifungal T. discrepans venom components described here...An outstanding feature of the toxins isolated in this work is that they seem to attack simultaneously two or more targets fundamental for M. phaseolina survival." (Joya et al. 2011:6335)