Spider Ecology and Behaviour—Spiders as Model Organisms

Hesselberg, Thomas; Gálvez, Dumas

doi:10.3390/insects14040330

Insects

2023

DOI: 10.3390/insects14040330

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Spider Ecology and Behaviour—Spiders as Model Organisms

Thomas Hesselberg

Dumas Gálvez

Abstract: Spiders are versatile and ubiquitous generalist predators that can be found in all terrestrial ecosystems except for Antarctica [...]

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2024

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Cited by 2 publications

References 38 publications

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Insight into the adaptive role of arachnid genome-wide duplication through chromosome-level genome assembly of the Western black widow spider

Miles,

Waterman,

Ayoub

et al. 2024

Journal of Heredity

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Although spiders are one of the most diverse groups of arthropods, the genetic architecture of their evolutionary adaptations is largely unknown. Specifically, ancient genome-wide duplication occurring during arachnid evolution ~450 mya resulted in a vast assembly of gene families, yet the extent to which selection has shaped this variation is understudied. To aid in comparative genome sequence analyses, we provide a chromosome-level genome of the Western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus)—a focus due to its silk properties, venom applications, and as a model for urban adaptation. We used long-read and Hi-C sequencing data, combined with transcriptomes, to assemble 14 chromosomes in a 1.46 Gb genome, with 38,393 genes annotated, and a BUSCO score of 95.3%. Our analyses identified high repetitive gene content and heterozygosity, consistent with other spider genomes, which has led to challenges in genome characterization. Our comparative evolutionary analyses of eight genomes available for species within the Araneoidea group (orb weavers and their descendants) identified 1,827 single-copy orthologs. Of these, 155 exhibit significant positive selection primarily associated with developmental genes, and with traits linked to sensory perception. These results support the hypothesis that several traits unique to spiders emerged from the adaptive evolution of ohnologs—or retained ancestrally duplicated genes—from ancient genome-wide duplication. These comparative spider genome analyses can serve as a model to understand how positive selection continually shapes ancestral duplications in generating novel traits today within and between diverse taxonomic groups.

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Insight into the adaptive role of arachnid genome-wide duplication through chromosome-level genome assembly of the Western black widow spider

Miles,

Waterman,

Ayoub

et al. 2024

Journal of Heredity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Toxins of the venom of tarantulas (Theraphosidae, Arachnida) in interspecies interactions

Gelashvili,

Romanova

2024

Povolžskij èkologičeskij žurnal

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Spiders are the most important entomophages in ecosystems. They are the most numerous poisonous animals on the planet, indispensable regulators of populations’ numbers by killing mainly insects and other small arthropods. Spiders are an integral part of the food chain; they produce venom serving to immobilize the prey. Spider venoms are a “natural combinatorial library” of biologically active substances, with varying effectiveness and specificity. A feature of the biological effect of spider’s venom is a unique combination of the low toxicity of the whole venom, for both animals and humans, with high selectivity of the interaction of the neurotoxins, which are part of the venom, with the molecular structures of ion channels and synaptic receptors of the nervous system. The present review introduces the reader to new fundamental facts, ideas and perspective of the practical application of spider’s venoms in biomedical research and drug design. The current state of research on a unique set of polypeptide toxins which serve as chemical factors (allomons) of the interspecific (allelochemical) interactions of spiders of the family Thetaphosidae is considered. Modern information on the structure of spiders’ venom toxins is analyzed using the UniProt database. The latest bioecological and toxicological characteristics of tarantulas are presented. The chemical nature and mechanism of action of some unique toxins selectively acting on key processes in the nervous system are considered. The toxins act upon synaptic transmission and the functioning ion channels, which allow spiders not only to interact with various molecular targets of the prey or predator, but also to implement various life strategies, gaining an evolutionary advantage.

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Spider Ecology and Behaviour—Spiders as Model Organisms

Abstract: Spiders are versatile and ubiquitous generalist predators that can be found in all terrestrial ecosystems except for Antarctica [...]

Cited by 2 publications

References 38 publications

Insight into the adaptive role of arachnid genome-wide duplication through chromosome-level genome assembly of the Western black widow spider

Insight into the adaptive role of arachnid genome-wide duplication through chromosome-level genome assembly of the Western black widow spider

Toxins of the venom of tarantulas (Theraphosidae, Arachnida) in interspecies interactions

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