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Karahisar Turan S, Kılıç Süloğlu A, İde S, Türkeş T, Barlas N. In vitro and in vivo investigation of Argiope bruennichi spider silk-based novel biomaterial for medical use. Biopolymers 2024:e23572. [PMID: 38491802 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
As a natural and biocompatible material with high strength and flexibility, spider silk is frequently used in biomedical studies. In this study, the availability of Argiope bruennichi spider silk as a surgical suture material was investigated. The effects of spider silk-based and commercial sutures, with and without Aloe vera coating, on wound healing were evaluated by a rat dorsal skin flap model, postoperatively (7th and 14th days). Biochemical, hematological, histological, immunohistochemical, small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses and mechanical tests were performed. A. bruennichi silk did not show any cytotoxic effect on the L929 cell line according to MTT and LDH assays, in vitro. The silk materials did not cause any allergic reaction, infection, or systemic effect in rats according to hematological and biochemical analyses. A. bruennichi spider silk group showed a similar healing response to commercial sutures. SAXS analysis showed that the 14th-day applications of A. bruennichi spider silk and A. vera coated commercial suture groups have comparable structural results with control group. In conclusion, A. bruennichi spider silk is biocompatible in line with the parameters examined and shows a healing response similar to the commercial sutures commonly used in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aysun Kılıç Süloğlu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Semra İde
- Department of Physics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tuncay Türkeş
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Niğde, Turkey
| | - Nurhayat Barlas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Crowley LM, Hutchinson F. The genome sequence of the Wasp Spider, Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772). Wellcome Open Res 2023; 8:522. [PMID: 38434739 PMCID: PMC10904950 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20339.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly from an individual female Argiope bruennichi (the Wasp Spider; Arthropoda; Arachnida; Araneae; Araneidae). The genome sequence is 1,778.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X 1 and X 2 sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 14.06 kilobases in length.
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Shin MK, Hwang IW, Jang BY, Bu KB, Yoo JS, Sung JS. In silico identification of novel antimicrobial peptides from the venom gland transcriptome of the spider Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772). Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1249175. [PMID: 37577428 PMCID: PMC10416796 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1249175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As the emergence and prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains have resulted in a global crisis, there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit inhibitory activity against a wide spectrum of pathogens and can be utilized as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. In this study, two novel AMPs were identified from the venom transcriptome of the spider Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772) using in silico methods, and their antimicrobial activity was experimentally validated. Aranetoxin-Ab2a (AATX-Ab2a) and Aranetoxin-Ab3a (AATX-Ab3a) were identified by homology analysis and were predicted to have high levels of antimicrobial activity based on in silico analysis. Both peptides were found to have antibacterial effect against Gram-positive and -negative strains, and, in particular, showed significant inhibitory activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. In addition, AATX-Ab2a and AATX-Ab3a inhibited animal and vegetable fungal strains, while showing low toxicity to normal human cells. The antimicrobial activity of the peptides was attributed to the increased permeability of microbial membranes. The study described the discovery of novel antibiotic candidates, AATX-Ab2a and AATX-Ab3a, using the spider venom gland transcriptome, and validated an in silico-based method for identifying functional substances from biological resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyoung Shin
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Wook Hwang
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Young Jang
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Bin Bu
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Sun Yoo
- Species Diversity Research Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Suk Sung
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang, Republic of Korea
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Schmidtberg H, von Reumont BM, Lemke S, Vilcinskas A, Lüddecke T. Morphological Analysis Reveals a Compartmentalized Duct in the Venom Apparatus of the Wasp Spider ( Argiope bruennichi). Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13040270. [PMID: 33918654 PMCID: PMC8070055 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13040270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiders are one of the most successful groups of venomous animals, but surprisingly few species have been examined in sufficient detail to determine the structure of their venom systems. To learn more about the venom system of the family Araneidae (orb-weavers), we selected the wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi) and examined the general structure and morphology of the venom apparatus by light microscopy. This revealed morphological features broadly similar to those reported in the small number of other spiders subject to similar investigations. However, detailed evaluation of the venom duct revealed the presence of four structurally distinct compartments. We propose that these subunits facilitate the expression and secretion of venom components, as previously reported for similar substructures in pit vipers and cone snails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrike Schmidtberg
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (H.S.); (S.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Björn M. von Reumont
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (H.S.); (S.L.); (A.V.)
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.M.v.R.); (T.L.)
| | - Sarah Lemke
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (H.S.); (S.L.); (A.V.)
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (H.S.); (S.L.); (A.V.)
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Tim Lüddecke
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Gießen, Germany
- Correspondence: (B.M.v.R.); (T.L.)
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Sheffer MM, Hoppe A, Krehenwinkel H, Uhl G, Kuss AW, Jensen L, Jensen C, Gillespie RG, Hoff KJ, Prost S. Chromosome-level reference genome of the European wasp spider Argiope bruennichi: a resource for studies on range expansion and evolutionary adaptation. Gigascience 2021; 10:giaa148. [PMID: 33410470 PMCID: PMC7788392 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Argiope bruennichi, the European wasp spider, has been investigated intensively as a focal species for studies on sexual selection, chemical communication, and the dynamics of rapid range expansion at a behavioral and genetic level. However, the lack of a reference genome has limited insights into the genetic basis for these phenomena. Therefore, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of the European wasp spider as a tool for more in-depth future studies. FINDINGS We generated, de novo, a 1.67 Gb genome assembly of A. bruennichi using 21.8× Pacific Biosciences sequencing, polished with 19.8× Illumina paired-end sequencing data, and proximity ligation (Hi-C)-based scaffolding. This resulted in an N50 scaffold size of 124 Mb and an N50 contig size of 288 kb. We found 98.4% of the genome to be contained in 13 scaffolds, fitting the expected number of chromosomes (n = 13). Analyses showed the presence of 91.1% of complete arthropod BUSCOs, indicating a high-quality assembly. CONCLUSIONS We present the first chromosome-level genome assembly in the order Araneae. With this genomic resource, we open the door for more precise and informative studies on evolution and adaptation not only in A. bruennichi but also in arachnids overall, shedding light on questions such as the genomic architecture of traits, whole-genome duplication, and the genomic mechanisms behind silk and venom evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M Sheffer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anica Hoppe
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 47, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henrik Krehenwinkel
- Department of Biogeography, University of Trier, Universitätsring 15, 54296 Trier, Germany
| | - Gabriele Uhl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas W Kuss
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lars Jensen
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Corinna Jensen
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rosemary G Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 47, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorf-Str. 8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Prost
- LOEWE-Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, 232 Boom St., Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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Lüddecke T, von Reumont BM, Förster F, Billion A, Timm T, Lochnit G, Vilcinskas A, Lemke S. An Economic Dilemma Between Molecular Weapon Systems May Explain an Arachno-atypical Venom in Wasp Spiders ( Argiope bruennichi). Biomolecules 2020; 10:E978. [PMID: 32630016 PMCID: PMC7407881 DOI: 10.3390/biom10070978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spiders use venom to subdue their prey, but little is known about the diversity of venoms in different spider families. Given the limited data available for orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae), we selected the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi for detailed analysis. Our strategy combined a transcriptomics pipeline based on multiple assemblies with a dual proteomics workflow involving parallel mass spectrometry techniques and electrophoretic profiling. We found that the remarkably simple venom of A. bruennichi has an atypical composition compared to other spider venoms, prominently featuring members of the cysteine-rich secretory protein, antigen 5 and pathogenesis-related protein 1 (CAP) superfamily and other, mostly high-molecular-weight proteins. We also detected a subset of potentially novel toxins similar to neuropeptides. We discuss the potential function of these proteins in the context of the unique hunting behavior of wasp spiders, which rely mostly on silk to trap their prey. We propose that the simplicity of the venom evolved to solve an economic dilemma between two competing yet metabolically expensive weapon systems. This study emphasizes the importance of cutting-edge methods to encompass the lineages of smaller venomous species that have yet to be characterized in detail, allowing us to understand the biology of their venom systems and to mine this prolific resource for translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Lüddecke
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (A.B.); (A.V.)
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; (B.M.v.R.); (S.L.)
| | - Björn M. von Reumont
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; (B.M.v.R.); (S.L.)
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Frank Förster
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392 Gießen, Germany;
| | - André Billion
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (A.B.); (A.V.)
| | - Thomas Timm
- Institute of Biochemistry, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Friedrichstr. 24, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (T.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Günter Lochnit
- Institute of Biochemistry, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Friedrichstr. 24, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (T.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Gießen, Germany; (A.B.); (A.V.)
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; (B.M.v.R.); (S.L.)
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany
| | - Sarah Lemke
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; (B.M.v.R.); (S.L.)
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Gießen, Germany
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Wolz M, Klockmann M, Schmitz T, Pekár S, Bonte D, Uhl G. Dispersal and life-history traits in a spider with rapid range expansion. Mov Ecol 2020; 8:2. [PMID: 31921424 PMCID: PMC6947977 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-019-0182-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dispersal and reproduction are key life-history traits that jointly determine species' potential to expand their distribution, for instance in light of ongoing climate change. These life-history traits are known to be under selection by changing local environmental conditions, but they may also evolve by spatial sorting. While local natural selection and spatial sorting are mainly studied in model organisms, we do not know the degree to which these processes are relevant in the wild, despite their importance to a comprehensive understanding of species' resistance and tolerance to climate change. METHODS The wasp spider Argiope bruennichi has undergone a natural range expansion - from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe during the recent decades. Using reciprocal common garden experiments in the laboratory, we studied differences in crucial traits between replicated core (Southern France) and edge (Baltic States) populations. We tested theoretical predictions of enhanced dispersal (ballooning behaviour) and reproductive performance (fecundity and winter survival) at the expansion front due to spatial sorting and local environmental conditions. RESULTS Dispersal rates were not consistently higher at the northern expansion front, but were impacted by the overwintering climatic conditions experienced, such that dispersal was higher when spiderlings had experienced winter conditions as occur in their region. Hatching success and winter survival were lower at the range border. In agreement with theoretical predictions, spiders from the northern leading edge invested more in reproduction for their given body size. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence for spatial sorting leading to higher dispersal in northern range edge populations of A. bruennichi. However, reproductive investment and overwintering survival between core and edge populations differed. These life-history traits that directly affect species' expansion rates seem to have diverged during the recent range expansion of A. bruennichi. We discuss the observed changes with respect to the species' natural history and the ecological drivers associated with range expansion to northern latitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Wolz
- Zoological Institute and Museum, General and Systematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Klockmann
- Zoological Institute and Museum, General and Systematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Torben Schmitz
- Zoological Institute and Museum, General and Systematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | | | - Gabriele Uhl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, General and Systematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Sheffer MM, Uhl G, Prost S, Lueders T, Urich T, Bengtsson MM. Tissue- and Population-Level Microbiome Analysis of the Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi Identified a Novel Dominant Bacterial Symbiont. Microorganisms 2019; 8:E8. [PMID: 31861544 PMCID: PMC7023434 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many ecological and evolutionary processes in animals depend upon microbial symbioses. In spiders, the role of the microbiome in these processes remains mostly unknown. We compared the microbiome between populations, individuals, and tissue types of a range-expanding spider, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our study is one of the first to go beyond targeting known endosymbionts in spiders and characterizes the total microbiome across different body compartments (leg, prosoma, hemolymph, book lungs, ovaries, silk glands, midgut, and fecal pellets). Overall, the microbiome differed significantly between populations and individuals, but not between tissue types. The microbiome of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi features a novel dominant bacterial symbiont, which is abundant in every tissue type in spiders from geographically distinct populations and that is also present in offspring. The novel symbiont is affiliated with the Tenericutes, but has low sequence identity (<85%) to all previously named taxa, suggesting that the novel symbiont represents a new bacterial clade. Its presence in offspring implies that it is vertically transmitted. Our results shed light on the processes that shape microbiome differentiation in this species and raise several questions about the implications of the novel dominant bacterial symbiont on the biology and evolution of its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M. Sheffer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Gabriele Uhl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Stefan Prost
- LOEWE-Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Museum, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany;
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Tillmann Lueders
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, University of Bayreuth, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany;
| | - Tim Urich
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, 174897 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Mia M. Bengtsson
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, 174897 Greifswald, Germany;
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9
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Wilder SM, Schneider JM. Micronutrient consumption by female Argiope bruennichi affects offspring survival. J Insect Physiol 2017; 100:128-132. [PMID: 28614727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sexual cannibalism has long been hypothesized to be a foraging decision in which females consume males for the nutrients in their bodies. While few studies have documented fecundity benefits of sexual cannibalism, several recent studies have documented benefits of cannibalism to egg hatching success or offspring survival. We tested if small supplements of dietary essential nutrients fed to female spiders, Argiope bruennichi, would result in increases in offspring survival similar to those seen following sexual cannibalism. All female spiders were prevented from cannibalizing their mates and subsequently fed either: a dead male spider, or a similarly-sized dead fly with one of four nutrient supplements (water control, dietary essential fatty acids, dietary essential amino acids, or nonessential amino and fatty acids). Females that consumed a small supplement of dietary essential amino acids produced offspring that survived simulated overwintering conditions significantly longer than offspring of other treatments. While a previous study found a significant effect of cannibalism on offspring survival using field-collected males as prey, the current study, which used lab-reared males as prey, found no effect of sexual cannibalism on offspring survival. Hence, our results suggest that dietary essential amino acids, which may be sequestered by males from their diet, could be valuable supplements that increase the success of the offspring of cannibalistic females. Further work is needed to determine the source and identity of these dietary essential amino acids and if other essential nutrients (e.g., trace elements, vitamins, etc.) may also be limiting in female diets and affect offspring success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn M Wilder
- School of Biological Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, OK, USA.
| | - Jutta M Schneider
- Department of Biology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Hamburg, Germany
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Zhang P, Fang HY, Pan WJ, Pan HC. The complete mitochondrial genome of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi (Araneae: Araneidae). Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2014; 27:996-7. [PMID: 24938103 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2014.926522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The complete mitochondrial genome of Argiope bruennichi is a circular molecule of 14,063 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 21 transfer RNAs, and a control region. The A + T content of the overall base composition of H-strand is 73.4% (T: 38.0%; C: 9.8%; A: 35.4%; G: 16.8%). ND6 begins with ATG, ND4 and ATP6 begin with ATA, ND5 and COI begin with TTA, ND1, COII and COIII begin with TTG, and other five protein-coding genes begin with TTG as start codon. ND5, ND4L, ND6, COI, COII, COIII, ATP6 and ATP8 genes are terminated with TAA as stop codon, Cyt b, ND1 and ND2 end with TAG, and other two protein-coding genes end with T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- a Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity , College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University , Wuhu , P. R. China
| | - Hong-Yan Fang
- a Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity , College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University , Wuhu , P. R. China
| | - Wen-Jian Pan
- a Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity , College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University , Wuhu , P. R. China
| | - Hong-Chun Pan
- a Laboratory of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity , College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University , Wuhu , P. R. China
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