Living underground: first record of myrmecophily in a species of tarantula (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Catumiri Guadanucci, 2004)

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  Living underground: first record of myrmecophily in a species of tarantula (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Catumiri Guadanucci, 2004) Abstract Myrmecophily is widespread among arthropods but remains poorly documented in spiders, particularly in Mygalomorphae. Tarantulas (Theraphosidae) have not previously been shown to form true myrmecophilous associations, with existing records limited to anecdotal observations. Here, we provide the first robust evidence of myrmecophily in a tarantula, based on combined field and experimental data. Fieldwork in the Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve (Monte Desert, Argentina) revealed that individuals of a species of Catumiri Guadanucci 2004 inhabit nests of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery 1887. Of 45 excavated nests, 16 (35.5%) contained spiders, with a total of 69 individuals recorded. The presence of multiple developmental stages, including early instars cohabiting with adult females, indicates that reproduction and early development ...

Potential Role of Tarantula Venom Peptides in Targeting Human Death Receptors: A Computational Study

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Potential Role of Tarantula Venom Peptides in Targeting Human Death Receptors: A Computational Study

Abstract

Animal venom has been gaining traction as a potential source of therapeutics for various diseases. Spiders encompass a wide variety of venom-producing species, of which tarantulas of the family Theraphosidae are widely known across the globe. Research towards tarantula venom therapeutics has led to its potential application as antinociceptives. Death receptors are cellular receptors that induce apoptosis—the body’s natural suicide mechanism—to destroy malfunctioning cells. These are particularly of interest in cancer research, as this mechanism is tampered with, resulting in cancer cell proliferation. In this study, the viability of venom toxins from the Theraphosidae family of spiders to induce apoptosis by binding to human death receptors is investigated by carrying out anti-cancer screening, molecular docking, ADMET evaluation, then molecular dynamics and thermodynamic analysis twice, first to ascertain the best receptor–peptide systems per receptor, and secondly to more comprehensively describe binding stability and thermodynamics. Results point to favorable receptor–peptide interactions due to similarities in equilibrium behavior with the death ligand–death receptor systems, along with favorable end-state binding energies and ADMET analysis results. Further inquiry is recommended to assess the real-life efficacy and viability of theraphotoxins as apoptosis therapeutics and further improve on their ability to induce apoptosis.


Quiambao, J. I., Fowler, P. M., & Tayo, L. L. (2024). Potential Role of Tarantula Venom Peptides in Targeting Human Death Receptors: A Computational Study. Applied Sciences, 14(19), 8701.