A comparison of adhesive performance among six cursorial spider species

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  A comparison of adhesive performance among six cursorial spider species Abstract The ability to adhere to surfaces is particularly relevant for cursorial predatory arthropods like hunting spiders, which often traverse relatively complex environments characterized by large variation in substrate properties. Here, we evaluated the adhesive performance of six hunting spider species that are common in eastern temperate North America and lack specialized tarsi for climbing smooth or inclined surfaces [Lycosidae: Pardosa lapidicina Emerton, 1885 and Rabidosa rabida (Walckenaer, 1837); Oxyopidae: Oxyopes salticus Hentz, 1845; Pisauridae: Pisaurina mira (Walckenaer, 1837); Dolomedidae: Dolomedes triton (Walckenaer, 1837), and Dolomedes scriptus Hentz, 1845]. We tested adhesion performance as shear load resistance (g) on a glass plate, and as the angle of failure (°) when the plate was gradually inclined relative to horizontal. Average angle of failure and shear resistance differed among ...

Primary cell culture from embryos of the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

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Primary cell culture from embryos of the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Background

Spiders have emerged as valuable models in evolutionary developmental biology, but primary cell cultures from spider embryonic tissues have not been fully explored. In this study, we describe the first successful long-term cultivation of embryonic cells from the common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum. We initiated five independent primary cultures using mechanical and enzymatic dissociation methods, comparing two culture media, Leibovitz’s L-15 and Grace’s Insect Medium, under varying pH conditions.

Results

Cultures exhibited diverse cell morphologies, including round cells in suspension and elongated, neuron-like cells. The most successful culture, initiated with Grace’s medium at pH 7, was passaged four times and maintained for over six months. We also tested collagen type I-coated wells to improve cell adhesion. Our results indicate that P. tepidariorum embryonic cells proliferate better at pH 7, and Grace’s medium supports long-term growth, while L-15 promotes more cell differentiation.

Conclusions

This culture system provides a valuable platform for functional genomics studies, with potential applications in evolutionary and developmental biology research.


Afrah Hassan, Giulia Zancolli. Primary cell culture from embryos of the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, 24 October 2024, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5312272/v1]