From Scorpion Venom to Infection Research: The Promise of Opis16a (Blog Entry)

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  Opistophthalmus carinatus , a southern African scorpion whose venom contains opistoporin 1, the parent peptide from which researchers derived the shorter antimicrobial peptide Opis16a. Credit: Dan Lee / CC0 1.0 From Scorpion Venom to Infection Research: The Promise of Opis16a A synthetic peptide inspired by a southern African scorpion’s venom shows activity against drug-resistant bacteria—but its potential as a wound treatment remains under investigation. Scorpion venom is a complex mixture of biologically active molecules. While many are studied for their effects on ion channels and the nervous system, others offer a different research opportunity: understanding how peptides can damage bacterial cells. One such candidate is Opis16a , a synthetic, 16-amino-acid fragment derived from opistoporin 1, a peptide originally isolated from the venom of Opistophthalmus carinatus . Research highlighted by Nature Africa suggests that this shortened molecule combines broad antibacterial acti...

Genomic and Methylomic Signatures Associated With the Maintenance of Genome Stability and Adaptive Evolution in Two Closely Allied Wolf Spiders

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Genomic and Methylomic Signatures Associated With the Maintenance of Genome Stability and Adaptive Evolution in Two Closely Allied Wolf Spiders

ABSTRACT

Pardosa spiders, belonging to the wolf spider family Lycosidae, play a vital role in maintaining the health of forest and agricultural ecosystems due to their function in pest control. This study presents chromosome-level genome assemblies for two allied Pardosa species, P. laura and P. agraria. Both species' genomes show a notable expansion of helitron transposable elements, which contributes to their large genome sizes. Methylome analysis indicates that P. laura has higher overall DNA methylation levels compared to P. agraria. DNA methylation may not only aids in transposable element-driven genome expansion but also positively affects the three-dimensional organisation of P. laura after transposon amplification, thereby potentially enhancing genome stability. Genes associated with hyper-differentially methylated regions in P. laura (compared to P. agraria) are enriched in functions related to mRNA processing and energy production. Furthermore, combined transcriptome and methylome profiling has uncovered a complex regulatory interplay between DNA methylation and gene expression, emphasising the important role of gene body methylation in the regulation of gene expression. Comparative genomic analysis shows a significant expansion of cuticle protein and detoxification-related gene families in P. laura, which may improve its adaptability to various habitats. This study provides essential genomic and methylomic insights, offering a deeper understanding of the relationship between transposable elements and genome stability, and illuminating the adaptive evolution and species differentiation among allied spiders.

Zuo, Q., Wu, B., Sun, N., Ren, Y., Fan, Z., Wang, Y., Tan, B., Luo, B., Irfan, M., Huang, Q., Shen, J., & Zhang, S. Genomic and Methylomic Signatures Associated With the Maintenance of Genome Stability and Adaptive Evolution in Two Closely Allied Wolf Spiders. Molecular Ecology Resources, e14071. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.14071