The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides

Posted by
  The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides Abstract Mesobuthus martensii , the source species of the traditional Chinese medicine “Quanxie”, has long been utilized for its therapeutic properties. Venom peptides are recognized as the major active molecular basis of these pharmacological activities. Despite this, their development as therapeutic agents remains poorly explored. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics investigation to systematically explore the venom peptides of Mesobuthus martensii . We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of Mesobuthus martensii using third-generation sequencing technologies, yielding a genome size of 1.08 Gb with a contig N50 of 46.46 Mb. Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses led to the identification of 51 putative novel venom peptide candidates. From the broader venom peptide set, five lysine- and arginine-rich candidates were select...

Social and colonial spiders as model systems for host-symbiont interactions at different levels of organization

Posted by

 


Social and colonial spiders as model systems for host-symbiont interactions at different levels of organization

Symbiotic interactions, which run the gamut from microbial assemblages to synergistic or antagonistic interactions with macro-organisms, can shape ecological communities across levels of biological organization, from solitary hosts to large social groups. Web-building spiders have given rise to two types of social systems: outbred colonial orb weavers, which form web complexes with a modular structure and no cooperation, and inbred social species with tightly knit societies displaying cooperation within shared communal webs. We synthesize recent findings on the macro- or micro-organisms that colonize individual spiders or their living quarters in social and colonial species, highlighting their potential contributions to population stability and vulnerability as a function of the hosts’ social and breeding system. The tightly knit societies of social spiders facilitate microbial homogenization and prolonged associations with potential macro-symbionts, whereas colonial spiders likely maintain more transient relationships with heterospecific inquilines. Individual spiders and colonies must navigate relationships with diverse inquilines, ranging from mutualistic fungi that attract prey to their webs to behavior-manipulating parasitoid wasps. Macro-symbionts exploit colony resources, including nest materials for living quarters, spider-caught prey for food, or feed on spiders or their eggs. Micro-symbionts seem to colonize all tissues or materials, except eggs, with some having greater affinity for specific host substrates. These systems offer insights into broader ecological and evolutionary questions, including the role of symbiosis for host population stability, adaptation, and ecosystem function. Understanding how host-symbiont dynamics scale from individuals to communities provides critical perspectives on the mechanisms that structure cooperative and antagonistic interactions in nature.

Cassidy, S. T., & Avilés, L. (2026). Social and colonial spiders as model systems for host-symbiont interactions at different levels of organization. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 101521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2026.101521