Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
E. A. Propistsova, A. A. Makarova, K. Y. Eskov, A. A. Polilov
Summary: This study provides a detailed description of the anatomy of a 900 μm long spider of the genus Rayforstia using light and confocal microscopy and 3D modelling. The miniature spider shows a more conserved anatomy compared to other miniature animals.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Jessica R. Zehnpfennig, Andrew R. Mahon
Summary: In this study, a new species of Antarctic pycnogonid, Austropallene halanychi, is described. The species is distinguished from congeners by its larger size and unique morphological features. Molecular data and phylogenetic analyses further support its status as a new species.
Review
Microbiology
Achala R. Rathnayaka, K. W. Thilini Chethana, Alan J. L. Phillips, Jian-Kui Liu, Milan C. Samarakoon, E. B. Gareth Jones, Samantha C. Karunarathna, Chang-Lin Zhao
Summary: This study re-evaluated the character evolution and taxonomic placements of Botryosphaeriales species. It found that the order originated around 109 million years ago in the early Cretaceous period. The study also assessed two hypotheses and found a relationship between conidial color and nutritional mode in botryosphaerialean taxa.
Article
Mycology
Wan-Hao Chen, Jian-Dong Liang, Xiu-Xiu Ren, Jie-Hong Zhao, Yan-Feng Han, Zong-Qi Liang
Summary: This study describes two new genera Neoaraneomyces and Pseudometarhizium from China, their spider-associated and insect-associated species, and the challenges of species-level identification due to similar morphological characteristics in many fungi. Phylogenetic analysis placed the new genera in Clavicipitaceae, suggesting possible convergent evolution and host jumping in the newly described spider-associated species.
Article
Zoology
Jinxin Liu, Xiang Xu, Gustavo Hormiga, Haiqiang Yin
Summary: Five new species of mimetid spiders from China have been discovered, and their phylogenetic placement was inferred through cladistic analysis of a morphological dataset. These new species have distinct characteristics, including the presence of a subtegular apophysis, pilose cuticular projections on the membranous part of the conductor in male palp, and a bicameral structure of the spermathecae in females. These new species are part of a larger clade that includes the type species of the genus Mimetus, and the genus itself is not monophyletic as it includes other related genera as well.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kazuharu Arakawa, Nobuaki Kono, Ali D. Malay, Ayaka Tateishi, Nao Ifuku, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Ryota Sato, Kousuke Tsuchiya, Rintaro Ohtoshi, Daniel Pedrazzoli, Asaka Shinohara, Yusuke Ito, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Akio Tanikawa, Yuya Suzuki, Takeaki Ichikawa, Shohei Fujita, Masayuki Fujiwara, Masaru Tomita, Sean J. Blamires, Jo-Ann Chuah, Hamish Craig, Choon P. Foong, Gabriele Greco, Juan Guan, Chris Holland, David L. Kaplan, Kumar Sudesh, Biman B. Mandal, Y. Norma-Rashid, Nur A. Oktaviani, Rucsanda C. Preda, Nicola M. Pugno, Rangam Rajkhowa, Xiaoqin Wang, Kenjiro Yazawa, Zhaozhu Zheng, Keiji Numata
Summary: This study conducted transcriptome assemblies of 1098 species of spiders and measured the mechanical properties of the dragline silks of 446 species, revealing the essential contributions of multicomponent structures and numerous amino acid motifs to the performance limits of industrial fibers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siddharth Kulkarni, Robert J. Kallal, Hannah Wood, Dimitar Dimitrov, Gonzalo Giribet, Gustavo Hormiga
Summary: Genome-scale data sets provide robust phylogenetic hypotheses for many lineages, but some disagreement exists between different classes of data. This study compared the phylogenetic signal of exons, noncoding regions, and a combination of both in spiders, finding largely congruent relationships across different types of nucleotide data sets. High occupancy data sets analyzed as nucleotides were found to produce more congruent relationships than those analyzed as amino acids, highlighting the importance of retaining all data for accurate phylogenetic reconstruction.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Tim Lueddecke, Volker Herzig, Bjoern M. Von Reumont, Andreas Vilcinskas
Summary: Spiders have complex venom systems containing diverse components that work synergistically to increase overall potency, enabling them to emerge as one of the most successful animal lineages. Despite being difficult to standardize, the evolution of spider venoms is driven by mechanisms that can be better understood through genome-based studies.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filippo Castellucci, Nikolaj Scharff, Andrea Luchetti
Summary: The palearctic spider genus Mastigusa Menge, 1854 has diverse ecological variability and a complex taxonomic history. This study uses molecular phylogenetic analysis to confirm its placement within the family Cybaeidae and establish its sister relationship with the genus Cryphoeca Thorell, 1870. It also discovers a high genetic diversity with six distinct lineages showing a geographic pattern across the distribution range of the genus. This research lays the groundwork for a taxonomic revision of Mastigusa species.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Xu, Long Yu, Fan Li, Bingjun Wang, Fengxiang Liu, Daiqin Li
Summary: This study explores the species boundaries and phylogeny of Phrynarachne spiders in China, identifying six species and providing insights into their evolution and divergence times. The results show that Phrynarachne spiders in China have a monophyletic relationship and belong to the higher 'Thomisus group'. The estimated crown age of this genus in China is in the middle Miocene.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi-Ming Yang, Yong Wu, Fang-Fang Li, Zhang-Jin Zhou, Na Yu, Ze-Wen Liu
Summary: Eight JHAMTs were identified in the pond wolf spider, with JHAMT-1 showing high similarity with insect JHAMTs and high expression in spiderlings' abdomen, responding to exogenous farnesoic acid stimulation. Knockdown of JHAMT-1, JHAMT-2, and JHAMT-3 resulted in overweight and accelerated molting of spiderlings, demonstrating the cooperation of multiple JHAMTs in spider development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Abhishek Dutt Tripathi, Aparna Agarwal
Summary: Sustainability, human health, and animal welfare are three important areas for mankind. The consumption of animal-based foods, like fish and seafood, has negatively impacted the environment due to greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, diseases, and contamination of toxic metals. Consumers are becoming more aware and interested in seafood alternatives for a sustainable future, but it remains uncertain if they are ready to make the switch. This study delves into the scope, nutritional aspects, and technologies involved in developing seafood alternatives, as well as the future prospects for a greener planet.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jiahui Tian, Yongjia Zhan, Chengmin Shi, Hirotsugu Ono, Lihong Tu
Summary: This study reconstructed the phylogeny of Solenysa and other linyphiids based on molecular data, revealing that Solenysa diverged from other linyphiids in the early Cretaceous and diversified further in the middle Oligocene. The results suggest that Solenysa is a relict group from the Cretaceous period with low species diversity due to a long-time lag in its early evolutionary history.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaotian Luo, Jie Huang, William A. Bourland, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Saleh A. Al-Farraj, Xumiao Chen, Weibo Song
Summary: Two oxytrichid ciliates from China, Oxytricha lithofera and Rubrioxytricha haematoplasma, were investigated based on living observations, protargol preparations, and molecular analyses. The study revealed distinct features of the Chinese populations and led to the establishment of a new species, Rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis, based on morphological and molecular differences.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tak-Kei Chou, Min-Yun Liu, Te-Yu Liao
Summary: In this study, the phylogeny of lionfishes was reconstructed using genetic sequencing, leading to a revised taxonomy. The results showed that Dendrochirus and Pterois were not monophyletic and were divided into multiple clades. Based on molecular and morphological data, Dendrochirus and Pterois were proposed for D. I and Pt. I, respectively, while a new genus, Neochirus, was proposed for the D. II clade. Furthermore, the genera Pteropterus and Nemapterois were revalidated for Pt. II and D. III, respectively.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
