Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiroyuki Nakamura, Nobuaki Kono, Masaru Mori, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Keiji Numata, Kazuharu Arakawa
Summary: This study compares the mechanical properties and water resistance of spider's minor ampullate silk (MI-silk) and major ampullate silk (MA-silk), revealing the unique properties and water resistance of MI-silk. Proteomic analysis shows that MI-silk is composed of minor ampullate spidroin (MiSp), major ampullate spidroin (MaSp1), and spidroin constituting elements (SpiCEs). The absence of MaSp2 in the MI-silk proteome explains the difference in water resistance between MI-silk and MA-silk.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ali D. Malay, Hamish C. Craig, Jianming Chen, Nur Alia Oktaviani, Keiji Numata
Summary: In this article, recent findings on the material constituents, protein structures, and self-assembly mechanisms of spider dragline silk are discussed. The concept of biomimetics in artificial spider silk production, along with key practical aspects of design and evaluation, is also considered.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wenbo Hu, Anqiang Jia, Sanyuan Ma, Guoqing Zhang, Zhaoyuan Wei, Fang Lu, Yongjiang Luo, Zhisheng Zhang, Jiahe Sun, Tianfang Yang, TingTing Xia, Qinhui Li, Ting Yao, Jiangyu Zheng, Zijie Jiang, Zehui Xu, Qingyou Xia, Yi Wang
Summary: Hu et al. unveil a molecular atlas of silk production in the spider major ampullate (Ma) gland, providing insights into the genetic basis and spatial architecture of silk production. This study expands our knowledge of spider dragline silk generation and has implications for biomimetic applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Sean J. Blamires, Madeleine Nobbs, Jonas O. Wolff, Celine Heu
Summary: This study used Atomic Force Microscopy to compare the topographic, structural, and mechanical properties of silks spun by two species of spider at a nanoscale. The results suggest significant variations in the nanoscale skin-core structures of A. keyserlingi's MA silk across treatments, while slight variability was found for L. hasselti's silk. The findings advance the understanding of the processes inducing structural variations in spider silks at a nanoscale and may enhance the development of biomimetic engineering programs.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Onofrei, Dillan Stengel, Di Jia, Hannah R. Johnson, Samantha Trescott, Ashana Soni, Bennett Addison, Murugappan Muthukumar, Gregory P. Holland
Summary: The dragline silk of the black widow spider is a high-performance biological polymer that exceeds the strength and toughness of man-made materials. The major ampullate silk is primarily composed of two spidroin proteins that self-associate to form superstructures despite being intrinsically disordered proteins. Research has shown that certain amino acid motifs play a crucial role in the pre-assembly of silk proteins.
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
Engineering, Biomedical
Rui Wen, Suyang Wang, Kangkang Wang, Dong Yang, Xingjie Zan, Qing Meng
Summary: This study reports the full-length MaSp4 gene from the orb-weaving spider Araneus ventricosus and identifies its unique sequence, structure, and mechanical property. It provides a complete template for recombinant silk protein with specific properties and supports the idea that the GPGPQ motif in MaSp4 increases the flexibility of dragline silk by packing in more a-turns.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linnea Gustafsson, Mathias Kvick, Carolina Astrand, Nienke Ponsteen, Nicolai Dorka, Veronika Hegrova, Sara Svanberg, Josef Horak, Ronnie Jansson, My Hedhammar, Wouter van der Wijngaart
Summary: This work demonstrates a method for producing suspended recombinant spider silk nanowires in solution. The method provides reproducibility, scalability, autoclavability, retention of bioactivity, and easy functionalization. The work also shows that coating a surface with nanowires can enhance the attachment and growth of human mesenchymal stem cells.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dominic R. Whittall, Katherine Baker, Rainer Breitling, Eriko Takano
Summary: Spider silk is known for its impressive mechanical properties, but farming spiders for silk is impractical. Research focuses on producing recombinant spider silk proteins in more feasible hosts, with the goal of developing a highly efficient and cost-effective production system. Genes encoding these proteins have been successfully expressed in various host platforms, showing potential for large-scale production.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Li Liu, Pengju Wang, Dongdong Zhao, Li Zhu, Jinlei Tang, Wenchuan Leng, Junchang Su, Yan Liu, Changhao Bi, Xueli Zhang
Summary: Biomaterials, such as spider silk, have unique properties that make them highly valuable for next-generation applications. A new technique using circularized mRNA (cmRNA) has been developed to simplify the construction and expression of fibrous proteins, allowing for the production of large amounts of spider silk proteins with high efficiency and authenticity.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qijue Wang, Patrick McArdle, Stephanie L. Wang, Ryan L. Wilmington, Zhen Xing, Alexander Greenwood, Myriam L. Cotten, M. Mumtaz Qazilbash, Hannes C. Schniepp
Summary: Nanofibrils are found to be important in spider silk and have a significant impact on the unique properties of this material. By using polarized Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies, the concentrations of six distinct protein secondary structures in spider silk are determined. This study provides valuable insights into the internal structure of protein materials.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Noy Cohen, Claus D. Eisenbach
Summary: This study proposes four length scales to explain the unique mechanical response of spider silk under high humidity, and develops a model to describe the microstructural evolution and response caused by water molecule diffusion. The model demonstrates excellent agreement with experimental findings and provides guidance for designing new materials with spiderlike properties.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noy Cohen, Michal Levin, Claus D. Eisenbach
Summary: The increase in relative humidity leads to supercontraction of spider silk, primarily due to hydrogen bond dissociation and fiber swelling, leading to the formation of rubbery domains and motivating the contraction of the spider silk.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ping Jiang, Li-Hua Wu, Tai-Yong Lv, Si-Si Tang, Meng-Lei Hu, Zhi-min Qiu, Cong Guo, Perez-Rigueiro Jose
Summary: Spider silk can revert its tensile behavior after stretching, independent of its previous loading history. It has good shape and mechanical behavior memory, which is significant for designing new fiber materials.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Irina Iachina, Jacek Fiutowski, Horst-Gunter Rubahn, Fritz Vollrath, Jonathan R. Brewer
Summary: Spider silk fibres with hierarchical structure and nanoscale organization exhibit unique mechanical properties. Novel imaging techniques reveal the macro- and nanoscopic structure of Major (MAS) and Minor (MiS) Ampullate silk fibres from orb-web spider Nephila Madagascariensis. The fibres consist of parallel protein fibrils with crystalline cores oriented along the fibre axes, surrounded by areas with less scattering and more amorphous protein structures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Tomas Erban, Bruno Sopko, Marta Vaclavikova, Daniela Tomesova, Tatana Halesova, Milan Rezac
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Milan Rezac, Stano Pekar, Miquel Arnedo, Nuria Macias-Hernandez, Veronika Rezacova
Summary: The study investigated the diversity of Dysdera spiders on the Canary Islands, revealing different prey capture tactics and behavioral traits. The research showed that there were differences in trophic ecology and body size among species, possibly resulting from adaptive radiation via character displacement.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Frantisek Kocourek, Kamil Holy, Milan Rezac, Bruno Sopko, Jitka Stara
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different pest control regimes in pear orchards on arthropod communities. It found that the diversity of natural enemies increased with reduced insecticide applications, and that generalist predators and their diversity play a crucial role in regulating pear psylla during the vegetative period.
BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Filippo Milano, Theo Blick, Pedro Cardoso, Maria Chatzaki, Caroline Sayuri Fukushima, Peter Gajdos, Alastair T. Gibbons, Sergio Henriques, Nuria Macias-Hernandez, Stefano Mammola, Wolfgang Nentwig, Myles Nolan, Julien Petillon, Nina Polchaninova, Milan Rezac, Jonas Sandstrom, Helen Smith, Konrad Wisniewski, Marco Isaia
Summary: This review highlights the underrepresentation of spiders in conservation policies in Europe, with limited coverage in international legislation and varying levels of mentioning in national laws. The IUCN assessments show that 164 out of 301 evaluated spider species are threatened, with only eight native to Europe. Further efforts are needed in the conservation of spider species, especially in terms of assessments and legislation at national and subnational levels.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Milan Rezac, Nela Glorikova, Shawn M. Wilder, Petr Heneberg
Summary: The study found that while spider behavior was affected by exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides, their lipid and protein reserves were not impacted, and dietary treatments did not show any synergy with acute exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Stano Pekar, Milan Rezac, Frantisek Kocourek, Jitka Stara
Summary: The study found that fungicide-treated plots had lower abundance of spiders for two years; IPM and conventional systems supported greater spider abundance; selective effects, particularly broad-spectrum insecticides, may reduce spider numbers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEST MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Veronika Rezacova, Milan Rezac, Zuzana Liblova, Tereza Michalova, Petr Heneberg
Summary: The study found that the Asteraceae neophytes showed high colonization by AMF, sometimes even higher than native plants and archeophytes. However, changes in plant dominance did not predict the extent of AMF colonization. This suggests that AMF may not play a significant role in driving the invasions of Asteraceae neophytes in central European environments.
INVASIVE PLANT SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Veronika Rezacova, Milan Rezac, Milan Gryndler, Hana Hrselova, Hana Gryndlerova, Tereza Michalova
Summary: The study revealed that invasive plant species altered the composition of AM fungal communities and reduced the diversity of AM fungi in soil and in the roots of some native plants. The effects of invasions were statistically significant and dependent on the composition of AM fungal communities in roots of native plant species, but not on changes in soil parameters.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Petr Heneberg, Petr Bogusch, Alena Astapenkova, Milan Rezac
Summary: Through studying the effects of toxic elements on aculeate inquilines that occupy Lipara lucens-induced galls on the common reed, it was found that the concentration of toxic elements does not affect the diversity and abundance of aculeate hymenopterans associated with the reed galls.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Narmin Beydizada, Milan Rezac, Stano Pekar
Summary: The study found that the representatives of Gnaphosidae, Drassodes and Zelotes, use different prey capture strategies, with Drassodes mainly using silk attack and Zelotes mainly using venom attack. Morphological differences were observed in venom glands and piriform silk glands between the two species, indicating that behavioral adaptations are not necessarily paralleled with morphological ones. Despite these differences, both Drassodes and Zelotes were found to be able to use both attack strategies with similar efficacy.
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Stano Pekar, Jonas O. Wolff, Ludmila Cernecka, Klaus Birkhofer, Stefano Mammola, Elizabeth C. Lowe, Caroline S. Fukushima, Marie E. Herberstein, Adam Kucera, Bruno A. Buzatto, El Aziz Djoudi, Marc Domenech, Alison Vanesa Enciso, Yolanda M. G. Pinanez Espejo, Sara Febles, Luis F. Garcia, Thiago Goncalves-Souza, Marco Isaia, Denis Lafage, Eva Liznarova, Nuria Macias-Hernandez, Ivan Magalhaes, Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte, Ondrej Michalek, Peter Michalik, Radek Michalko, Filippo Milano, Ana Munevar, Wolfgang Nentwig, Giuseppe Nicolosi, Christina J. Painting, Julien Petillon, Elena Piano, Kaina Privet, Martin J. Ramirez, Candida Ramos, Milan Rezac, Aurelien Ridel, Vlastimil Ruzicka, Irene Santos, Lenka Sentenska, Leilani Walker, Kaja Wierucka, Gustavo Andres Zurita, Pedro Cardoso
Summary: Spiders, as ubiquitous predators in terrestrial ecosystems, play an important role and are suitable for testing eco-evolutionary hypotheses. An online database has been developed to archive and access diverse spider traits data globally, curated by an expert team and aimed at facilitating cross-taxon assays in functional ecology and comparative biology.
DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Milan Rezac, Steven Tessler, Petr Heneberg, Ivalu Macarena avila Herrera, Nela Glorikova, Martin Forman, Veronika Rezacova, Jiri Kral
Summary: The mygalomorph spider Atypus snetsingeri found in Pennsylvania is genetically identical to Atypus karschi in East Asia, suggesting that it is an introduced species. The study also revealed new cytogenetic information about this spider, including its X0 sex chromosome system and the presence of nucleolus organizing regions and heterochromatin. The spider is found in various habitats in Pennsylvania and preys on a variety of organisms.
Article
Biology
Milan Rezac, Vlastimil Ruzicka, Jan Dolansky, Petr Dolejs
Summary: Using stratified pipe traps, we studied the vertical distribution of spiders in shallow subterranean habitats. We collected 76 spider species, including 21 species that showed an affinity for subterranean microhabitats. Our study provides diagrams of the vertical distribution of these species and photo-documentation of eye reduction.
SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Zoology
Milan Rezac, Pedro Cardoso, Veronika Rezacova
Summary: This study revises the Portuguese spiders of the genus Harpactea and describes seven new species. The Portuguese Harpactea spiders belong to two species groups, the hombergi group and the corticalis group, with the majority of the corticalis group likely forming a monophyletic group endemic to the Iberian peninsula.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Milan Rezac, Vlastimil Ruzicka, Vladimir Hula, Jan Dolansky, Ondrej Machac, Antonin Rousar
Summary: The recent increase in spider species in the Czech Republic is mostly due to the introduction of thermophilic species expanding northward, potentially as a result of global warming, and subtropical or tropical species introduced to heated buildings. Only a small percentage of the new species belong to the indigenous fauna, with the majority likely appearing in the region recently.
BIOINVASIONS RECORDS
(2021)