Project description:Spiders are renowned for their efficient capture of flying insects using intricate aerial webs. How the spider nervous systems evolved to cope with this specialized hunting strategy and various environmental clues in an aerial space remains unknown. Here, we report a brain cell atlas of >30,000 single-cell transcriptomes from a web-building spider (Hylyphantes graminicola). Our analysis revealed the preservation of ancestral neuron types in spiders, including the potential coexistence of noradrenergic and octopaminergic neurons, and many peptidergic neuronal types that are lost in insects. By comparing the genome of two newly sequenced plesiomorphic burrowing spiders with three aerial web-building spiders, we found that the positively selected genes in the ancestral branch of web-building spiders were preferentially expressed (42%) in the brain, especially in the three mushroom body-like neuronal types. By gene enrichment analysis and RNAi experiments, these genes were suggested to be involved in the learning and memory pathway and may influence the spiders’ web-building and hunting behavior. Our results provide key sources for understanding the evolution of behavior in spiders and reveal how molecular evolution drives neuron innovation and the diversification of associated complex behaviors.
Project description:Prey-specialised spiders are adapted to capture specific prey items, including dangerous prey such as ants, termites or other spiders. It has been observed that the venoms of specialists are often prey-specific and less complex than those of generalists, but venom composition has not been studied in detail in prey-specialised spiders. Here, we investigated the venom of the prey-specialised white-tailed spider (Lamponidae: Lampona sp.), which utilises specialised morphological and behavioural adaptations to capture spider prey. We hypothesised Lampona spiders also possess venomic adaptations, specifically, its venom is more effective to focal spider prey due to the presence of prey-specific toxins. We analysed the venom composition using proteo-transcriptomics and taxon-specific toxicity using venom bioassays. Our analysis identified 208 putative toxin sequences, comprising 103 peptides <10 kDa and 105 proteins >10 kDa. Most peptides belonged to one of two families characterised by scaffolds containing eight or ten cysteine residues. Protein toxins showed similarity to galectins, leucine-rich repeat proteins, trypsins and neprilysins. The venom of Lampona was shown to be spider-specific, as it was more potent against the preferred spider prey than against alternative prey represented by a cricket. In contrast, the venom of a related generalist (Gnaphosidae: Gnaphosa sp.) was similarly potent against both prey types. Prey-specific Lampona toxins were found to form part of the protein (>10 kDa) fraction of the venom. These data provide insights into the molecular adaptations of venoms produced by prey-specialised spiders.
Project description:Phylogenomic reclassification of the world's most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE33090: Dramatic effects of social behavior on gene regulation in rhesus macaques [Individual_expression] GSE34127: Dramatic effects of social behavior on gene regulation in rhesus macaques [Cell type_expression] GSE34128: Dramatic effects of social behavior on gene regulation in rhesus macaques [Bisulfite_seq] Refer to individual Series
Project description:The lateral habenula (LHb) is an essential hub brain region modulating the monoamine system such as dopamine, serotonin. Hyperactivity of LHb has implications for psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, which are commonly associated with social dysfunction. However, the role of LHb in social behavior has remained elusive. Here, we find that experiencing acute social isolation affects synaptic function in LHb and social behavior. After acute social isolation, long-term depression (LTD) in LHb is impaired and rescued by activating the 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R). Indeed, Htr4 expression in LHb is up-regulated following acute social isolation. Finally, acute social isolation enhances the social preference for familiars such as housing-mates to stranger conspecifics. Consistent with electrophysiological results, pharmacological activation of 5-HT4R in LHb restored innate social preference. These results suggest that acute social isolation influences social decisions with 5-HT4R-dependent synaptic modification in LHb.
Project description:Social dominance encompasses winning dyadic contests and gaining priority access to resources and reproduction. Disposition to dominance is influenced by environmental factors, particularly during early postnatal life and adolescence. A disinhibitory mPFC microcircuit has been implicated in the expression of dominance in the “tube test” paradigm of social competition in mice, but the neuronal and transcriptional plasticity associated with the environment induced increase in social dominance is not known. We previously reported that male pups raised by physically active (as opposed to sedentary) dams exhibit dominance and increased reproductive fitness, and here we show that social isolation from weaning also increases dominance. By using these preweaning and postweaning environmental models, we tested if dominance is associated with transcriptional plasticity and a specific transcriptional profile in one or more cell types in the mPFC. Given that the mPFC is composed of several cell types, we used single cell transcriptomics to characterize the influence of the preweaning maternal and postweaning social environment on cell-type specific gene expression. The preweaning maternal effect, but not postweaning social isolation, caused gene expression changes in a wide range of cell types including pyramidal neurons, various interneurons, and astrocytes. However, both the maternal effect and social isolation induced the coordinated downregulation of synaptic channel, receptor, and adhesion genes in parvalbumin positive (PV) interneurons. This suggests an impaired PV interneuron-mediated inhibition of pyramidal cells in animals predisposed to dominance, a notion consistent with dominant behavior being driven by the disinhibition of mPFC pyramidal neurons.
Project description:Social status is one of the strongest predictors of disease risk and mortality in humans, and often influences Darwinian fitness in social mammals more generally. To understand the biological basis of these effects, we combined a functional genomics approach with sequential social status manipulations in rhesus macaques to investigate how social status alters immune function. We demonstrate causal, but largely plastic, effects of social status on immune cell proportions, cell type-specific gene expression levels, and the gene expression and cytokine response to infection. Further, we identify specific transcription factor signaling pathways that explain these differences, particularly status-associated polarization of the TLR4 signaling pathway towards pro-inflammatory versus anti-viral responses. Our findings provide an unprecedented level of insight into the direct biological effects of social inequality on immune function, thus contributing to an improved understanding of social gradients in health and the evolution of social hierarchies. For social status, please refer to table S1 in the manuscript.
Project description:Sequence capture phylogenomics of eyeless Cicurina spiders (Araneae, Hahniidae) from Texas caves, with emphasis on US federally endangered species from Bexar County