Immunostimulation of Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae) in juvenile and adult stages. Immunity reactions to injury with foreign body and Bacillus subtilis infection

To assess the immune potential of spiders, in the present study juvenile and adult females of Parasteatoda tepidariorum were exposed to Bacillus subtilis infection, injury by a nylon monofilament and a combination of both. The expression level of selected immune-related genes: defensin 1 (PtDEF1), lysozyme 1 (PtLYS1), lysozyme C (PtLYSC), lysozyme M1 (PtLYSM1), autophagy-related protein 101 (PtATG101), dynamin (PtDYN) and heat shock proteins (HSP70) (PtHSPB, PtHSPB2A, PtHSPB2B), production of lysozyme and HSP70 proteins, and hemocytes viability were measured. The obtained results indicated expression of the lysozyme, autophagy-related protein and HSP70 genes in both ontogenetic stages of P. tepidariorum. It has been also shown that the simultaneous action of mechanical and biological factors causes higher level of lysozyme and HSP70, cell apoptosis intensity and lower level of hemocytes viability than in the case of exposure to a single immunostimulant. Moreover, mature females showed stronger early immune responses compared to juveniles.

Automated summary

In this study, the immune potential of spiders was assessed by exposing juvenile and adult females of Parasteatoda tepidariorum to Bacillus subtilis infection, injury by a nylon monofilament, and a combination of both. The expression levels of selected immune-related genes, production of lysozyme and HSP70 proteins, and hemocytes viability were measured. The results showed that the lysozyme, autophagy-related protein, and HSP70 genes were expressed in both developmental stages of P. tepidariorum. Simultaneous exposure to mechanical and biological factors resulted in higher levels of lysozyme and HSP70, increased cell apoptosis, and decreased hemocytes viability compared to single immunostimulant exposure. Furthermore, mature females exhibited stronger early immune responses compared to juveniles.