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Updated: Nov 26, 2025
10:25
Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
Published on: November 3, 2014
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Variation in venom composition in the Australian funnel-web spiders Hadronyche valida
Linda Hernández Duran1,2, Tasmin Lee Rymer1,2, David Thomas Wilson3
1College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P. O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
Toxicon: X
|December 11, 2020
Summary
Spider venom composition varies significantly within individuals over time, challenging previous assumptions. This study reveals dynamic venom profiles in funnel-web spiders, impacting toxin evolution and species identification.
Area of Science:
- * Zoology and Biochemistry: Focuses on the chemical ecology and evolutionary biology of venomous arthropods.
Background:
- * Mygalomorph venom components are crucial for medicine, agriculture, and understanding evolution, yet many remain uncharacterized.
- * Previous research highlighted variations in venom composition between different spiders (inter-individual), influenced by factors like age and diet.
- * Intra-individual variation in venom composition over time is poorly understood but critical for toxin evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate and quantify intra-individual variation in venom composition within the Australian funnel-web spider, *Hadronyche valida*.
- * To analyze how venom profiles change over time within the same individual spider.
- * To explore the implications of venom variation for spider evolution and species identification.
Main Methods:
- * Collection of venom from 14 *Hadronyche valida* spiders (4 juvenile, 10 adult females) over four separate monthly milking events.
- * Analysis of venom composition using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-MS) to create venom 'fingerprints'.
- * Statistical analysis including Jaccard clustering and Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) to group spider venom profiles.
Main Results:
- * A total of 83 distinct venom components were identified across all spiders and time points.
- * Only 20% of venom components were consistently found across different individuals, indicating high variability.
- * Significant intra-individual variation was observed, with some venom components appearing only at specific times.
- * Clustering analysis revealed two distinct groups of spiders, potentially linked to their origin or collection time.
Conclusions:
- * Venom composition in *Hadronyche valida* exhibits significant intra-individual variation, meaning a spider's venom profile changes over time.
- * This dynamic nature of venom composition has key implications for understanding venom evolution and diversification in spiders.
- * Inter-specific venom variation can serve as a valuable chemotaxonomic tool for identifying different funnel-web spider species.
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