Does Only Egg Sac Protect Spider Embryos From Pathogens? Detection Of Antibacterial Proteins In Embryos of Theridiidae And Lycosidae Representatives
Abstract Cocoons covering spider embryos may constitute a physical barrier, protecting eggs from microbial infections. The aim of the study was to find out if the embryos have their own immune potential. We test the effect of cocoon deprivation on the level of antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) produced by spider embryos of Parasteatoda tepidariorum and Pardosa sp. Eggs in the age from 24 to 168 hours were divided in two experimental groups: C (closed, in untouched cocoon) and O (open, embryos isolated from the egg sac). Results indicate that the tested spiders embryos produce lysozyme, defensins and potentially other low-molecular-weight proteins with antimicrobial activity. Level of AMPs increased with the age of spider embryos. Lysozyme in both species was produced at a higher level than defensins. Deprivation of cocoon results in increased production of lysozyme only in Pardosa sp., which may be related to the specific type of parental care of lycosids.
