Big Spider, Big Genome: Chromosome-level genome of a North American tarantula (Aphonopelma marxi) and comparative genomics across 300 million years of spider evolution

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  Image Credit: WikiCommons Big Spider, Big Genome: Chromosome-level genome of a North American tarantula (Aphonopelma marxi) and comparative genomics across 300 million years of spider evolution Abstract The comparison of chromosome-level genomes allows biologists to investigate new axes of organismal evolution. Spiders comprise a significant proportion of known arachnid diversity, with many complex morphologies and unique natural histories, yet comparative genomics in spiders has been limited due to the number of available genomes. We present a de novo chromosomal reference genome of a mature male tarantula, Aphonopelma marxi, and comparatively examine spider genome evolution across the Order Araneae. Using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing, the final 6.5 Gb assembly consists of 17 autosomes, 1 X chromosome, and 127 unplaced scaffolds, with an N50 of 370 Mb and Arachnida (odb10; 2934 genes) BUSCO of 96.7%. By comparing 20 additional spider genomes from 15 families, we find mygalomo...

First report of an accident caused by Jaguajir agamemnon (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Paraná state, Brazil

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First report of an accident caused by Jaguajir agamemnon (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Paraná state, Brazil

ABSTRACT

We report the first pediatric case of a Jaguajir agamemnon scorpion sting. This case occurred in the state of Paraná and is the first record of this species in southern Brazil. The patient was admitted within 15 min, with pain, local edema, erythema, whole-body pruritus, and tongue paresthesia within the first two hours, which disappeared thereafter. The patient’s condition was considered mild, with a positive outcome, and she recovered completely.

Kwasniewski, F. H., Silva, E. M. da ., Girotto, E., Candido, D. M., Tóffolo, M. de C., Siqueira, D. E. D., Gomes, L. R. C., & Guidoni, C. M.. (2023). First report of an accident caused by Jaguajir agamemnon (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Paraná state, Brazil. Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical, 56, e0286–2023. https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0286-2023