An associate professor in the Department of Biology of the Mayagüez University Campus of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), in conjunction with a researcher from the University of Florida (UF), as part of a collaborative project to study how the evolution of social behavior has influenced the diversification of spider venom and microbiome in Africa and India.
The doctor’s laboratory Timothy J. Colstonwho also directs the RUM Genomic Resources Collection, obtained an assignment of $501,107while his colleague at UF, Dr. Carl Nick Keizerreceived $698,893. Both researchers will collaborate for the next three years, a period during which they will have funds allocated by the NSF.
“I feel extremely excited and honored to have received this grant. The result of this work, without a doubt, will be fundamental for my career, but also for that of my students and collaborators. “Students at the Mayagüez University Campus will receive support and training, as well as international field work opportunities.”Colston said in a press release.
According to the NSF, the study –“Social Predators and the Parallel Evolution of Weapon Complexity: Venom Toxins and Microbial Arsenals”– is significant because it integrates tools from evolutionary biology, toxinology – which studies the toxic substances produced by living organisms – and the science of the microbiome to investigate how cooperation evolves in nature and whether this evolution is repeatable. In addition, it has practical relevance, since spider venom and its microbes could provide clues for the development of new products or natural medicines, including treatments for chronic pain and infections..
“This grant represents a fascinating opportunity to explore the interactions between venom diversification, social feeding behavior, and host microbiome dynamics. I don’t think any other system has been as ideally suited to answer these questions,” said Colston, who began teaching at RUM in July 2021.
Likewise, Keiser assured that the research work will provide details about how two key evolutionary innovations, venom and sociability, have evolved together.
“Do social predators possess more or less complex weapons compared to solitary predators? In addition to these basic scientific questions, we will study the venom toxins and their associated microbes, which could provide a large number of biological molecules to investigate with possible pharmaceutical applications.he added.
In the proposal summary, the NSF noted that the project will reveal how venom complexity has evolved in relation to sociality in spiders. This evolution is associated with a redistribution of efforts among group members to perform collective tasks. However, it is unknown how predator social groups optimize the distribution of weapons used to subdue their prey. Venomous predatory spiders represent an effective system to address this gap in knowledge, as both social and solitary spiders use venom for defense and prey capture.
“We are very honored that our institution receives this grant for continued research development and collaboration with other educational institutions. My congratulations to Dr. Colston and the entire Biology faculty at the Mayagüez Campus,” he commented, meanwhile, Zayira Jordan Condepresident of the UPR.