Virus From Black Widow Spiders' Venom, Recently Discovered

Nature is indeed mysterious. Nobody could predict what animals do behind the human eyes, some mutate while some transfer genes to the others. Thus, a current research shows that a new virus was created and the genes came from a black widow spider.

Researchers discovered a very unusual case of genetic theft. One particular virus has been identified as having a gene that codes for the poisonous black widow spiders. They claimed that the chunks of DNA were most likely stolen by the virus to help it transfer through animal cells.

What is different with this, the "WO" virus targets not the animal itself,  but it infects  bacteria living within the insects and spiders. It was a surprise for the scientists because the bacterial viruses were commonly thought to steal DNA only from bacteria. 

Experts from Vanderbilt University in the United States, Sarah and Seth Bordenstein studied the WO genes, it shows that the gene belongs to a group of bacteria-infecting viruses known as bacteriophages. The target  of WO is the bacterium named as Wolbachia, which in turn affect the cells of insects and spiders.

To explain the study further as reported by Nature, researchers explained that the virus got a small part of the gene that codes for latrotoxin, which is a poison that is used by black widow spiders. The toxin from  the poison can break down the cell membranes of eukaryotes or the domain of life that includes animals, plants, and fungi.

In line, researchers think that latrotoxin is used by the virus to enter animal cells to reach the targeted bacteria. There is also a possibility that the virus can exit the cells when it needs to. The researchers find the process unusual because viruses that infect eukaryotes typically incorporate eukaryote genes and for the viruses that infect bacteria usually steal useful genes.

However, the authors of the study shared that the result makes sense. WO has to oppose with the defense mechanism of two different domains of life. WO virus is exposed to the internal environment of insect and spider cells during its life cycle. As follows, the scientists found other genes in its DNA that may help the virus evade the immune system of animals, according to BBC News.