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Yi X, Liu J, Zang E, Tian Y, Liu J, Shi L. Exploring a Hirudin variant from nonhematophagous leeches: Unraveling full-length sequence, alternative splicing, function, and potential as a novel anticoagulant polypeptide. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 330:118257. [PMID: 38677578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Leeches exhibit robust anticoagulant activity, making them useful for treating cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Whitmania pigra, the primary source species of leech-derived medicinal compounds in China, has been demonstrated to possess formidable anticoagulant properties. Hirudin-like peptides, recognized as potent thrombin inhibitors, are prevalent in hematophagous leeches. Considering that W. pigra is a nonhematophagic leech, the following question arises: does a hirudin variant exist in this species? AIM OF THE STUDY In this study we identified the hirudin-encoding gene (WP_HV1) in the W. pigra genome. The goal of this study was to assess its anticoagulant activity and analyze the related mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, a hirudin-encoding gene, WP_HV1, was identified from the W. pigra genome, and its accurate coding sequence (CDS) was validated through cloning from cDNA extracted from fresh W. pigra specimens. The structure of WP_HV1 and the amino acids associated with its anticoagulant activity were determined by sequence and structural analysis and prediction of its binding energy to thrombin. E. coli was used for the expression of WP_HV1 and recombinant proteins with various structures and mutants. The anticoagulant activity of the synthesized recombinant proteins was then confirmed using thrombin time (TT). RESULTS Validation of the WP_HV1 gene was accomplished, and three alternative splices were discovered. The TT of the blank sample exceeded that of the recombinant WP_HV1 sample by 1.74 times (0.05 mg/ml), indicating positive anticoagulant activity. The anticoagulant activity of WP_HV1 was found to be associated with its C-terminal tyrosine, along with the presence of 9 acidic amino acids on both the left and right sides. A significant reduction in the corresponding TT was observed for the mutated amino acids compared to those of the wild type, with decreases of 4.8, 6.6, and 3.9 s, respectively. In addition, the anticoagulant activity of WP_HV1 was enhanced and prolonged for 2.7 s when the lysine-67 residue was mutated to tryptophan. CONCLUSION Only one hirudin-encoding variant was identified in W. pigra. The active amino acids associated with anticoagulation in WP_HV1 were resolved and validated, revealing a novel source for screening and developing new anticoagulant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Yi
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiali Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Erhuan Zang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yu Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Study and Exploitation of Chinese Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde 067000, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Linchun Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China.
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Wu S, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Zhang Z. Therapeutic Potentials of Medicinal Leech in Chinese Medicine. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2024; 52:1027-1051. [PMID: 38879745 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x24500423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The use of medicinal leeches in clinical therapy has been employed for a long time, as it was originally recognized for exerting antithrombin effects. These effects were due to the ability of the leech to continuously suck blood while attached to human skin. According to Chinese Pharmacopoei, leeches used in traditional Chinese medicine mainly consist of Whitmania pigra Whitman, Hirudo nipponia Whitman, and Whitmania acranulata, but the latter two species are relatively scarce. The main constituents of leeches are protein and peptide macromolecules. They can be categorized into two categories based on their pharmacological effects. One group consists of active ingredients that directly target the coagulation system, such as hirudin, heparin, and histamine, which are widely known. The other group comprises protease inhibitor components like Decorsin and Hementin. Among these, hirudin secreted by the salivary glands of the leech is the most potent thrombin inhibitor and served as the sole remedy for preventing blood clotting until the discovery of heparin. Additionally, leeches play a significant role in various traditional Chinese medicine formulations. In recent decades, medicinal leeches have been applied in fields including anti-inflammatory treatment, cardiovascular disease management, antitumor treatment, and many other medical conditions. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the historical journey and medicinal applications of leeches in various medical conditions, emphasizing their pharmaceutical significance within traditional Chinese medicine. This review offers valuable insights for exploring additional therapeutic opportunities involving the use of leeches in various diseases and elucidating their underlying mechanisms for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
| | - Yaya Zhou
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P. R. China
| | - Zuping Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Changsha, Hunan 410013, P. R. China
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Zhao F, Huang Z, He B, Liu K, Li J, Liu Z, Lin G. Comparative genomics of two Asian medicinal leeches Hirudo nipponia and Hirudo tianjinensis: With emphasis on antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:132278. [PMID: 38750856 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Leeches secrete various biologically active substances which have important medical and pharmaceutical values in antithrombotic treatments. Here, we provide a high quality genome of two Asian medicinal leeches Hirudo nipponia and Hirudo tianjinensis, based on which, we identified 22 antithrombotic gene families, including fourteen coagulation inhibitors, four platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. The total numbers of antithrombotic genes were similar between H. nipponia (N = 86) and H. tianjinensis (N = 83). Molecular evolution analysis showed that no significant differences were detected between the two species in any of the three selection indices (dN, dS, and dN/dS), nor in the number of sites under positive/purifying selection. RNA-Seq based gene expression analysis showed that the overall expression patterns of the antithrombotic gene families were not significantly deviated between the two species. Our results indicated that there were rather close similarities between the two leeches on genomic characteristics, especially for the molecular evolution and expression of antithrombotic genes. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from the two Asian medicinal leeches to date. These results will greatly facilitate the research and application of leech derivatives for medical and pharmaceutical purposes of thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China
| | - Zuhao Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China
| | - Bo He
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China
| | - Kaiqing Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agronomy and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China
| | - Junyu Li
- Department of Ultrasonography, People's Hospital of Fengdu County, Chongqing City, Fengdu 408200, China
| | - Zichao Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agronomy and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
| | - Gonghua Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, China.
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Lv Q, Li M, Wen Z, Han Q, Wei L, Chen J, Pan Y. Efficacy and potential mechanism of atherosclerosis prevention by the active components of leech based on network pharmacology combined with animal experiments. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27461. [PMID: 38515732 PMCID: PMC10955239 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Leeches are flesh-eating and bloodsucking parasitic worms. They are being used as a traditional Chinese medicine for centuries in activating blood and dissolving statis, dreging the meridims and tick. Hirudin, an active peptide product present in leech, has blood anticoagulant property and can assist in the treatment of thrombosis and diseases related to blood circulation. The efficacy and potential mechanism of action of leeches in such diseases should be further explored. Materials and methods First, network pharmacology was used to screen the predicted potential targets of the active constituents of leech and AS. The common targets of the active constituents of leech and AS were obtained using Venn diagram. Further, the drug-active-constituent-target network diagram, protein-protein interaction, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were used to construct the active-constituent-AS target-pathway network diagram. Subsequently, the protein-drug molecule docking model was drawn. Finally, the results of network pharmacology were validated using a mouse model of AS. Results In total, 34 active constituents of leech and 1172 AS-related gene targets were selected, took the drug action targets and potential disease targets to get the common targets, and took the top 10 of degree value as the main active constituents for the treatment of atherosclerosis. There were 89 common targets and 12 core targets. The main targets included MAPK, EGFR, PIK3CB, etc. Potential regulatory pathways included cancer pathways, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, Rap1 signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Animal experiments using mouse model of AS confirmed that AS plaques were smaller after treatment with leeches. SRC level was measured using western blotting. Expression of SRC in myocardial tissue was remarkably lower in the mice treated with leech than in the mice from model group fed on high-fat chow. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the mechanism of action of the active components of leech in AS prevention. The active components of leeches play a coordinated role in preventing AS through multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel mechanism of action related to inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. This study provided a reference for subsequent cellular and animal experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Lv
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Mengyi Li
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ziyun Wen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qianqian Han
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Liang Wei
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jisheng Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yunyun Pan
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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Huang H, Zhao H, Wenqing L, Xu F, Wang X, Yao Y, Huang Y. Prospect of research on anti-atherosclerosis effect of main components of traditional Chinese medicine Yiqi Huoxue Huatan recipe through gut microbiota: A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37104. [PMID: 38306512 PMCID: PMC10843552 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence and mortality rates of cardiovascular diseases are on the rise globally, posing a severe threat to human health. Atherosclerosis (AS) is considered a multi-factorial inflammatory disease and the main pathological basis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as the leading cause of death. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can induce and exacerbate inflammatory reactions, accelerate metabolic disorders and immune function decline, and affect the progression and prognosis of AS-related diseases. The Chinese herbal medicine clinicians frequently utilize Yiqi Huoxue Huatan recipe, an effective therapeutic approach for the management of AS. This article reviews the correlation between the main components of Yiqi Huoxue Huatan recipe and the gut microbiota and AS to provide new directions and a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Gongli Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanjun Zhao
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lv Wenqing
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feiyue Xu
- Shanghai Pudong New District Pudong Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yili Yao
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Chen TY, Shyur E, Ma TH, Wijeyewickrema L, Lin SW, Kao MR, Liang PH, Shie JJ, Chuang EY, Liou JP, Hsieh YSY. Effect of Sulfotyrosine and Negatively Charged Amino Acid of Leech-Derived Peptides on Binding and Inhibitory Activity Against Thrombin. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300744. [PMID: 38055188 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Hirudins, natural sulfo(glyco)proteins, are clinical anticoagulants that directly inhibit thrombin, a key coagulation factor. Their potent thrombin inhibition primarily results from antagonistic interactions with both the catalytic and non-catalytic sites of thrombin. Hirudins often feature sulfate moieties on Tyr residues in their anionic C-terminus region, enabling strong interactions with thrombin exosite-I and effectively blocking its engagement with fibrinogen. Although sulfotyrosines have been identified in various hirudin variants, the precise relationship between sulfotyrosine and the number of negatively charged amino acids within the anionic-rich C-terminus peptide domain for the binding of thrombin has remained elusive. By using Fmoc-SPPS, hirudin dodecapeptides homologous to the C-terminus of hirudin variants from various leech species were successfully synthesized, and the effect of sulfotyrosine and the number of negatively charged amino acids on hirudin-thrombin interactions was investigated. Our findings did not reveal any synergistic effect between an increasing number of sulfotyrosines or negatively charged amino acids and their inhibitory activity on thrombin or fibrinolysis in the assays, despite a higher binding level toward thrombin in the sulfated dodecapeptide Hnip_Hirudin was observed in SPR analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yin Chen
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Eileen Shyur
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsuan Ma
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, 3086, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sheng-Wei Lin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Rong Kao
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Hui Liang
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Jie Shie
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Er-Yuan Chuang
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ping Liou
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yves S Y Hsieh
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Centre, Stockholm, SE10691, Sweden
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Liu Z, Zhao F, Huang Z, He B, Liu K, Shi F, Zhao Z, Lin G. A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Non-Hematophagous Leech Whitmania pigra (Whitman 1884): Identification and Expression Analysis of Antithrombotic Genes. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:164. [PMID: 38397154 PMCID: PMC10887747 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite being a non-hematophagous leech, Whitmania pigra is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of antithrombotic diseases. In this study, we provide a high quality genome of W. pigra and based on which, we performed a systematic identification of the potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. We identified twenty antithrombotic gene families including thirteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. Unexpectedly, a total of 79 antithrombotic genes were identified, more than a typical blood-feeding Hirudinaria manillensis, which had only 72 antithrombotic genes. In addition, combining with the RNA-seq data of W. pigra and H. manillensis, we calculated the expression levels of antithrombotic genes of the two species. Five and four gene families had significantly higher and lower expression levels in W. pigra than in H. manillensis, respectively. These results showed that the number and expression level of antithrombotic genes of a non-hematophagous leech are not always less than those of a hematophagous leech. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from a non-hematophagous leech to date and will significantly enhance the investigation and utilization of leech derivatives in thrombosis therapy research and pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichao Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (Z.L.); (K.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Fang Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (B.H.)
| | - Zuhao Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (B.H.)
| | - Bo He
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (B.H.)
| | - Kaiqing Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (Z.L.); (K.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Feng Shi
- Engineering Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Leech Resources in Universities of Yunnan Province, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (Z.L.); (K.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Zheng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecological Health Assessment and Restoration in Yunnan Province, Kunming Dianchi Lake Environmental Protection Collaborative Research Center, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China;
| | - Gonghua Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China; (F.Z.); (Z.H.); (B.H.)
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