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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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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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Schultz DT, Heath-Heckman EA, Winchell CJ, Kuo DH, Yu YS, Oberauer F, Kocot KM, Cho SJ, Simakov O, Weisblat DA. Acceleration of genome rearrangement in clitellate annelids. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.12.593736. [PMID: 38798472 PMCID: PMC11118384 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.12.593736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Comparisons of multiple metazoan genomes have revealed the existence of ancestral linkage groups (ALGs), genomic scaffolds sharing sets of orthologous genes that have been inherited from ancestral animals for hundreds of millions of years (Simakov et al. 2022; Schultz et al. 2023) These ALGs have persisted across major animal taxa including Cnidaria, Deuterostomia, Ecdysozoa and Spiralia. Notwithstanding this general trend of chromosome-scale conservation, ALGs have been obliterated by extensive genome rearrangements in certain groups, most notably including Clitellata (oligochaetes and leeches), a group of easily overlooked invertebrates that is of tremendous ecological, agricultural and economic importance (Charles 2019; Barrett 2016). To further investigate these rearrangements, we have undertaken a comparison of 12 clitellate genomes (including four newly sequenced species) and 11 outgroup representatives. We show that these rearrangements began at the base of the Clitellata (rather than progressing gradually throughout polychaete annelids), that the inter-chromosomal rearrangements continue in several clitellate lineages and that these events have substantially shaped the evolution of the otherwise highly conserved Hox cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrin T. Schultz
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Elizabeth A.C. Heath-Heckman
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Christopher J. Winchell
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 385 Weill Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Dian-Han Kuo
- Department of Life Science & Museum of Zoology, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Section 4 Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yun-sang Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Fabian Oberauer
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Kevin M. Kocot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Alabama Museum of Natural History, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - David A. Weisblat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 385 Weill Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
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4
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Dai C, Chen X, Qian S, Fan Y, Li L, Yuan J. Dysbiosis of intestinal homeostasis contribute to Whitmania pigra edema disease. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:1940-1956. [PMID: 37410351 PMCID: PMC10527190 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Whitmania pigra is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, W. pigra is being threatened by an edema disease with unknown causes (WPE). In this study, a comprehensive exploration of virome, microbiome, and metabolome aberrations in the intestine of W. pigra was performed to address the aetiology of WPE. Virome analysis indicated that eukaryotic viruses did not contribute to WPE, whereas an expansion of Caudovirales was observed in WPE. Compared to the control, the microbial richness and diversity in diseased W. pigra decreased remarkably. Nine genera, including Aeromonas, Anaerotruncus, Vibrio, Proteocatella, Acinetobacter, and Brachyspira were overrepresented in WPE, whereas eleven genera, including Bifidobacterium, Phascolarctobacterium, Lactobacillus, Bacillus and AF12, were enriched in healthy individuals. Furthermore, certain metabolites, especially amino acids, short-chain fatty acids, and bile acids, were found to be linked to intestinal microbiota alterations in WPE. An integration of the microbiome and metabolome in WPE found that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota or metabolites caused WPE. Notably, W. pigra accepted intestinal microbiota transplantation from WPE donors developed WPE clinical signs eventually, and the dysbiotic intestinal microbiota can be recharacterized in this recipient W. pigra. Strikingly, pathological features of metanephridium and uraemic toxin enrichment in the gut indicated a putative interconnection between the gut and metanephridium in WPE, which represents the prototype of the gut-kidney axis in mammals. These finding exemplify the conservation of "microecological Koch's postulates" from annelids to insects and other vertebrates, which provides a direction of prevention and treatment for WPE and opens a new insight into the pathogenesis of aquatic animal diseases from an ecological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caijiao Dai
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of FisheriesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- National Aquatic Animal Diseases Para‐reference laboratory (HZAU)WuhanChina
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of FisheriesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- National Aquatic Animal Diseases Para‐reference laboratory (HZAU)WuhanChina
| | - Shiyu Qian
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of FisheriesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Engineering Research Centre for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and PreventionWuhanChina
| | - Yihui Fan
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of FisheriesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Engineering Research Centre for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and PreventionWuhanChina
| | - Lijuan Li
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of FisheriesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- National Aquatic Animal Diseases Para‐reference laboratory (HZAU)WuhanChina
- Hubei Engineering Research Centre for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and PreventionWuhanChina
| | - Junfa Yuan
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of FisheriesHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
- National Aquatic Animal Diseases Para‐reference laboratory (HZAU)WuhanChina
- Hubei Engineering Research Centre for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and PreventionWuhanChina
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5
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Zheng J, Wang X, Feng T, Rehman SU, Yan X, Shan H, Ma X, Zhou W, Xu W, Lu L, Liu J, Luo X, Cui K, Qin C, Chen W, Yu J, Li Z, Ruan J, Liu Q. Molecular mechanisms underlying hematophagia revealed by comparative analyses of leech genomes. Gigascience 2022; 12:giad023. [PMID: 37039117 PMCID: PMC10087013 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leeches have been used in traditional Chinese medicine since prehistoric times to treat a spectrum of ailments, but very little is known about their physiological, genetic, and evolutionary characteristics. FINDINGS We sequenced and assembled chromosome-level genomes of 3 leech species (bloodsucking Hirudo nipponia and Hirudinaria manillensis and nonbloodsucking Whitmania pigra). The dynamic population histories and genome-wide expression patterns of the 2 bloodsucking leech species were found to be similar. A combined analysis of the genomic and transcriptional data revealed that the bloodsucking leeches have a presumably enhanced auditory sense for prey location in relatively deep fresh water. The copy number of genes related to anticoagulation, analgesia, and anti-inflammation increased in the bloodsucking leeches, and their gene expressions responded dynamically to the bloodsucking process. Furthermore, the expanded FBN1 gene family may help in rapid body swelling of leeches after bloodsucking, and the expanded GLB3 gene family may be associated with long-term storage of prey blood in a leech's body. CONCLUSIONS The high-quality reference genomes and comprehensive datasets obtained in this study may facilitate innovations in the artificial culture and strain optimization of leeches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghui Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise
Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University,
Foshan 528225, China
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Tong Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science
and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan,
Hubei 430074, China
| | - Saif ur Rehman
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xiuying Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Huiquan Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xiaocong Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Weiguan Zhou
- Biological Institute of Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning
530007, China
| | - Wenhua Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Liying Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Jiasheng Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, China
| | - Xier Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise
Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University,
Foshan 528225, China
- Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural
Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen,
Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Kuiqing Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise
Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University,
Foshan 528225, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Chaobin Qin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Weihua Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science
and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan,
Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jun Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of
Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jue Ruan
- Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural
Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen,
Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Qingyou Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise
Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University,
Foshan 528225, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical
Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
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Lukas P, Melikian G, Hildebrandt JP, Müller C. Make it double: identification and characterization of a Tandem-Hirudin from the Asian medicinal leech Hirudinaria manillensis. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2995-3006. [PMID: 36006484 PMCID: PMC9464118 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07634-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Haematophagous leeches express a broad variety of secretory proteins in their salivary glands, among them are hirudins and hirudin-like factors. Here, we describe the identification, molecular and initial functional characterization of Tandem-Hirudin (TH), a novel salivary gland derived factor identified in the Asian medicinal leech, Hirudinaria manillensis. In contrast to the typical structure of hirudins, TH comprises two globular domains arranged in a tandem-like orientation and lacks the elongated C-terminal tail. Similar structures of thrombin inhibitors have so far been identified only in kissing bugs and ticks. Expression of TH was performed in both cell-based and cell-free bacterial systems. A subsequent functional characterization revealed no evidence for a thrombin-inhibitory potency of TH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil Lukas
- Animal Physiology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Georgij Melikian
- Animal Physiology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan-Peter Hildebrandt
- Animal Physiology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christian Müller
- Animal Physiology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 1, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany.
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7
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Shan H, Ren K, Liu J, Rehman SU, Yan X, Ma X, Zheng Y, Feng T, Wang X, Li Z, Zhou W, Chuang C, Liang M, Zheng J, Liu Q. Comprehensive Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis of Hirudinaria manillensis in Different Growth Periods. Front Physiol 2022; 13:897458. [PMID: 35694407 PMCID: PMC9174698 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.897458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Medical leeches are widely been used in biochemical and clinical medical studies, helping to restore blood circulation to grafted or severely injured tissue. Mostly, adult leeches are being used in the traditional pharmacopeia, but the gene expression profiling of leeches in different growth periods is not well-reported. So, in this study, we used transcriptome analysis to analyze the comparative gene expression patterns of Hirudinaria manillensis (H. manillensis) in different growth periods, including larval, young, and adult stages. We constructed 24 cDNA libraries from H. manillensis larval, young, and adult stages, and about 54,639,118 sequences were generated, 18,106 mRNA transcripts of which 958 novel mRNAs and 491 lncRNAs were also assembled as well. Furthermore, the results of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that the differentially upregulated genes from the larval to adult stages were enriched in pathways such as cilium, myofibril, contractile fiber, cytoskeleton proteins, dilated cardiomyopathy, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, etc. Moreover, in the adult stages, a significant increase in the expression of the Hirudin-HM (HIRM2) genes was detected. In addition, our comparative transcriptome profiling data from different growth stages of H. manillensis also identified a large number of DEGs and DElncRNAs which were tentatively found to be associated with the growth of H. manillensis; as it grew, the muscle-related gene expression increased, while the lipid metabolism and need for stimulation and nutrition-related genes decreased. Similarly, the higher expression of HIRM2 might attribute to the high expression of protein disulfide isomerase gene family (PDI) family genes in adulthood, which provides an important clue that why adult leeches rather than young leeches are widely used in clinical therapeutics and traditional Chinese medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiquan Shan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Ke Ren
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jiasheng Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Saif ur Rehman
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiuying Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaocong Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Yalin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Tong Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Weiguan Zhou
- THAI Natural Hirudin Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chen Chuang
- Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Mingkun Liang
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jinghui Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Jinghui Zheng, ; Qingyou Liu,
| | - Qingyou Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
- *Correspondence: Jinghui Zheng, ; Qingyou Liu,
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8
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Tong L, Dai SX, Kong DJ, Yang PP, Tong X, Tong XR, Bi XX, Su Y, Zhao YQ, Liu ZC. The genome of medicinal leech (Whitmania pigra) and comparative genomic study for exploration of bioactive ingredients. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:76. [PMID: 35073842 PMCID: PMC8787918 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08290-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Leeches are classic annelids that have a huge diversity and are closely related to people, especially medicinal leeches. Medicinal leeches have been widely utilized in medicine based on the pharmacological activities of their bioactive ingredients. Comparative genomic study of these leeches enables us to understand the difference among medicinal leeches and other leeches and facilitates the discovery of bioactive ingredients.
Results
In this study, we reported the genome of Whitmania pigra and compared it with Hirudo medicinalis and Helobdella robusta. The assembled genome size of W. pigra is 177 Mbp, close to the estimated genome size. Approximately about 23% of the genome was repetitive. A total of 26,743 protein-coding genes were subsequently predicted. W. pigra have 12346 (46%) and 10295 (38%) orthologous genes with H. medicinalis and H. robusta, respectively. About 20 and 24% genes in W. pigra showed syntenic arrangement with H. medicinalis and H. robusta, respectively, revealed by gene synteny analysis. Furthermore, W. pigra, H. medicinalis and H. robusta expanded different gene families enriched in different biological processes. By inspecting genome distribution and gene structure of hirudin, we identified a new hirudin gene g17108 (hirudin_2) with different cysteine patterns. Finally, we systematically explored and compared the active substances in the genomes of three leech species. The results showed that W. pigra and H. medicinalis exceed H. robusta in both kinds and gene number of active molecules.
Conclusions
This study reported the genome of W. pigra and compared it with other two leeches, which provides an important genome resource and new insight into the exploration and development of bioactive molecules of medicinal leeches. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08290-5.
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9
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Macrobdella decora: Old World Leech Gut Microbial Community Structure Conserved in a New World Leech. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.02082-20. [PMID: 33674439 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02082-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leeches are found in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats on all continents. Sanguivorous leeches have been used in medicine for millennia. Modern scientific uses include studies of neurons, anticoagulants, and gut microbial symbioses. Hirudo verbana, the European medicinal leech, maintains a gut community dominated by two bacterial symbionts, Aeromonas veronii and Mucinivorans hirudinis, which sometimes account for as much as 97% of the total crop microbiota. The highly simplified gut anatomy and microbiome of H. verbana make it an excellent model organism for studying gut microbial dynamics. The North American medicinal leech, Macrobdella decora, is a hirudinid leech native to Canada and the northern United States. In this study, we show that M. decora symbiont communities are very similar to those in H. verbana. We performed an extensive study using field-caught M. decora and purchased H. verbana from two suppliers. Deep sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene allowed us to determine that the core microbiome of M. decora consists of Bacteroides, Aeromonas, Proteocatella, and Butyricicoccus. The analysis revealed that the compositions of the gut microbiomes of the two leech species were significantly different at all taxonomic levels. The R 2 value was highest at the genus and amplicon sequence variant (ASV) levels and much lower at the phylum, class, and order levels. The gut and bladder microbial communities were distinct. We propose that M. decora is an alternative to H. verbana for studies of wild-caught animals and provide evidence for the conservation of digestive-tract and bladder symbionts in annelid models.IMPORTANCE Building evidence implicates the gut microbiome in critical animal functions such as regulating digestion, nutrition, immune regulation, and development. Simplified, phylogenetically diverse models for hypothesis testing are necessary because of the difficulty of assigning causative relationships in complex gut microbiomes. Previous research used Hirudo verbana as a tractable animal model of digestive-tract symbioses. Our data show that Macrobdella decora may work just as well without the drawback of being an endangered organism and with the added advantage of easy access to field-caught specimens. The similarity of the microbial community structures of species from two different continents reveals the highly conserved nature of the microbial symbionts in sanguivorous leeches.
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Couto J, Seixas G, Stutzer C, Olivier NA, Maritz-Olivier C, Antunes S, Domingos A. Probing the Rhipicephalusbursa Sialomes in Potential Anti-Tick Vaccine Candidates: A Reverse Vaccinology Approach. Biomedicines 2021; 9:363. [PMID: 33807386 PMCID: PMC8067113 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the wake of the 'omics' explosion of data, reverse vaccinology approaches are being applied more readily as an alternative for the discovery of candidates for next generation diagnostics and vaccines. Promising protective antigens for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases can be discovered by mining available omics data for immunogenic epitopes. The present study aims to explore the previously obtained Rhipicephalus bursa sialotranscriptome during both feeding and Babesia infection, to select antigenic targets that are either membrane-associated or a secreted protein, as well as unique to the ectoparasite and not present in the mammalian host. Further, they should be capable of stimulating T and B cells for a potential robust immune response, and be non-allergenic or toxic to the host. From the R. bursa transcriptome, 5706 and 3025 proteins were identified as belonging to the surfaceome and secretome, respectively. Following a reverse genetics immunoinformatics pipeline, nine preferred candidates, consisting of one transmembrane-related and eight secreted proteins, were identified. These candidates showed a higher predicted antigenicity than the Bm86 antigen, with no homology to mammalian hosts and exposed regions. Only four were functionally annotated and selected for further in silico analysis, which examined their protein structure, surface accessibility, flexibility, hydrophobicity, and putative linear B and T-cell epitopes. Regions with overlapping coincident epitopes groups (CEGs) were evaluated to select peptides that were further analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics, potential allergenicity, toxicity, solubility, and potential propensity for crystallization. Following these procedures, a set of three peptides from the three R. bursa proteins were selected. In silico results indicate that the designed epitopes could stimulate a protective and long-lasting immune response against those tick proteins, reflecting its potential as anti-tick vaccines. The immunogenicity of these peptides was evaluated in a pilot immunization study followed by tick feeding to evaluate its impact on tick behavior and pathogen transmission. Combining in silico methods with in vivo immunogenicity evaluation enabled the screening of vaccine candidates prior to expensive infestation studies on the definitive ovine host animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Couto
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Seixas
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Christian Stutzer
- Division of Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (C.S.); (C.M.-O.)
| | - Nicholas A. Olivier
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Christine Maritz-Olivier
- Division of Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; (C.S.); (C.M.-O.)
| | - Sandra Antunes
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Domingos
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (GHTM-IHMT-UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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Heath-Heckman E, Yoo S, Winchell C, Pellegrino M, Angstadt J, Lammardo VB, Bautista D, De-Miguel FF, Weisblat D. Transcriptional profiling of identified neurons in leech. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:215. [PMID: 33765928 PMCID: PMC7992859 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07526-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While leeches in the genus Hirudo have long been models for neurobiology, the molecular underpinnings of nervous system structure and function in this group remain largely unknown. To begin to bridge this gap, we performed RNASeq on pools of identified neurons of the central nervous system (CNS): sensory T (touch), P (pressure) and N (nociception) neurons; neurosecretory Retzius cells; and ganglia from which these four cell types had been removed. Results Bioinformatic analyses identified 3565 putative genes whose expression differed significantly among the samples. These genes clustered into 9 groups which could be associated with one or more of the identified cell types. We verified predicted expression patterns through in situ hybridization on whole CNS ganglia, and found that orthologous genes were for the most part similarly expressed in a divergent leech genus, suggesting evolutionarily conserved roles for these genes. Transcriptional profiling allowed us to identify candidate phenotype-defining genes from expanded gene families. Thus, we identified one of eight hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channels as a candidate for mediating the prominent sag current in P neurons, and found that one of five inositol triphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), representing a sub-family of IP3Rs absent from vertebrate genomes, is expressed with high specificity in T cells. We also identified one of two piezo genes, two of ~ 65 deg/enac genes, and one of at least 16 transient receptor potential (trp) genes as prime candidates for involvement in sensory transduction in the three distinct classes of leech mechanosensory neurons. Conclusions Our study defines distinct transcriptional profiles for four different neuronal types within the leech CNS, in addition to providing a second ganglionic transcriptome for the species. From these data we identified five gene families that may facilitate the sensory capabilities of these neurons, thus laying the basis for future work leveraging the strengths of the leech system to investigate the molecular processes underlying and linking mechanosensation, cell type specification, and behavior. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07526-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Heath-Heckman
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Current address: Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | - Shinja Yoo
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Winchell
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Maurizio Pellegrino
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Current address: Invitae Corporation, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James Angstadt
- Department of Biology, Siena College, Loudonville, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Diana Bautista
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Francisco F De-Miguel
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David Weisblat
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Angstadt JD, Rebel MI, Connolly MK. Effects of calcium-activated potassium channel modulators on afterhyperpolarizing potentials in identified motor and mechanosensory neurons of the medicinal leech. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 207:69-85. [PMID: 33483833 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01462-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channels contribute to multiple neuronal properties including spike frequency and afterhyperpolarizing potentials (AHPs). KCa channels are classified as KCa1.1, KCa2, or KCa3.1 based on single-channel conductance and pharmacology. Ca2+-dependent AHPs in vertebrates are categorized as fast, medium, or slow. Fast and medium AHPs are generated by KCa1.1 and KCa2 channels, respectively. The KCa subtype responsible for slow AHPs is unclear. Prolonged, Ca2+-dependent AHPs have been described in several leech neurons. Unfortunately, apamin and other KCa blockers often prove ineffective in the leech. An alternative approach is to utilize KCa modulators, which alter channel sensitivity to Ca2+. Vertebrate KCa2 channels are targeted selectively by the positive modulator CyPPA and the negative modulator NS8593. Here we show that AHPs in identified motor and mechanosensory leech neurons are enhanced by CyPPA and suppressed by NS8593. Our results indicate that KCa2 channels underlie prolonged AHPs in these neurons and suggest that KCa2 modulators may serve as effective tools to explore the role of KCa channels in leech physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew I Rebel
- Siena College, Loudonville, NY, USA
- College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Megan K Connolly
- Siena College, Loudonville, NY, USA
- Physician Assistant Studies Department, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
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Kuo DH, De-Miguel FF, Heath-Heckman EAC, Szczupak L, Todd K, Weisblat DA, Winchell CJ. A tale of two leeches: Toward the understanding of the evolution and development of behavioral neural circuits. Evol Dev 2020; 22:471-493. [PMID: 33226195 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the animal kingdom, behavioral traits encompass a broad spectrum of biological phenotypes that have critical roles in adaptive evolution, but an EvoDevo approach has not been broadly used to study behavior evolution. Here, we propose that, by integrating two leech model systems, each of which has already attained some success in its respective field, it is possible to take on behavioral traits with an EvoDevo approach. We first identify the developmental changes that may theoretically lead to behavioral evolution and explain why an EvoDevo study of behavior is challenging. Next, we discuss the pros and cons of the two leech model species, Hirudo, a classic model for invertebrate neurobiology, and Helobdella, an emerging model for clitellate developmental biology, as models for behavioral EvoDevo research. Given the limitations of each leech system, neither is particularly strong for behavioral EvoDevo. However, the two leech systems are complementary in their technical accessibilities, and they do exhibit some behavioral similarities and differences. By studying them in parallel and together with additional leech species such as Haementeria, it is possible to explore the different levels of behavioral development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian-Han Kuo
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Francisco F De-Miguel
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | | | - Lidia Szczupak
- Departamento de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and IFIBYNE UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Krista Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David A Weisblat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Christopher J Winchell
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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Grafskaia E, Pavlova E, Babenko VV, Latsis I, Malakhova M, Lavrenova V, Bashkirov P, Belousov D, Klinov D, Lazarev V. The Hirudo Medicinalis Microbiome Is a Source of New Antimicrobial Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7141. [PMID: 32992666 PMCID: PMC7582656 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered a promising new class of anti-infectious agents. This study reports new antimicrobial peptides derived from the Hirudo medicinalis microbiome identified by a computational analysis method applied to the H. medicinalis metagenome. The identified AMPs possess a strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC range: 5.3 to 22.4 μM), including Staphylococcus haemolyticus, an opportunistic coagulase-negative pathogen. The secondary structure analysis of peptides via CD spectroscopy showed that all the AMPs except pept_352 have mostly disordered structures that do not change under different conditions. For peptide pept_352, the α-helical content increases in the membrane environment. The examination of the mechanism of action of peptides suggests that peptide pept_352 exhibits a direct membranolytic activity. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the nontoxic peptide pept_1545 is a promising candidate for drug development. Overall, the analysis method implemented in the study may serve as an effective tool for the identification of new AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Grafskaia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Elizaveta Pavlova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Moscow 141701, Russia
| | - Vladislav V. Babenko
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Ivan Latsis
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Maja Malakhova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Victoria Lavrenova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
- Department of biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Pavel Bashkirov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Dmitrii Belousov
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia;
| | - Dmitry Klinov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Vassili Lazarev
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435, Russia; (E.P.); (V.V.B.); (I.L.); (M.M.); (V.L.); (P.B.); (D.K.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Moscow 141701, Russia
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Shakouri A, Wollina U. Time to Change Theory; Medical Leech from a Molecular Medicine Perspective Leech Salivary Proteins Playing a Potential Role in Medicine. Adv Pharm Bull 2020; 11:261-266. [PMID: 33880347 PMCID: PMC8046405 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2021.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Followed by developing modern medicine, leeches did not have extensive use as before; however, in the late 19th century, they were still used in most countries all over the world. Thus far, leeches were utilized in treating various diseases like skin disorders, arthritis, and cancer. In Egypt, using leeches for treatment dates back to early 1500 BC. A medical leech’s salivary glands involve over 100 bioactive proteins and the salivary gland secretion contains bacteriostatic, analgesic, and anticoagulation influences; with resolving activity, it causes microcirculation disorders elimination, restoring the hurt vascular permeability of organs and tissues, removing hypoxia, decreasing blood pressure and detoxifying the organism by antioxidant paths. The current work reviews the innovative treatment with medical leech, especially proteins in leech saliva extraction (LSE) with high potential in medicine. The virtue of salivary gland secretions which are proteinaceous enzymes, leech acts on various diseases such as venous congestion in reconstructive and plastic surgery, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases caused by blood coagulation disorders, pain management, priapism, macroglossia, cancer complications, wounds and many other. To confirm the potential therapeutic impacts of leech treatment, more studies are required in more extensive areas with more exact methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Shakouri
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Uwe Wollina
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany
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Correction to: Draft genome sequences of Hirudo medicinalis and salivary transcriptome of three closely related medicinal leeches. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:503. [PMID: 32698877 PMCID: PMC7374903 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06897-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Lemke S, Vilcinskas A. European Medicinal Leeches-New Roles in Modern Medicine. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E99. [PMID: 32349294 PMCID: PMC7277884 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8050099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Before the advent of modern medicine, natural resources were widely used by indigenous populations for the prevention and treatment of diseases. The associated knowledge, collectively described as folk medicine or traditional medicine, was largely based on trial-and-error testing of plant extracts (herbal remedies) and the use of invertebrates, particularly medicinal maggots of the blowfly Lucilia sericata and blood-sucking leeches. The widespread use of traditional medicine in the West declined as scientific advances allowed reproducible testing under controlled conditions and gave rise to the modern fields of biomedical research and pharmacology. However, many drugs are still derived from natural resources, and interest in traditional medicine has been renewed by the ability of researchers to investigate the medical potential of diverse species by high-throughput screening. Likewise, researchers are starting to look again at the benefits of maggot and leech therapy, based on the hypothesis that the use of such animals in traditional medicine is likely to reflect the presence of specific bioactive molecules that can be developed as drug leads. In this review, we consider the modern medical benefits of European medicinal leeches based on the systematic screening of their salivary proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lemke
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, D-35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Department of Bioresources, Ohlebergsweg 12, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
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