ArticleBMC genomics2022
The genome of medicinal leech (Whitmania pigra) and comparative genomic study for exploration of bioactive ingredients.
Article in BMC genomics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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16 citing papers in PubMed, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Gut microbiota and metabolic function in leeches with distinct feeding niches.BMC microbiology · 2026Article
- Comparative study on the expression levels of antithrombotic genes in five sympatrically distributed leech species.BMC genomics · 2026Article
- Molecular Insights into Leech-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Biochemical Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Multi-Target Anticoagulant Regulation by Peptides from Medicinal Leeches: A Unique Natural Strategy against Thrombosis.Pharmaceutical research · 2026Review
- Monomeric and Oligomeric Decorsins of the Asian Medicinal LeechInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- A Novel Integrated Strategy for Discovering Absorbable Anticoagulant Bioactive Peptides: A Case Study on Leech Protein Hydrolysates.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
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- Chromosome-level genome assembly and anticoagulant protein annotation of the buffalo leech Hirudinaria bpling (Hirudinea: Hirudinidae).BMC genomics · 2025Article
- Comparative genomics of three non-hematophagous leeches (Frontiers in genetics · 2025Article
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- Revisiting the Asian Buffalo Leech (Genes · 2023Article
- Dysbiosis of intestinal homeostasis contribute to Whitmania pigra edema disease.Microbial biotechnology · 2023Article
- Division of developmental phases of freshwater leech Whitmania pigra and key genes related to neurogenesis revealed by whole genome and transcriptome analysis.BMC genomics · 2023Article
- Characterization of active peptides derived from three leeches and comparison of their anti-thrombotic mechanisms using the tail vein thrombosis model in mice and metabonomics.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Article
- Molecular mechanisms underlying hematophagia revealed by comparative analyses of leech genomes.GigaScience · 2022Article
- Make it double: identification and characterization of a Tandem-Hirudin from the Asian medicinal leech Hirudinaria manillensis.Parasitology research · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLeeches 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.
resultsIn 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.
conclusionsThis 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.
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