Proteins and peptides of the salivary gland secretion of medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana, H. medicinalis, and H. orientalis
Proteomics study published in Biochemistry (Moscow) (2008)
Abstract
The protein and peptide composition of medicinal leech salivary gland secretion (SGS) was analyzed in preparations obtained in July from three species--Hirudo verbana, H. medicinalis, and H. orientalis. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (molecular mass 10-150 kD and pI 3-10) revealed no distinctions in the distribution of over 100 silver-stained proteins. Differences were noted only in intensity of 10 protein spots at 30-90 kD and pI 4.7-7.5. Mass spectrometric profiling of SGS of the three leech species using the Zip-Tip/golden chip scheme and cation-exchanging chips CM-10 revealed over 50 components in SGS of each of the three leech species. It was noted that 30-40% of the individual masses of the SGS of each leech species fall within the masses present in SGS of at least one of the two other species. This rather small part of the total mass may be indicative of a high polymorphism of amino acid sequences or a high frequency of posttranslational modifications of the SGS proteins and peptides. Calculation of Jacquard's coefficient showed that H. medicinalis and H. orientalis are closest to each other in SGS composition, which is consistent with data in the literature on the phylogenetic relationship between these two species of medicinal leech. Comparison of detected molecular masses with those of six known biologically active compounds produced by medicinal leeches revealed their uneven distribution in SGS of each of the three medicinal leech species. This opens prospects for using certain species of medicinal leech for targeted therapy of various pathologies.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed >100 silver-stained proteins shared across Hirudo verbana, H. medicinalis, and H. orientalis salivary gland secretions; MALDI-TOF MS confirmed 30-40% mass overlap and Jacquard's coefficient supported phylogenetic relationship between H. medicinalis and H. orientalis.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study analyzed the protein and peptide composition of salivary gland secretion (SGS) from three medicinal leech species—Hirudo verbana, H. medicinalis, and H. orientalis—collected in July, using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometric profiling with Zip-Tip/golden chip and cation-exchanging chips CM-10. Over 100 silver-stained proteins showed similar distributions across species, with differences only in intensity of 10 spots; mass spectrometry revealed each species shares only 30–40% of individual SGS masses with at least one other species, and six known bioactive compounds were unevenly distributed among species, with H. medicinalis and H. orientalis being compositionally closest. For ASH, this is relevant because it characterizes salivary bioactive profiles across Hirudo species used in hirudotherapy, and the authors note prospects for using certain species for targeted therapy. Caveat: the work focuses on SGS profiling and comparison, with no functional bioassays or clinical data, and seasonal or sample-size limitations are not addressed.
Citation
Proteins and peptides of the salivary gland secretion of medicinal leeches Hirudo verbana, H. medicinalis, and H. orientalis.
Baskova IP et al. · Biochemistry (Moscow), 2008
Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026