Leech Defensin
Defensin-family cationic antimicrobial peptide identified in leech salivary tissue.
Preclínico / mecanísticoLast updated: 2026-05-26 · Reviewed by ASH Editorial Board
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Defensin-family cationic antimicrobial peptide identified in leech salivary tissue.
- Evidence level
- In vitro
- Drug vs leech
- Purified natural compound
- Safety domains
- Aeromonas infection
Clinical translation limit
Leech defensin is documented mechanistically only; no human evidence. In vitro antimicrobial activity does NOT establish clinical efficacy and does NOT mitigate the documented risk of Aeromonas hydrophila co-infection from whole-leech application.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Antimicrobial
- Evidence tier
- Preclinical
- Molecular weight
- 4,200 Da
- Source species
- Hirudo medicinalis
- Discovered
- 2016
Biological Targets
- → Gram-negative bacterial membranes
- → Gram-positive bacterial membranes
Key Citations
- Liu Z et al. (2019), Parasit Vectors
External Resources
Related Antimicrobial Compounds
Theromacin
Antimicrobial peptide active against Gram-negative bacteria — innate immunity of leech.
Theromyzin
Antimicrobial peptide; structural analogue of mammalian defensin family.
Macrostomin
Antimicrobial peptide active against Gram-positive bacteria — amphipathic alpha-helix.
Hirunipins
Newly-characterized antimicrobial peptide family (Kumar 2025) — candidate next-generation antibiotics against AMR pathogens.