Comparative Study of Lefaxin Family in Two Asian Leeches: Hirudinaria manillensis and Whitmania pigra
Ye T, Zhao F, Xiao M, Yin J, Ai R, Tang L, Liu Z, Huang Z, Lin G (2025) · Biology · n=0
Study Profile
- Design
- genomic and transcriptomic sequencing of wild populations of Hirudinaria manillensis and Whitmania pigra with recombinant expression of lefaxin proteins and in-vitro Factor Xa anticoagulant activity assays (Chinese consortium led by Jinggangshan University)
- Sample size (n)
- 0
- Intervention
- Comparative characterization of three lefaxin genes per species, plus recombinant lefaxin protein expression and in-vitro anticoagulant assays
- Comparator
- Inter-species comparison (hematophagous H. manillensis vs non-hematophagous W. pigra)
- Primary endpoint
- Lefaxin protein anticoagulant activity (Factor Xa binding, in-vitro coagulation prolongation)
- Primary result
- Hirudinaria manillensis lefaxins bound Factor Xa more effectively; Whitmania pigra lefaxins showed more robust in-vitro anticoagulant activity despite W. pigra being non-hematophagous; H. manillensis exhibited higher genetic diversity and stability; finding challenges traditional view that non-hematophagous leech species lack potent anticoagulants
- Follow-up duration
- Not applicable - in-vitro biochemistry
- PMID
- 40906077
Key Findings
- Three lefaxin genes per species (LefH1-3 in H. manillensis, LefW1-3 in W. pigra)
- W. pigra lefaxins more potent in-vitro despite non-hematophagous ecology
- H. manillensis lefaxins better Factor Xa binders
- Provides recombinant protein expression workflow for both species
- Challenges traditional view that only blood-feeders have potent anticoagulants
Limitations
- In-vitro biochemistry only — no in-vivo or clinical efficacy
- Recombinant proteins may differ from native molecules in folding or post-translational modification
- Limited population sampling
- No comparison to gold-standard recombinant hirudin or bivalirudin
- No mammalian pharmacokinetic or safety data
Clinical Implications
Ye 2025 deepens the comparative pharmacology of underrepresented Asian medicinal-leech species and demonstrates that Whitmania pigra lefaxins are clinically interesting anticoagulant candidates despite the species' non-hematophagous ecology. For ASH, the finding reinforces that 'medicinal leech' pharmacology is species-heterogeneous and that K040187 US clinical practice should not be conflated with global research on Asian Hirudinaria, Whitmania, or Haemadipsa species. Translational drug-discovery relevance only.
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