ERGA-BGE reference genome of a once neglected freshwater haematophagous European medicinal leech
Genome resource published in Open Res Eur (2026)
Abstract
Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820, commonly known as the southern medicinal leech, is one of several European medicinal leeches, whose full diversity has just recently started to be uncovered. Historically, it has been widely used as a medicinal leech and for centuries it was treated erroneously under the specific name of Hirudo medicinalis L. 1758. Recent molecular and taxonomic analyses have revealed subspecific diversity within the morphospecies H. verbana. Hirudo verbana is a blood-feeding species sucking blood from amphibians, fish, and mammals. It occupies freshwater habitats, typically shallow ponds and lakes. Studies show that this leech species has a "naturally limited microbiome", suggesting it may serve as a powerful model system for the study of gut microbiota. We expect this chromosome-level assembly of H. verbana to serve as a high-quality genomic resource for this most famous leech genus and to serve as a foundation to the study of the diversification and biodiversity of European medicinal leeches, as well as their gut-associated symbionts. The genome of H. verbana was assembled into two haplotypes through a phased assembly approach; however, only the primary haplotype was designated as the reference genome for annotation and downstream analyses. The entirety of the primary haplotype was assembled into 14 contiguous chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the mitogenome. This chromosome-level assembly encompasses 0.18 Gb, composed of 277 contigs and 27 scaffolds, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 1.3 Mb and 13.4 Mb, respectively.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Chromosome-level reference genome assembly for the Southern medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana subspecies) produced by the European Reference Genome Atlas / Biodiversity Genomics Europe project. 0.18 Gb, 14 chromosomal pseudomolecules including mitogenome. Supports gut-microbiome and species-diversity research.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este artículo presenta un ensamblaje del genoma de referencia a nivel cromosómico de Hirudo verbana, la sanguijuela medicinal del sur, ensamblado en 14 pseudomoléculas cromosómicas contiguas que abarcan 0,18 Gb con valores N50 de contig y de scaffold de 1,3 Mb y 13,4 Mb, respectivamente, generado mediante un enfoque de ensamblaje en fases. Para el dominio de la ASH, resulta relevante como recurso genómico fundacional para una especie de sanguijuela medicinal históricamente importante; el resumen señala que se prevé que sirva como base para el estudio de la diversificación y la biodiversidad de las sanguijuelas medicinales europeas, así como de sus simbiontes asociados al intestino, e indica que H. verbana presenta un microbioma naturalmente limitado, lo que podría convertirla en un modelo poderoso para la investigación sobre la microbiota intestinal. No obstante, se trata de un anuncio genómico sin datos funcionales ni clínicos, y su relevancia terapéutica es indirecta y prospectiva.
Citación
ERGA-BGE reference genome of a once neglected freshwater haematophagous European medicinal leech.
Manzano-Marin A et al. · Open research Europe, 2026
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026