Gut microbiota and metabolic function in leeches with distinct feeding niches

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota has co-evolved with its host and plays a vital role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and health. Understanding the composition of microbial communities in leech guts may reveal important insights into their ecological adaptations and feeding strategies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the gut microbiota of hematophagous (blood-feeding) and non-hematophagous leeches, to identify microbial signatures associated with dietary divergence and niche specialization. METHODS: Gut contents were collected from representative species of hematophagous and non-hematophagous leeches. The microbial community composition was analyzed via 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 751 microbial species were identified, encompassing 535 genera, 332 families, 203 orders, 86 classes, and 39 phyla. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were significantly more abundant in hematophagous leeches than in non-hematophagous leeches, whereas Bacteroidetes predominated in non-hematophagous counterparts. At the genus level, hematophagous leeches exhibited higher abundances of Elstera, unclassified genus of Rhodospirillaceae, Aeromonas, unclassified genus of Rhodospirillales, unclassified genus of Peptostreptococcales-Tissierellales, and unclassified genus of Oscillospirales. In contrast, unclassified genus of Comamonadaceae, Nubsella, Cetobacterium, Mucispirillum, unclassified genus of Peptostreptococcaceae, and Bacteroides were enriched in non-hematophagous leeches. Functional prediction analysis revealed significant differences in five key metabolic pathways between the two groups: lipid transport and metabolism, amino acid transport and metabolism, nucleotide transport and metabolism, translation and ribosomal structure biogenesis, and coenzyme transport and metabolism. CONCLUSION: Distinct taxonomic and functional profiles characterize the gut microbiota of hematophagous and non-hematophagous leeches. These results provide microbiological evidence for dietary specialization in leeches and offer a basis for guiding domestication and artificial breeding strategies.

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16S rRNA gene sequencing of gut microbiota from hematophagous and non-hematophagous leeches identified 751 microbial species; Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were significantly more abundant in blood-feeders, Bacteroidetes dominated non-blood-feeders, and five metabolic pathways differed between groups.

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