Phylogenomic Analysis of a Putative Missing Link Sparks Reinterpretation of Leech Evolution
Research article published in Genome biology and evolution (2019)
Abstract
Leeches (Hirudinida) comprise a charismatic, yet often maligned group of organisms. Despite their ecological, economic, and medical importance, a general consensus on the phylogenetic relationships of major hirudinidan lineages is lacking. This absence of a consistent, robust phylogeny of early-diverging lineages has hindered our understanding of the underlying processes that enabled evolutionary diversification of this clade. Here, we used an anchored hybrid enrichment-based phylogenomic approach, capturing hundreds of loci to investigate phylogenetic relationships among major hirudinidan lineages and their closest living relatives. Our results suggest that a dramatic reinterpretation of early leech evolution is warranted. We recovered Branchiobdellida as sister to a clade that includes all major lineages of hirudinidans, but found Acanthobdella to be nested within Oceanobdelliformes. These results cast doubt on the utility of Acanthobdella as a "missing link" used to explain the origin of blood-feeding in hirudineans. Further, our results support a deep divergence between predominantly marine and freshwater lineages, while not supporting the reciprocal monophyly of jawed and proboscis-bearing leeches. To sum up, our phylogenomic resolution of early-diverging leeches provides a necessary foundation for illuminating the evolution of host-symbiont associations and key adaptations that have allowed leeches to colonize a wide diversity of habitats worldwide.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Leeches (Hirudinida) comprise a charismatic, yet often maligned group of organisms.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio empleó un enfoque filogenómico de enriquecimiento híbrido anclado que capturó cientos de loci para resolver las relaciones entre los linajes principales de sanguijuelas (Hirudinida) y sus parientes más cercanos. Los hallazgos clave incluyen la recuperación de Branchiobdellida como grupo hermano de todos los hirudinidos principales, la ubicación de Acanthobdella dentro de Oceanobdelliformes (lo que socava su estatus de «eslabón perdido» para explicar los orígenes de la hematofagia), y la falta de respaldo a la monofilia recíproca de las sanguijuelas con mandíbulas y con probóscide. Para la ASH, una filogenia sólida de las sanguijuelas proporciona una base evolutiva esencial para contextualizar la diversidad de compuestos bioactivos salivales y las relaciones hospedero-simbionte que sustentan la hirudoterapia. No obstante, se trata de un estudio puramente filogenético/sistemático: no contiene datos sobre terapia con sanguijuelas, secretomas salivales, anticoagulantes ni ninguna aplicación clínica. Su relevancia para la práctica de la hirudoterapia es estrictamente indirecta y teórica.
Citación
Phylogenomic Analysis of a Putative Missing Link Sparks Reinterpretation of Leech Evolution
Phillips AJ et al. · Genome biology and evolution, 2019
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026