VoronaGasyCodes: A Public Database of Mitochondrial Barcodes for Malagasy Birds
Research article published in Mol Ecol Resour (2025)
Abstract
Molecular tools are increasingly being used to survey the presence of biodiversity and their interactions within ecosystems. Indirect methods, like environmental DNA (eDNA) and invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA), are dependent on sequence databases with accurate and sufficient taxonomic representation. These methods are increasingly being used in regions and habitats where direct detection or observations can be difficult for a variety of reasons. Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot with a high proportion of endemic species, many of which are threatened or endangered. Here we describe a new resource, VoronaGasyCodes, a curated database of newly published genetic sequences from Malagasy birds. Our database is currently populated with six mitochondrial genes or DNA barcodes for 142 species including 70% of the birds endemic to the island and will be periodically updated as new data become available. We demonstrate the utility of our database with an iDNA study of leech blood meals where we successfully identified 77% of the hosts to species. These types of resources for characterising biodiversity are critical for insights into species distribution, discovery of new taxa, novel ecological connections and advancing conservation and restoration measures.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Molecular tools are increasingly being used to survey the presence of biodiversity and their interactions within ecosystems.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este artículo describe la creación de VoronaGasyCodes, una base de datos pública y curada de códigos de barras de ADN mitocondrial de aves malgaches, destinada a impulsar la investigación en biodiversidad y conservación. Para demostrar la utilidad de la base de datos, los autores la emplearon con éxito para identificar especies hospedadoras a partir de comidas de sangre de sanguijuelas mediante ADN derivado de invertebrados (iDNA). Aunque este estudio destaca el uso de las sanguijuelas como herramientas de muestreo ecológico para el seguimiento de fauna silvestre, no tiene relevancia alguna para la hirudoterapia ni para la terapéutica basada en sanguijuelas. La investigación emplea las sanguijuelas únicamente como medio de recogida de datos para la biodiversidad aviar y no ofrece información sobre el secretoma de la sanguijuela ni sobre aplicaciones clínicas.
Citación
VoronaGasyCodes: A Public Database of Mitochondrial Barcodes for Malagasy Birds.
Reddy S et al. · Mol Ecol Resour, 2025
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026