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.
Резюме
Leeches (Hirudinida) comprise a charismatic, yet often maligned group of organisms.
Почему это важно для гирудотерапии
This study used an anchored hybrid enrichment phylogenomic approach capturing hundreds of loci to resolve relationships among major leech (Hirudinida) lineages and their closest relatives. Key findings include recovering Branchiobdellida as sister to all major hirudinidans, nesting Acanthobdella within Oceanobdelliformes (undermining its 'missing link' status for explaining blood-feeding origins), and not supporting reciprocal monophyly of jawed and proboscis-bearing leeches. For ASH, a robust leech phylogeny provides an essential evolutionary foundation for contextualizing the diversity of salivary bioactive compounds and host-symbiont relationships that underpin hirudotherapy. However, this is purely a phylogenetic/systematic study—it contains no data on leech therapy, salivary secretomes, anticoagulants, or any clinical application. Its relevance to hirudotherapy practice is strictly indirect and theoretical.
Цитирование
Phylogenomic Analysis of a Putative Missing Link Sparks Reinterpretation of Leech Evolution
Phillips AJ et al. · Genome biology and evolution, 2019
Связанный клинический контекст
Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой
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