Reciprocal immune benefit based on complementary production of antibiotics by the leech Hirudo verbana and its gut symbiont Aeromonas veronii
Symbiosis biology published in Sci Rep (2015)
Abstract
The medicinal leech has established a long-term mutualistic association with Aeromonas veronii, a versatile bacterium which can also display free-living waterborne and fish- or human-pathogenic lifestyles. Here, we investigated the role of antibiotics in the dynamics of interaction between the leech and its gut symbiont Aeromonas. By combining biochemical and molecular approaches, we isolated and identified for the first time the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by the leech digestive tract and by its symbiont Aeromonas. Immunohistochemistry data and PCR analyses evidenced that leech AMP genes are induced in the gut epithelial cells when Aeromonas load is low (starved animals), while repressed when Aeromonas abundance is the highest (post blood feeding). The asynchronous production of AMPs by both partners suggests that these antibiotic substances (i) provide them with reciprocal protection against invasive bacteria and (ii) contribute to the unusual simplicity of the gut microflora of the leech. This immune benefit substantially reinforces the evidence of an evolutionarily stable association between H. verbana and A. veronii. Altogether these data may provide insights into the processes making the association with an Aeromonas species in the digestive tract either deleterious or beneficial.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Резюме
Hirudo verbana AMP genes are induced when Aeromonas load is low (starved animals) and repressed when load is high (post-blood meal). Asynchronous AMP production by both partners provides reciprocal protection against invasive bacteria.
Почему это важно для гирудотерапии
This study characterized antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by both the Hirudo verbana digestive tract and its gut symbiont Aeromonas veronii, showing that leech AMP genes are induced when Aeromonas load is low (starved animals) and repressed post-feeding, while the two partners produce AMPs asynchronously. The authors propose that this reciprocal antibiotic production protects both organisms from invasive bacteria and contributes to the unusually simple gut microflora of the leech. This is directly relevant to ASH's domain as it characterizes bioactive molecules from the leech digestive system, adding to knowledge of leech immunology and the leech–microbe interface. The study is preclinical in nature and does not directly evaluate hirudotherapy outcomes or the leech salivary secretome used therapeutically.
Цитирование
Reciprocal immune benefit based on complementary production of antibiotics by the leech Hirudo verbana and its gut symbiont Aeromonas veronii.
Tasiemski A et al. · Scientific reports, 2015
Связанный клинический контекст
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