Leech mitochondrial genomes: phylogeny, evolutionary implication, and medicinal species identification via DNA barcoding
5 affiliations
- 1Yunnan Key Laboratory of Leech Bioresources and Industrialization, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming, Yunnan 650214, China
- 2Shaoyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shaoyang, Hunan 422000, China
- 3Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, China
- 4Baoshan Bureau, Yunnan Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Baoshan, Yunnan 678000, China
- 5Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, China
Abstract
Despite their ecological and medicinal importance, comprehensive studies on leech mitochondrial genome evolution remain scarce. This study provides novel insights into the evolutionary dynamics of leech mitogenomes through comprehensive sequencing and comparative genomic analyses. We present mitochondrial genomes of 11 Chinese leech species (including Barbronia weberi, Dinobdella ferox, Mooreobdella quaternaria, and Batracobdella cancricola for the first time), significantly expanding the mitogenomic resources for Hirudinea. High-throughput sequencing and systematic annotation revealed seven distinct gene rearrangement patterns, which did not fully correspond to the established leech phylogeny, suggesting potential evolutionary constraints or adaptive significance. The mitochondrial heavy strand (H-strand) coding phenomenon was found in all those species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clear relationships among the three orders, resulting in a topology of ([Rhynchobdellida + Arhynchobdellida] + Acanthobdellida). Haemadipsidae, Glossiphoniidae, and Piscicolidae were found to be monophyletic. Notably, we present a fully resolved and robustly supported phylogenetic tree for Rhynchobdellida, significantly consolidating the current consensus on its internal relationships. Furthermore, species identification using cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) sequences, based on a total of 190 sequences (including 60 newly obtained in this study across 19 regions in China), demonstrated its potential discriminating power in authenticating medicinal leech resources. This work not only enriches the mitogenome resources for studying leech evolution but also offers practical tools for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal leeches.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026leech,
title = {{Leech mitochondrial genomes: phylogeny, evolutionary implication, and medicinal species identification via DNA barcoding}},
author = {Zi-Chao Liu and Yi-Fei Luo and Binta J.J Jallow and Man-Die Liu and Xiang-Rong Tong and Xing-Liang Yang and Jing-Jing Huang and Ji-Feng Cai and Fan-Ming Meng},
journal = {Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.48130/jzser-0026-0006},
url = {https://doi.org/10.48130/jzser-0026-0006},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Leech mitochondrial genomes: phylogeny, evolutionary implication, and medicinal species identification via DNA barcoding
AU - Zi-Chao Liu
AU - Yi-Fei Luo
AU - Binta J.J Jallow
AU - Man-Die Liu
AU - Xiang-Rong Tong
AU - Xing-Liang Yang
AU - Jing-Jing Huang
AU - Ji-Feng Cai
AU - Fan-Ming Meng
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research
DO - 10.48130/jzser-0026-0006
UR - https://doi.org/10.48130/jzser-0026-0006
AB - Despite their ecological and medicinal importance, comprehensive studies on leech mitochondrial genome evolution remain scarce. This study provides novel insights into the evolutionary dynamics of leech mitogenomes through comprehensive sequencing and comparative genomic analyses. We present mitochondrial genomes of 11 Chinese leech species (including Barbronia weberi, Dinobdella ferox, Mooreobdella quaternaria, and Batracobdella cancricola for the first time), significantly expanding the mitogenomic resources for Hirudinea. High-throughput sequencing and systematic annotation revealed seven distinct gene rearrangement patterns, which did not fully correspond to the established leech phylogeny, suggesting potential evolutionary constraints or adaptive significance. The mitochondrial heavy strand (H-strand) coding phenomenon was found in all those species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clear relationships among the three orders, resulting in a topology of ([Rhynchobdellida + Arhynchobdellida] + Acanthobdellida). Haemadipsidae, Glossiphoniidae, and Piscicolidae were found to be monophyletic. Notably, we present a fully resolved and robustly supported phylogenetic tree for Rhynchobdellida, significantly consolidating the current consensus on its internal relationships. Furthermore, species identification using cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) sequences, based on a total of 190 sequences (including 60 newly obtained in this study across 19 regions in China), demonstrated its potential discriminating power in authenticating medicinal leech resources. This work not only enriches the mitogenome resources for studying leech evolution but also offers practical tools for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal leeches.
SN - 1439-0469
SN - 0947-5745
ER -