SDS-Page profiling and molecular characterization of Hirudin, Eglin C, and Hyaluronidase from the saliva of two local leech species
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17390278Keywords:
Hirudo, Limnatis, COI, Saliva, ProteinsAbstract
Leeches of the genera Hirudo and Limnatis are known hematophagous ectoparasites of vertebrates, including humans. The present study investigated two leech species, H. oreintalis and L. paluda, during July 2024-June 2025 from thirty-five water bodies of leech collecting from four provinces of Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Morphological identifications of specimens followed by molecular characterizations were dependent on species identification through amplification and sequencing of the mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI locus). The partial gene fragments were sequenced for molecular characterization. These findings confirm the presence of two distinct leech species, H. oreintalis and L. paluda in the Kurdistan Region. The present work also revealed a comparative study on the saliva contents of both species, their salivary gland contents extracted for further molecular observations, including three proteins, Hirudin, Eglin C, and Hyaluronidase, which were isolated and identified with SDS chromatography. Genes of the mentioned proteins were partially amplified and sequenced, and the nucleotide variances were detected based on MEGA 11, as well as the amino acid sequences were studied with Phyre 2.2 web portal.
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