Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

33.1K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
33.1K
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

2.5K
Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
2.5K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

42.5K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
42.5K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

2.0K
Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
2.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hirudins and ornatins in five species of the genus Placobdella (Annelida: Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae).

Protoplasma·2026
Same author

Diagnosis of Weissellosis in Cultured Rainbow Trout in Costa Rica Further Evidence Emergence of Weissella tructae as Important Pathogen of Salmonids in Latin America.

Transboundary and emerging diseases·2026
Same author

Acute Exposure to a Common Organic UV Filter Does Not Alter the mRNA of Gonadal Estrogen or Growth Hormone Receptors in Mozambique Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis mossambicus</i>) In Vitro.

Genes·2025
Same author

Mitochondrial Gene Phylogenetic Incongruencies Are Linked to Chromosomal Position and Function.

Genome biology and evolution·2025
Same author

Hirudins and fenestrins of the African medicinal leech Asiaticobdella fenestrata.

Parasitology research·2025
Same author

TERRESTRIAL LEECHES, iDNA SURVEYS, AND BEYOND.

The Journal of parasitology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Localized RNAi and Ectopic Gene Expression in the Medicinal Leech
16:19

Localized RNAi and Ectopic Gene Expression in the Medicinal Leech

Published on: April 17, 2008

10.1K

Marine Leech Anticoagulant Diversity and Evolution.

Michael Tessler1,2,3, David Marancik4, Donald Champagne5

  • 11   Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024.

The Journal of Parasitology
|March 6, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Marine leeches, particularly Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae families, possess diverse salivary anticoagulants. This study identified 149 putative anticoagulants and bioactive compounds, revealing evolutionary adaptations in these medically relevant compounds.

More Related Videos

The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression
07:47

The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression

Published on: August 8, 2018

15.5K
Assessment of the Anticoagulant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Endothelial Cells Using 3D Cell Culture and Non-anticoagulated Whole Blood
07:08

Assessment of the Anticoagulant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Endothelial Cells Using 3D Cell Culture and Non-anticoagulated Whole Blood

Published on: September 5, 2017

8.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Localized RNAi and Ectopic Gene Expression in the Medicinal Leech
16:19

Localized RNAi and Ectopic Gene Expression in the Medicinal Leech

Published on: April 17, 2008

10.1K
The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression
07:47

The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression

Published on: August 8, 2018

15.5K
Assessment of the Anticoagulant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Endothelial Cells Using 3D Cell Culture and Non-anticoagulated Whole Blood
07:08

Assessment of the Anticoagulant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Endothelial Cells Using 3D Cell Culture and Non-anticoagulated Whole Blood

Published on: September 5, 2017

8.9K

Area of Science:

  • Marine biology and evolutionary genetics
  • Biochemistry of anticoagulants and bioactive compounds

Background:

  • Leeches (Annelida: Hirudinea) are known for potent salivary anticoagulants used in medicine.
  • Marine leech families Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae represent significant diversity and unique host associations (e.g., sharks, marine turtles).
  • Limited data exists on the salivary transcriptomes of these marine leech families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To profile the salivary transcriptomes of selected Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae species.
  • To identify putative anticoagulants and other blood-feeding-related bioactive compounds.
  • To investigate the evolutionary pressures and phylogenetic relationships of these identified compounds.

Main Methods:

  • Next-generation sequencing was employed to analyze salivary transcriptomes.
  • Bioinformatic analyses were used to identify and characterize putative anticoagulants and bioactive loci.
  • Estimation of selection pressures and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on amino acid sequences.

Main Results:

  • 149 putative anticoagulants and bioactive loci were discovered across 7 piscicolid and 1 ozobranchid species.
  • Identified anticoagulants target various pathways, including Factor Xa inhibition and platelet aggregation, suggesting conserved roles in marine hosts.
  • A novel transcript homologous to ohanin was found in *Cystobranchus vividus*. Evidence for positive and purifying selection, along with divergent evolution, was observed in anticoagulant genes.

Conclusions:

  • Marine leeches harbor a rich diversity of salivary anticoagulants with potential biomedical applications.
  • The study provides foundational transcriptomic data for Piscicolidae and Ozobranchidae, highlighting their evolutionary significance.
  • Findings suggest evolutionary adaptations in leech anticoagulants, driven by host interactions and environmental pressures.