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PeerJ 2024, a genus of freshwater macrophagous leeches, belongs to Erpobdelliformes (Salifidae: Clitellata: Annelida), and , a well-known leech within this genus, has a worldwide...
BACKGROUND
, a genus of freshwater macrophagous leeches, belongs to Erpobdelliformes (Salifidae: Clitellata: Annelida), and , a well-known leech within this genus, has a worldwide distribution. However, the systematics of have not yet been adequately investigated, primarily due to a few molecular markers, and only 20 sequences available in the GenBank database. This gap significantly limits our understanding of the species identification, as well as the phylogenetic placement of the genus within Salifidae.
METHODS
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to simultaneously capture the entire mitochondrial genome and the full-length 18S/28S rDNA sequences. The species boundary of species was estimated using bGMYC and bPTP methods, based on all available COI sequences. Uncorrected COI p-distance was calculated in MEGA. A molecular data matrix consisting of four loci (COI, 12S, 18S, and 28S rDNA) for outgroups (three leeches) and 49 erpobdellid leeches, representing eight genera within the Suborder Erpobdelliformes was aligned using MAFFT and LocARNA. This matrix was used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Bayesian inference (BI) and the maximum likelihood (ML) method.
RESULTS
The full lengths of the mitochondrial genome, 18S and 28S rDNAs of . cf. , are 14847 bp, 1876 bp 1876 bp, and 2863 bp, respectively. Both bGMYC and bPTP results based on COI data are generally congruent, suggesting that the previously proposed taxa (, . formosana, and . or ) are synonyms of . . The specimens listed in the group, however, are split into at least two Primary Species Hypotheses (PSHs). The p-distance of the first PSH is less than 1.3% but increased to 4.5% when including the secondary PSH (., . cf. ). In comparison, the interspecific p-distance between the group and the group ranged from 6.4% to 8.7%, and the intraspecific p-distance within the group is less than 0.8%. Considering the species delimitation results and the sufficient large p-distance, the specimen sampled in China is treated as . cf. . The monophyly of the four Erpobdelliformes families Salifidae, Orobdellidae, Gastrostomobdellidae and Erpobdellidae is well supported in ML and BI analysis based on a data of four markers. Within the Salifidae, a well-supported is closely related to a clade containing and , and these three genera are sister to a clade consisted of and . According to the results of this study, the strategy of simultaneous obtaining both whole mitochondria and nuclear markers from extensively sampled Salifids species using NGS is expected to fathom both the species diversity of and the evolutionary relationship of Salifidae.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Genome, Mitochondrial; Leeches; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S
PubMed: 38827288
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17480 -
Scientific Reports May 2024This study investigated batch-fed vermicomposting of cow manure, with a specific focus on assessing the effects of tylosin on the weight of earthworms and the overall...
This study investigated batch-fed vermicomposting of cow manure, with a specific focus on assessing the effects of tylosin on the weight of earthworms and the overall quality of the resulting manure. Five reactors, including three concentrations of tylosin (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) and two control reactors, were employed. Residual tylosin concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Quality parameters such as pH, temperature, volatile solids (VS), organic carbon content (OCC), electrical conductivity (EC), ash content, C/N ratio, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and microbial content were evaluated. The toxicity and maturity of vermicompost were assessed by determining the germination index (GI). The study also monitored variations in the earthworm's weight. The results demonstrated a decreasing trend in VS, OCC, C/N, and fecal coliforms, along with increased pH, EC, ash content, and TKN during the vermicomposting process. Furthermore, investigations revealed significant reductions in the reactors with tylosin concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, resulting in the removal of 98%, 90.48%, and 89.38% of the initial tylosin, respectively. This result confirms the faster removal of tylosin in reactors with lower concentrations. Degradation of tylosin also conforms to first-order kinetics. The findings showed a significant influence of tylosin on the weight of Eisenia fetida earthworms and the lowest antibiotic concentration led to the highest weight gain. Finally, the high percentage of germination index (90-100%) showed that the quality and maturity of vermicompost is by national and international standards.
Topics: Animals; Tylosin; Manure; Oligochaeta; Cattle; Composting; Soil; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
PubMed: 38822086
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62839-w -
Earthworm gut bacteria facilitate cadmium immobilization through the formation of CdS nanoparticles.Chemosphere Aug 2024Gut bacteria of earthworm Amynthas hupeiensis exhibit significant potential for the in-situ remediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil. However, the mechanisms by...
Gut bacteria of earthworm Amynthas hupeiensis exhibit significant potential for the in-situ remediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil. However, the mechanisms by which these gut bacteria immobilize and tolerate Cd remain elusive. The composition of the gut bacterial community was characterized by high-throughput sequencing. Cd-tolerant bacteria were isolated from the gut, and their roles in Cd immobilization, as well as their tolerance mechanisms, were explored through chemical characterization and transcriptome analysis. The predominant taxa in the gut bacterial community included unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, Citrobacter, and Bacillus, which were distinctly different from those in the surrounding soil. Notably, the most Cd-tolerant gut bacterium, Citrobacter freundii DS strain, immobilized 63.61% of Cd within 96 h through extracellular biosorption and intracellular bioaccumulation of biosynthetic CdS nanoparticles, and modulation of solution pH and NH concentration. Moreover, the characteristic signals of CdS were also observed in the gut content of A. hupeiensis when the sterilized Cd-contaminated soil was inoculated with C. freundii. The primary pathways involved in the response of C. freundii to Cd stress included the regulation of ABC transporters, bacterial chemotaxis, cell motility, oxidative phosphorylation, and two-component system. In conclusion, C. freundii facilitates Cd immobilization both in vitro and in vivo, thereby enhancing the host earthworm's adaptation to Cd-contaminated soil.
Topics: Oligochaeta; Animals; Cadmium; Soil Pollutants; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Cadmium Compounds; Nanoparticles; Bacteria; Soil Microbiology; Sulfides; Citrobacter freundii
PubMed: 38821127
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142453 -
Chemosphere Aug 2024Earthworm could regulate their body concentration of arsenic via storage or excretion, and the ability of As efflux among different earthworms is not consistent. Here,...
Earthworm could regulate their body concentration of arsenic via storage or excretion, and the ability of As efflux among different earthworms is not consistent. Here, whole and semi As exposure patterns with 0-10-30-60-100 mg kg exposure concentrations were set to characterize the As efflux in geophagous earthworm, Metaphire guillelmi. Cast As (As-C) and earthworms' antioxidative responses were monitored to explore the efflux mechanisms under 30 mg kg As-spiked soil (As30), besides, As concentration in earthworm tissue after egestion and dissection depurations were compared. In the whole exposure pattern, As concentration in gut content (As-G, 19.2-120.3 mg kg) surpassed that in the tissue (As-T, 17.2-53.2 mg kg), and they both increased with exposure concentrations. With the prolong time, they firstly increased and kept stable between day 10-15, then As-G increased while As-T decreased between day 15-20. In the semi-exposure pattern, both As-G and As-T decreased when M. guillelmi was transferred to clean soil for 5 days. During the 42-day incubation in As30, the antioxidative responses including reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were firstly increased and then decreased, and As-C (13.9-43.9 mg kg) kept higher than As-G (14.2-35.1 mg kg). Significantly positive correlations were found between As-T and GSH, As-C and GST. Moreover, tissue As after dissection (11.6-22.9 mg kg) was obviously lower than that after egestion (11.4-26.4 mg kg), but significantly related to ROS and GSH. Taken together, M. guillelmi exhibited excellent capacity of As efflux, and GSH explained tissue As accumulation while GST facilitated the As elimination via cast. Besides, dissection instead of egestion revealed the As efflux in M. guillelmi more accurately. These findings contributed to a better understanding of how geophagous earthworm M. guillelmi regulated tissue As accumulation for As stress tolerance, and recommended an optimal depuration mode to characterize As accumulation.
Topics: Arsenic; Animals; Oligochaeta; Soil Pollutants; Glutathione; Reactive Oxygen Species; Soil; Antioxidants; Glutathione Transferase
PubMed: 38815813
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142479 -
Wellcome Open Research 2023We present a genome assembly from an individual (the fish leech; Annelida; Clitellata; Hirudinida; Piscicolidae). The genome sequence is 171.1 megabases in span. Most...
We present a genome assembly from an individual (the fish leech; Annelida; Clitellata; Hirudinida; Piscicolidae). The genome sequence is 171.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 17 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.1 kilobases in length.
PubMed: 38813549
DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19488.1 -
Chemosphere Jul 2024The ecological risks of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) after land use is still not truly reflected. Herein, the ecological risks of SSB prepared at different temperature...
The ecological risks of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) after land use is still not truly reflected. Herein, the ecological risks of SSB prepared at different temperature were investigated using the earthworm E. fetida as a model organism from the perspectives of organismal, tissue, cellular, and molecular level. The findings revealed that the ecological risk associated with low-temperature SSB (SSB) was more pronounced compared to medium- and high-temperature SSB (SSB and SSB), and the ecological risk intensified with increasing SSB addition rates, as revealed by an increase in the integrated biomarker response v2 (IBRv2) value by 2.59-25.41 compared to those of SSB and SSB. Among them, 10% SSB application caused significant oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in earthworms compared to CK (p < 0.001). The weight growth rate and cocoon production rate of earthworms were observed to decrease by 25.06% and 69.29%, respectively, while the mortality rate exhibited a significant increase of 33.34% following a 10% SSB application, as compared to the CK. Moreover, 10% SSB application also resulted in extensive stratum corneum injury and significant longitudinal muscle damage in earthworms, while also inducing severe collapse of intestinal epithelial cells and disruption of intestinal integrity. In addition, 10% SSB caused abnormal expression of earthworm detoxification and cocoon production genes (p < 0.001). These results may improve our understanding of the ecotoxicity of biochar, especially in the long term application, and contribute to providing the guidelines for applying biochar as a soil amendment.
Topics: Oligochaeta; Animals; Charcoal; Sewage; Soil Pollutants; Oxidative Stress; Ecotoxicology; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38810797
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142455 -
PloS One 2024In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Panax notoginseng and leech (PL) on renal fibrosis and explore the mechanisms underlying their actions....
In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Panax notoginseng and leech (PL) on renal fibrosis and explore the mechanisms underlying their actions. For this study, we created an adenine-induced renal fibrosis model in SD rats to investigate the protective effect of PL on renal fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanism. Initially, we assessed the renal function in RF rats and found that Scr, BUN, and urine protein content decreased after PL treatment, indicating the protective effect of PL on renal function. Histological analysis using HE and Masson staining revealed that PL reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased collagen fiber deposition in renal tissue. Subsequently, we analyzed the levels of α-SMA, Col-IV, and FN, which are the main components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), using IHC, RT-qPCR, and WB. The results demonstrated that PL was effective in reducing the accumulation of ECM, with PL1-2 showing the highest effectiveness. To further understand the underlying mechanisms, we conducted UPLC-MS/MS analysis on the incoming components of the PL1-2 group. The results revealed several associations between the differential components and antioxidant and mitochondrial functions. This was further confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and biochemical indexes, which showed that PL1-2 ameliorated oxidative stress by reducing ROS and MDA production and increasing GSH and SOD levels. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy results indicated that PL1-2 promoted partial recovery of mitochondrial morphology and cristae. Finally, using RT-qPCR and WB, an increase in the expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins Mfn1, Mfn2, and Opa1 after PL1-2 treatment was observed, coupled with a decline in the expression and phosphorylation of mitochondrial cleavage proteins Fis and Drp1. These findings collectively demonstrate that PL1-2 ameliorates renal fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress and restoring mitochondrial balance.
Topics: Animals; Panax notoginseng; Fibrosis; Mitochondria; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Leeches; Male; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Oxidative Stress; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular Matrix; Mitochondrial Dynamics
PubMed: 38809875
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303906 -
PeerJ 2024The ultrastructural diversity of the Middle and Late Jurassic serpulid tubes from the Polish Basin has been investigated. The inspection of 12 taxa representing the two...
The ultrastructural diversity of the Middle and Late Jurassic serpulid tubes from the Polish Basin has been investigated. The inspection of 12 taxa representing the two major serpulid clades allowed for the identification of three ultrastructure types-irregularly oriented prismatic structure (IOP), spherulitic prismatic structure (SPHP), and simple prismatic structure (SP). Six of the studied species are single-layered and six species possess two distinct layers. Ultrastructural diversity corresponds to certain serpulid clades. The members of Filograninae have single-layered tube walls composed of possibly plesiomorphic, irregularly oriented prismatic structure (IOP). Two-layered tubes occur solely within the clade Serpulinae, where the external, denser layer is built of either the ordered spherulitic (SPHP) or simple prismatic microstructure (SP), and the internal layer is composed of irregularly oriented prismatic structure (IOP). Apart from phylogenetic signals provided by the tube ultrastructure, it can be used in analyzing paleoecological aspects of tube-dwelling polychaetes. Compared to the more primitive, irregularly oriented microstructures of Filograninae, the regularly oriented microstructures of Serpulinae need a higher level of biological control over biomineralization. The advent of the dense outer protective layer (DOL) in serpulids, as well as the general increase in ultrastructure diversity, was likely a result of the evolutionary importance of the tubes for serpulids. Such diversity of the tube ultrastructural fabrics allowed for maximizing functionality by utilizing a variety of morphogenetic programs. The biomineralization system of serpulids remains more complex compared to other tube-dwelling polychaetes. Physiologically more expensive tube formation allows for mechanical strengthening of the tube by building robust, strongly ornamented tubes and firm attachment to the substrate. Contrary to sabellids, which perform a fugitive strategy, an increased tube durability allows serpulids a competitive advantage over other encrusters.
Topics: Fossils; Phylogeny; Animals; Polychaeta; Poland; Paleontology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
PubMed: 38799070
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17389 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024Comparisons of multiple metazoan genomes have revealed the existence of ancestral linkage groups (ALGs), genomic scaffolds sharing sets of orthologous genes that have...
Comparisons of multiple metazoan genomes have revealed the existence of ancestral linkage groups (ALGs), genomic scaffolds sharing sets of orthologous genes that have been inherited from ancestral animals for hundreds of millions of years (Simakov et al. 2022; Schultz et al. 2023) These ALGs have persisted across major animal taxa including Cnidaria, Deuterostomia, Ecdysozoa and Spiralia. Notwithstanding this general trend of chromosome-scale conservation, ALGs have been obliterated by extensive genome rearrangements in certain groups, most notably including Clitellata (oligochaetes and leeches), a group of easily overlooked invertebrates that is of tremendous ecological, agricultural and economic importance (Charles 2019; Barrett 2016). To further investigate these rearrangements, we have undertaken a comparison of 12 clitellate genomes (including four newly sequenced species) and 11 outgroup representatives. We show that these rearrangements began at the base of the Clitellata (rather than progressing gradually throughout polychaete annelids), that the inter-chromosomal rearrangements continue in several clitellate lineages and that these events have substantially shaped the evolution of the otherwise highly conserved Hox cluster.
PubMed: 38798472
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.12.593736 -
Developmental Biology Sep 2024Regeneration, regrowing lost and injured body parts, is an ability that generally declines with age or developmental transitions (i.e. metamorphosis, sexual maturation)....
Regeneration, regrowing lost and injured body parts, is an ability that generally declines with age or developmental transitions (i.e. metamorphosis, sexual maturation). Regeneration is also an energetically costly process, and trade-offs occur between regeneration and other costly processes such as growth, or sexual reproduction. Here we investigate the interplay of regeneration, reproduction, and developmental stage in the segmented worm Platynereis dumerilii. P. dumerilii can regenerate its whole posterior body axis, along with its reproductive cells, thereby having to carry out the two costly processes (somatic and germ cell regeneration) after injury. We specifically examine how developmental stage affects the success of germ cell regeneration and sexual maturation in developmentally young versus developmentally old organisms. We hypothesized that developmentally younger individuals (i.e. with gametes in early mitotic stages) will have higher regeneration success than the individuals at developmentally older stages (i.e. with gametes undergoing meiosis and maturation). Surprisingly, older amputated worms grew faster and matured earlier than younger amputees. To analyze germ cell regeneration during and after posterior regeneration, we used Hybridization Chain Reaction for the germline marker vasa. We found that regenerated worms start repopulating new segments with germ cell clusters as early as 14 days post amputation. In addition, vasa expression is observed in a wide region of newly-regenerated segments, which appears different from expression patterns during normal growth or regeneration in worms before gonial cluster expansion.
Topics: Animals; Germ Cells; Regeneration; Sexual Maturation; Polychaeta
PubMed: 38797257
DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.05.013