Ingested blood contributes to the specificity of the symbiosis of Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria and Hirudo medicinalis, the medicinal leech

Article Abstract:

The membrane-attack complex of the complement system in blood seems to prevent many bacteria from colonizing the digestive tract of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. This could explain why Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria is the only bacterium found in the leech's digestive tract.

Digestive organs, Digestive system

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Complement resistance is essential for colonization of the digestive tract of Hirudo medicinalis by Aeromonas strains

Article Abstract:

The symbiotic association between Hirudo medicinalis and Aeromonas veronii bv. sorbia and colonization by the latter require the presence of serum complement system. A. veronii mutants lacking the complement system cannot colonize H. medicinalis but aquires the ability to colonize if the complement system is restored.

United States, Spain, Influence, Genetic aspects, Complement (Immunology)

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Culture-Independent characterization of the digestive-tract microbiota of the medicinal leech reveals a tripartite symbiosis

Article Abstract:

Analysis of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries confirmed the existence of Aeromonas veronii and revealed a second symbiont, clone, PW3, a novel member of the Rikenellaceae, within the crop, a large compartment where ingested blood is stored before digestion. The existence of a two-member bacterial community in the crop gives a unique opportunity for investigating both symbiont-symbiont and symbiont-host interactions in a natural model of digestive-tract associations.

Science & research, Analysis, Bacterial infections, Bacteria, Pathogenic, Pathogenic bacteria

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