Medical therapeutics derived from leeches (Phy. Annelida; Cl. Hirudinea)
Faculty Advisor
Date
2016
Keywords
leeches, medicine
Abstract (summary)
Of all blood feeding invertebrates, few are more notorious than leeches. Throughout their existence as ectoparasites, leeches have evolved to release biological molecules in their saliva that act to counter the responses of the prey’s body to vascular trauma. Inadvertently, these very molecules have been used by humans for centuries for medicinal purposes; however, it is only recently that their cellular action has been elucidated. As a result, these compounds have been isolated and mass produced to treat a wide variety of conditions ranging from heart attack to Alzheimer’s disease and continued work suggests that these isolates will be an important future treatment for metastasis.
Publication Information
Clarke, C. (2016). Medical therapeutics derived from leeches (Phy. Annelida; Cl. Hirudinea). MUSe, 3(1). Retrieved from https://journals.macewan.ca/muse/article/view/297
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Student Article
Language
English
Rights
All Rights Reserved