Objective
The project is aimed at exploring the biology, phylogeny, and conservation of recently discovered and re-discovered species of the famous, yet poorly known medicinal leech.
The project objectives are:
(1) to analyse both phylogenetic relationships between the species of the genus Hirudo and phylogeographic patterns within the species;
(2) to elucidate specific ecological requirements and the geographical distribution of different Hirudo species;
(3) to find specific reproductive and developmental differences and to test the leeches for hybridisation;
(4) to identify proteins in the medicinal leech saliva, and explore the possibility of obtaining recombinant proteins by cloning;
(5) to propose a strategy for the conservation of the endangered species of the medicinal leech.
The research will be carried out by two NIS and two INTAS teams: Karazin Khakriv National University (Ukraine), Moscow State University (Russia), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Institute of Ecology (Lithuania). Field sampling and observations- Several expeditions will be undertaken to delineate ranges of H. medicinalis, H. verbana and H. orientalis in Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The size and structure of natural populations will be investigated. Specific habitat requirements will be studied. The information obtained will reveal both causes of decline and specific habitat requirements.
The collected leeches will be used in the subsequent tasks.
Morphological examination of the leech samples- The collected samples will be examined morphologically in order to identify them, estimate intra-specific morphological variability and reveal units of management.
Aquaculture experiments- Specific reproductive and developmental differences will be studied under aquaculture conditions and the potential for hybridisation among the three species will be analysed. The task will result in improved methods of leech aquaculture, as well as new data on reproductive biology and reproductive barriers between medicinal leech species.
Molecular phylogenetic analysis and karyology- Phylogenetic relationships between the species and phylogeographic patterns of populations will be studied using mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. The chromosome sets of the leeches will be analysed in a comparative manner.
Proteomic analysis of the medicinal leech salivary gland secretion- A proteomic analysis will be carried out to reveal new proteins of the medicinal leech saliva. The potential of obtain recombinant proteins will be explored.
A new conservation strategy for medicinal leech species- The information obtained during the previous phases will be used to elaborate a new strategy for the conservation of Hirudo species taking into account new systematic, ecological and populational data.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding Scheme
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Coordinator
LJUBLJANA
Slovenia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.