BASUYAUX Elisa
Licence professionnelle CIGALE : Communiquer, Guider, Animer sur le Littoral et l'Environnement
The blow lugworm (or sandworm) is a polychaete annelid found along the entire western coast of France, in sandy intertidal zones (between high and low tide).
It is responsible for the characteristic small coils of sand often seen on beaches.
​
​
​
​
​
​
It plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, serving as prey for many fish, crabs, and shorebirds. It is also highly valued as bait for fishing.
But that’s not all!
The Hemoglobin of Arenicola: A Revolution
The urgent search for a blood substitute
Since the first blood transfusions in the 1940s, medicine has made significant advancements. Currently, a million people benefit annually from blood donations. Every day, 10,000 donations are crucial for emergencies, chronic illnesses, and drug production. However, despite the increased needs due to population growth and medical advancements, the number of donors has declined from 4.2 million in the 1980s to 2.6 million in 2023.
Hemoglo-what?
Blood is made up of four components:
- red blood cells
- white blood cells
- platelets
- plasma
Our red blood cells store up to 280 million hemoglobin molecules.
Comparison between the properties of human hemoglobin (Hb) and Arenicola marina hemoglobin (AmHb) under human physiological conditions
O2
4
​​
​
few
seconds
​​
​
​37°C
156
​​
​
50 hours
​​​
​
​
4 to ​37°C
The marine worm's blood better than human's
If human hemoglobin (Hb) can carry up to 4 oxygen molecules, the hemoglobin of the lugworm (AmHb) can carry 156. Under human physiological conditions, AmHb has a much longer average lifespan compared to Hb and a greater resistance to a wider range of temperatures. Extra-cellularly, AmHb is not confined within a cell and is non-glycosylated, meaning it does not trigger an immune response against blood groups, making it universal. It is thus 40 times more efficient, more mobile because it is 250 times smaller than our red blood cells, and capable of providing better oxygenation. These characteristics enable the lugworm to remain underwater for up to six hours during low tide.
AmHb
(click to enlarge the image)
AmHb saves lives
Discovered by a French researcher: Frank Zal
These remarkable properties of AmHb were discovered by Frank Zal, a former researcher at the CNRS and founder of the company Hemarina in 2007. This biopharmaceutical laboratory develops health products based on AmHb. For practical reasons, the worms are not harvested from the beaches but are raised in an aquaculture farm in Noirmoutier, with an annual production of 30 tons.
At the heart of medical research
HEMO2life®
A medical device used ex vivo as an additive to organ preservation solutions. It enhances the preservation of grafts until transplantation and reduces the risk of rejection in recipients.
An additional hypothesis was also considered for using HEMO2life® in patients with COVID-19 to combat hypoxia (a decrease in oxygen concentration in the blood), but the tests were not conclusive.
HEMHealing®
Ongoing research is also being conducted on the medical use of AmHb, particularly with HEMHealing®, an oxygenating hydrogel designed to accelerate wound healing.
​
Presented in a ready-to-use syringe, it is directly applied to the wound, accompanied by a non-occlusive dressing (allowing the passage of air and moisture).
A real super-hero...
...with super-villain tendencies!
By filtering sand for food, it contributes to the burial of microplastics in marine sediments. While this reduces their exposure on the surface and limits their dispersion, it leads to long-term accumulation. Additionally, microplastics, along with associated pollutants, pose a threat to benthic fauna and disrupt the trophic network.
Athletes have also discovered that AmHb is a super doping agent, but that’s another story...