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natural variability and correlations in the metabolic profile of healthy eisenia fetida earthworms observed using ¹h nmr metabolomics.¹h nmr metabolomics can be used to assess the sub-lethal toxicity of contaminants to earthworms by identifying alterations in the metabolic profiles of contaminant- exposed earthworms in contrast to those of healthy (control) individuals. in support of this method this study sought to better characterize the baseline metabolic profile of healthy, mature earthworms of the species, eisenia fetida, which is recommended for both acute and sub-lethal toxicity testing for soil contaminants. profiles o ...201121316730
evaluation of the effectiveness of various amendments on trace metals stabilization by chemical and biological methods.we evaluated the effects of five different kinds of amendments on heavy metals stabilization. the five amendments were: zero valent iron, limestone, acid mine drainage treatment sludge, bone mill, and bottom ash. to determine bioavailability of the heavy metals, different chemical extraction procedures were used such as, extraction with (ca(no(3))(2), dtpa; toxic characteristic leaching procedure (tclp), physiologically based extraction test (pbet) that simulates gastric juice, and sequential ex ...201121333442
ecotoxicological responses of the earthworm eisenia fetida exposed to soil contaminated with hhcb.although polycyclic musks have been shown to cause lethal and sub-lethal effects on organisms, their biochemical toxicity to earthworms is not well understood. in the current study, we investigated the responses of antioxidant systems and lipid peroxidation after exposing eisenia fetida to soil contaminated with 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-?-2-benzopyran (hhcb). significant increase in lipid peroxidation level was observed on day 14 at two high concentrations, 50 and ...201121334043
an enzyme from the earthworm eisenia fetida is not only a protease but also a deoxyribonuclease.the earthworm enzyme eisenia fetida protease-iii-1 (efp-iii-1) is known as a trypsin-like protease which is localized in the alimentary canal of the earthworm. here, we show that efp-iii-1 also acts as a novel deoxyribonuclease. unlike most dnases, this earthworm enzyme recognizes 5'-phosphate dsdna (5'p dna) and degrades it without sequence specificity, but does not recognize 5'oh dna. as is the case for most dnases, mg(2+) was observed to markedly enhance the dnase activity of efp-iii-1. wheth ...201121362403
vermicomposting of source-separated human faeces by eisenia fetida: effect of stocking density on feed consumption rate, growth characteristics and vermicompost production.the main objective of the present study was to determine the optimum stocking density for feed consumption rate, biomass growth and reproduction of earthworm eisenia fetida as well as determining and characterising vermicompost quantity and product, respectively, during vermicomposting of source-separated human faeces. for this, a number of experiments spanning up to 3 months were conducted using soil and vermicompost as support materials. stocking density in the range of 0.25-5.00 kg/m(2) was e ...201121377345
vermicomposting--an effective tool for the management of invasive weed parthenium hysterophorus.this study reports the results of vermicomposting with eisenia fetida of parthenium hysterophorus mixed with cow dung in different ratios (25%, 50% and 75%) in a 18 weeks experiment. in all the treatments, a decrease in ph, oc(total) and c:n ratio, but increase in ec, n(total), p(aval), ca(total), k(total) and heavy metals was recorded. the cocoons production and growth rate (biomass gain worm(-1) day(-1)) were maximum in 100% cow dung. the results indicated that parthenium can be a raw material ...201121392980
toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the earthworm, eisenia fetida and subcellular fractionation of zn.the extensive use of nanoparticles (nps) in a variety of applications has raised great concerns about their environmental fate and biological effects. this study examined the impact of dissolved organic matter (dom) and salts on zno np dispersion/solubility and toxicity to the earthworm eisenia fetida. to be able to better evaluate the toxicity of nps, exposure in agar and on filter paper was proposed for enabling a comparison of the importance of different uptake routes. a dose-related increase ...201121402408
a comparison of multiple esterases as biomarkers of organophosphate exposure and effect in two earthworm species.two different earthworm species, eisenia fetida and lumbricus terrestris, were exposed to 5 μg/cm(2) of malathion to evaluate their usefulness as sentinels of organophosphate exposure and to assess three different esterases, as biomarkers of malathion exposure and effect. tissue xenobiotic burdens and esterase activity were determined for each species and each esterase in order to assess variability. e. fetida exhibited 4-fold less variability in tissue burdens than did l. terrestris and had les ...201121404045
influence of plant-earthworm interactions on som chemistry and p,p'-dde bioaccumulation.laboratory experiments assessed how bioaccumulation of weathered p,p'-dde from soil and humic acid (ha) chemistry are affected by interactions between the plants cucurbita pepo ssp. pepo and ssp. ovifera and the earthworms eisenia fetida, lumbricus terrestris, and apporectodea caliginosa. total organochlorine phytoextraction by ssp. pepo increased at least 25% in the presence of any of the earthworm species (relative to plants grown in isolation). uptake of the compound by ssp. ovifera was unaff ...201121421253
effect of enzyme producing microorganisms on the biomass of epigeic earthworms (eisenia fetida) in vermicompost.we analyzed the bacterial community structure of the intestines of earthworms and determined the effect of enzyme producing microorganisms on the biomass of earthworms in vermicompost. fifty-seven bacterial 16s rdna clones were identified in the intestines of earthworms by using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (pcr-dgge) analysis. entomoplasma somnilux and bacillus licheniformis were the dominant microorganisms; other strains included aeromonas, bacillus, clostr ...201121421302
1h nmr metabolomics of earthworm responses to polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) exposure in soil.(1)h nmr-based metabolomics was used to examine the metabolic profile of d(2)o-buffer extracted tissues of eisenia fetida earthworms exposed for 2 days to an artificial soil spiked with sub-lethal concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) (0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, or 25 mg/kg aroclor 1254). univariate statistical analysis of the identified metabolites revealed a significant increase in atp concentration in earthworms exposed to the highest soil pcb concentration, but detected no significant ch ...201121424327
hydroxyl radical generation and oxidative stress in earthworms (eisenia fetida) exposed to decabromodiphenyl ether (bde-209).antioxidant responses induced by decabromodiphenyl ether (bde-209) in the earthworms (eisenia fetida) were studied after 7 days of exposure. electron paramagnetic resonance (epr) spectra indicated that hydroxyl radicals (•oh) in earthworms were significantly induced by 0.01-10 mg/kg of bde-209. malondialdehyde (mda) and protein carbonyl (pco) were stimulated at 0.5-10 mg/kg and 1-10 mg/kg, respectively. the reduced glutathione (gsh) was inhibited at 1-10 mg/kg while oxidized glutathione (gssg) a ...201121424720
bioavailability of cobalt and silver nanoparticles to the earthworm eisenia fetida.due to difficulties in tracing engineered nanoparticles (enps) in complex media, there are few data on the exposure of soil biota to enps. this study used neutron activated cobalt (co nps) and silver (ag nps) nanoparticles, as well as soluble cobalt and silver salts, to assess the uptake, excretion and biodistribution in the earthworm eisenia fetida. concentrations of cobalt in worms after four weeks exposure reached 88% and 69% of the co ions and co nps concentrations in food, respectively, whi ...201221486186
avoidance behaviour of eisenia fetida to carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, mancozeb and metamidophos in natural soils from the highlands of colombia.earthworm avoidance behaviour test is an important screening tool in soil eco-toxicology. this test has been developed and validated under north american and european conditions. however, little research has been performed on the avoidance test in the tropics. this work demonstrates the potential suitability of the avoidance behaviour test as screening method in the highlands of colombia using eisenia fetida as the bio-indicator species on contaminated soils with carbofuran and chlorpyrifos. tho ...201121489597
susceptibility of epigeic earthworm eisenia fetida to agricultural application of six insecticides.ecotoxicological risks of agricultural application of six insecticides to soil organisms were evaluated by acute toxicity tests under laboratory condition following oecd guidelines using the epigeic earthworm eisenia fetida as the test organism. the organochlorine insecticide endosulfan (lc(50) - 0.002 mg kg(-1)) and the carbamate insecticides aldicarb (lc(50) - 9.42 mg kg(-1)) and carbaryl (lc(50) - 14.81 mg kg(-1)) were found ecologically most dangerous because lc(50) values of these insectici ...201121489602
effect of complexation on the accumulation and elimination kinetics of cadmium and ciprofloxacin in the earthworm eisenia fetida.land application of solid wastes leads to the accumulation of both metals and antimicrobials in soils. to understand the effects of metal and antibiotic interaction on their accumulation by the earthworm eisenia fetida, uptake and elimination kinetics and subcellular distribution of cadmium (cd) and ciprofloxacin (cip) were determined. the kinetics was accurately described by a one-compartment first-order kinetic model. bioaccumulation kinetics and subcellular distribution of cip were not affect ...201121513268
conserved toxic responses across divergent phylogenetic lineages: a meta-analysis of the neurotoxic effects of rdx among multiple species using toxicogenomics.at military training sites, a variety of pollutants such as hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (rdx), may contaminate the area originating from used munitions. studies investigating the mechanism of toxicity of rdx have shown that it affects the central nervous system causing seizures in humans and animals. environmental pollutants such as rdx have the potential to affect many different species, therefore it is important to establish how phylogenetically distant species may respond to these ...201121516383
simultaneous immobilization of lead and atrazine in contaminated soils using dairy-manure biochar.biochar produced from waste biomass is increasingly being recognized as a green, cost-effective amendment for environmental remediation. this work was to determine the ability of biochar to immobilize heavy metal pb and organic pesticide atrazine in contaminated soils. biochar prepared from dairy manure was incubated with contaminated soils at rates of 0, 2.5, and 5.0% by weight for 210 d. a commercial activated carbon (ac) was included as a comparison. the ac was effective in immobilizing atraz ...201121542567
1h nmr-based metabolomics of time-dependent responses of eisenia fetida to sub-lethal phenanthrene exposure.(1)h nmr-based metabolomics was used to examine the response of the earthworm eisenia fetida after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of phenanthrene over time. earthworms were exposed to 0.025 mg/cm(2) of phenanthrene (1/64th of the lc(50)) via contact tests over four days. earthworm tissues were extracted using a mixture of chloroform, methanol and water, resulting in polar and non-polar fractions that were analyzed by (1)h nmr after one, two, three and four days. nmr-based metabolomic anal ...201121620543
on site domestic organic waste treatment through vermitechnology using indigenous earthworm species.in india the exotic epigeic species, eisenia fetida is mostly used for vermicomposting. the introduction of exotic species into local bio system may affect the indigenous earthworm species population. a comparative study between exotic species (eisenia fetida) and indigenous species perionyx sansibaricus and perionyx excavates was performed to determine the potential of indigenous species of the area vis-à-vis the exotic species for composting of domestic organic waste blended with cattle manure ...201121628345
interaction between density and cu toxicity for enchytraeus crypticus and eisenia fetida reflecting field scenarios.effect assessment is usually based on responses obtained from standard tests, in which organisms are well fed and in an optimal population density. for a more thorough assessment of ecotoxicological risk, information is needed for chemical effects in systems that closer reflect the potential exposure in the field systems. responses measured in standard density experiments do not fully reflect the field scenario, where populations' size fluctuate with environmental conditions, leading to very low ...201121652008
vermicomposting of tannery sludge mixed with cattle dung into valuable manure using earthworm eisenia fetida (savigny).the present study revealed the role of earthworm in converting tannery sludge into a valuable product. tannery sludge was toxic to earthworm, therefore it was mixed with cattle dung in different proportions viz. 0:100 (t(0)), 10:90 (t(10)), 25:75 (t(25)), 50:50 (t(50)) and 75:25 (t(75)) on dry weight basis. the minimum mortality and highest population buildup of worms was in t(0) mixture. nitrogen, sodium, phosphorus and ph increased from initial in the range of 7.3-66.6%, 16.90-70.58%, 8.57-44. ...201121676611
enantiomer-specific toxicity and bioaccumulation of alpha-cypermethrin to earthworm eisenia fetida.alpha-cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, is highly effective against a wide range of chewing and sucking insects in crops, and it is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers ((+)-1r-cis-αs+(-)-1s-cis-αr). studies about the toxicity of alpha-cypermethrin to non-target organisms are mainly focused on aquatic organisms, whereas information regarding terrestrial organisms is relatively much less. very little report about its enantioselective toxicity is known, so the present study tested the enantiom ...201121724328
ecotoxicological assessment of tio2 byproducts on the earthworm eisenia fetida.the increasing production of nanomaterials will in turn increase the release of nanosized byproducts to the environment. the aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour, uptake and ecotoxicity of tio(2) byproducts in the earthworm eisenia fetida. worms were exposed to suspensions containing 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l of byproducts for 24 h. size of tio(2) byproducts showed aggregation of particles up to 700 μm with laser diffraction. only worms exposed at 10 mg/l showed bioaccumulation of titanium ( ...201121726923
cloning and characterization of a modular gh5 ß-1,4-mannanase with high specific activity from the fibrolytic bacterium cellulosimicrobium sp. strain hy-13.the gene (1272-bp) encoding a ß-1,4-mannanase from a gut bacterium of eisenia fetida, cellulosimicrobium sp. strain hy-13 was cloned and expressed in escherichia coli. the recombinant ß-1,4-mannanase (rmanh) was approximately 44.0kda and has a catalytic gh5 domain that is 65% identical to that of the micromonospora sp. ß-1,4-mannosidase. the enzyme exhibited the highest catalytic activity toward mannans at 50°c and ph 6.0. rmanh displayed a high specific activity of 14,711 and 8498iumg(-1) towar ...201121767948
impact of imidacloprid residues on the development of eisenia fetida during vermicomposting of greenhouse plant waste.pesticide application in agriculture causes residues in post-harvest plant waste at different concentrations. knowledge concerning how pesticide concentrations in such waste affect earthworms is essential for recycling greenhouse plant debris through vermicomposting. here, we have evaluated the effects of imidacloprid (imd) residues on earthworms (eisenia fetida) during the vermicomposting of plant waste from greenhouse crops in spain. before, the effect of different imd concentrations on earthw ...201121775059
building quantitative prediction models for tissue residue of two explosives compounds in earthworms from microarray gene expression data.soil contamination near munitions plants and testing grounds is a serious environmental concern that can result in the formation of tissue chemical residue in exposed animals. quantitative prediction of tissue residue still represents a challenging task despite long-term interest and pursuit, as tissue residue formation is the result of many dynamic processes including uptake, transformation, and assimilation. the availability of high-dimensional microarray gene expression data presents a new op ...201221776976
toxic effects of enrofloxacin on growth rate and catalase activity in eisenia fetida.enrofloxacin (eflx) has been proven effective against both gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms and used widely in animal husbandry. it may enter the soil environment with the excreta of treated animals. the aim of this study is to determine the toxicity of eflx on the whole earthworms as well as its different tissues. earthworms of eisenia fetida were exposed to eflx at 0, 500, 1000, 3000, and 5000mg/kg concentrations; samples were taken at days 2, 7, and 14 of exposure for determinat ...200821783907
multilevel ecotoxicity assessment of polycyclic musk in the earthworm eisenia fetida using traditional and molecular endpoints.the ecotoxicity assessment of galaxolide (hhcb) and tonalide (ahtn) was investigated in the earthworm eisenia fetida using traditional and novel molecular endpoints. the median lethal concentration (lc(50)) for 7-day and 14-day exposures was 573.2 and 436.3 µg g(-1) for ahtn, and 489.0 and 392.4 µg g(-1) for hhcb, respectively. there was no observed significant effect on the growth rate of e. fetida after a 28-day exposure except that at the highest concentration (100 µg g(-1)) of ahtn and hhcb, ...201121789675
individual and combined toxic effects of cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos on earthworm.toxicities were assessed for a pyrethroid (cypermethrin) and an organophosphate insecticide (chlorpyrifos) individually and in combination. a series of tests were conducted on different responses (acute, chronic, behavioral) of earthworms of species eisenia fetida andrei in the ecological risk assessment of these pesticides. the results showed that the toxicity of the mixture of cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos was significantly higher than either of these pesticides individually, especially on the ...201121793412
earthworms use odor cues to locate and feed on microorganisms in soil.earthworms are key components of temperate soil ecosystems but key aspects of their ecology remain unexamined. here we elucidate the role of olfactory cues in earthworm attraction to food sources and document specific chemical cues that attract eisenia fetida to the soil fungi geotrichum candidum. fungi and other microorganisms are major sources of volatile emissions in soil ecosystems as well as primary food sources for earthworms, suggesting the likelihood that earthworms might profitably use ...201121799756
toxicity of sodium tungstate to earthworm, oat, radish, and lettuce.due to unknown effects of the potential exposure of the terrestrial environment to tungsten substances, a series of toxicity studies of sodium tungstate (na(2) wo(4) ) was conducted. the effect on earthworm (eisenia fetida) survival and reproduction was examined using organisation for economic co-operation and development (oecd) guideline 222. no effect on either endpoint was seen at the highest concentration tested, resulting in a 56-d no-observed-effect concentration (noec) of ≥586 mg tungsten ...201121805499
use of organic amendments as a bioremediation strategy to reduce the bioavailability of chlorpyrifos insecticide in soils. effects on soil biology.the sorption capacity of both an organic municipal solid waste by-product (msw) and a cow manure (cm) in a soil polluted with chlorpyrifos, as well as its effect on soil microbial activity, and weight, reproductive parameters and glutathione-s-transferase activity of two earthworm species (eisenia fetida and lumbricus terrestris) were studied. chlorpyrifos was added at the recommended application rate (5lha(-1); 768mg chlorpyrifos kg(-1)) and treated with msw at a rate of 10% and cm at a rate of ...201121813178
induction and repair of dna strand breaks and oxidised bases in somatic and spermatogenic cells from the earthworm eisenia fetida after exposure to ionising radiation.methods for analysing oxidised dna lesions [formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (fpg)-sensitive sites] in coelomocytes and spermatogenic cells from the earthworm eisenia fetida using the fpg-modified comet assay were established. the dna integrity (ssbs = strand breaks plus alkali labile sites and fpg-sensitive sites) in cells from e. fetida continuously exposed to (60)co gamma-radiation (dose rates 0.18-43 mgy/h) during two subsequent generations (f0 and f1) were measured and related to effects on ...201121825113
using estimates of metal bioavailability in the soil and genetic variation of allozymes to investigate heavy metal tolerance in the earthworm eisenia fetida (oligochaeta).in a recent study, we showed that the earthworm species eisenia fetida, inhabiting an extremely high metal polluted compost heap on a wine farm, did not have elevated body loads of the metals but exhibited genotoxic tolerance when exposed to cd in the laboratory (voua otomo and reinecke, 2010). to unravel the mechanism behind the surprisingly low metal body burdens on one hand and genotoxic tolerance on the other hand, we investigated the estimated bioavailability of these metals (cu, zn, pb and ...201121831430
comparing the sensitivity of soil invertebrates to pesticides with that of eisenia fetida.the sole routine testing of the standard earthworm eisenia fetida for the terrestrial risk assessment of pesticides has been under much debate since other soil invertebrates may be more sensitive than this standard test species. however, the very low availability of laboratory toxicity data for taxa other than e. fetida has greatly hampered sensitivity comparisons. in the present study, the relative tolerance (t(rel)) approach was used to enable comparing toxicity thresholds obtained from the us ...201121840031
influence of activated carbon amendment on the accumulation and elimination of pcbs in the earthworm eisenia fetida.in this study we investigated the use of activated carbon (ac) as a soil amendment for reducing bioavailability of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) to the earthworm eisenia fetida. artificial soil was contaminated with pcbs and used in bioaccumulation experiments fresh or after aging for 19 months. pcb bioaccumulation in earthworms was reduced by 68% when ac was placed as a layer without mixing and by 94% when ac was manually mixed into the soil. aging of the same ac mixed soil for 19 months res ...201121840094
avoidance, weight loss, and cocoon production assessment for eisenia fetida exposed to c₆₀ in soil.eisenia fetida was used as a model terrestrial organism to assess the potential ecotoxicity of molecular pristine c₆₀ in soil. reproduction (assessed by counting cocoon numbers) was hindered only at very high c₆₀ concentrations (5% by weight), and c₆₀ (up to 1%) was not avoided and did not hinder earthworm growth. this suggests that e. fetida is unlikely to experience acute toxicity as a result of c₆₀ occurrence in soil. whether sublethal toxicity may decrease earthworm populations that are chro ...201121842489
enhancement of rural domestic sewage treatment performance, and assessment of microbial community diversity and structure using tower vermifiltration.the performance of a novel three-stage vermifiltration (vf) system using the earthworm, eisenia fetida, for rural domestic wastewater treatment was studied during a 131-day period. the average removal efficiencies of the tower vf planted with penstemon campanulatus were as follows: chemical oxygen demand, 81.3%; ammonium, 98%; total nitrogen, 60.2%; total phosphorus, 98.4%; total nitrogen, mainly in the form of nitrate. soils played an important role in removing the organic matter. the three-sec ...201121852122
metabolic responses of eisenia fetida after sub-lethal exposure to organic contaminants with different toxic modes of action.nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr)--based metabolomics has the potential to identify toxic responses of contaminants within a mixture in contaminated soil. this study evaluated the metabolic response of eisenia fetida after exposure to an array of organic compounds to determine whether contaminant-specific responses could be identified. the compounds investigated in contact tests included: two pesticides (carbaryl and chlorpyrifos), three pharmaceuticals (carbamazephine, estrone and caffeine), two ...201121856054
assessment of phenanthrene bioavailability in aged and unaged soils by mild extraction.it has become apparent that the threat of an organic pollutant in soil is directly related to its bioavailable fraction and that the use of total contaminant concentrations as a measure of potential contaminant exposure to plants or soil organisms is inappropriate. in light of this, non-exhaustive extraction techniques are being investigated to assess their appropriateness in determining bioavailability. to find a suitable and rapid extraction method to predict phenanthrene bioavailability, mult ...201221866434
cloning and identification of micrornas in earthworm (eisenia fetida).micrornas (mirnas) (noncoding rnas of 20-25 nucleotides) play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in various eukaryotes and prokaryotes. piwi-interacting rnas function by combining with piwi proteins to regulate protein synthesis and to stabilize mrna, the chromatin framework, and genome structure. this study investigates the role of mirnas in regeneration. a scrdna library was constructed, and 17 noncoding rnas from eisenia fetida (an optimal model for the ...201221874588
uptake and toxicity of spiked nickel to earthworm eisenia fetida in a range of chinese soils.bioavailability and toxicity of metals to soil organisms varies among different soils, and knowledge of this variance is useful for the development of soil environmental quality guidelines. in the present study, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the effects of variations in nickel (ni) uptake and toxicity on growth, cocoon output, and juvenile production in the earthworm eisenia fetida in 13 chinese soils spiked with nickel chloride. body weight development of e. fetida was ra ...201121898557
gene expression analysis of 4 biomarker candidates in eisenia fetida exposed to an environmental metallic trace elements gradient: a microcosm study.past activities of 2 smelters (metaleurop nord and nyrstar) led to the accumulation of high amounts of metal trace elements (tes) in top soils of the noyelles-godault/auby area, northern france. earthworms were exposed to polluted soils collected in this area to study and better understand the physiological changes, the mechanisms of acclimation, and detoxification resulting from te exposure. previously we have cloned and transcriptionally characterized potential biomarkers from immune cells of ...201121937088
culture-based and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the bacterial community structure from the intestinal tracts of earthworms(eisenia fetida).the bacterial communities in the intestinal tracts of earthworm were investigated by culture-dependent and - independent approaches. in total, 72 and 55 pure cultures were isolated from the intestinal tracts of earthworms under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. aerobic bacteria were classified as aeromonas (40%), bacillus (37%), photobacterium (10%), pseudomonas (7%), and shewanella (6%). anaerobic bacteria were classified as aeromonas (52%), bacillus (27%), shewanella (12%), paeni ...201121952364
The presence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein in earthworms Eisenia fetida has no deleterious effects on their growth and reproduction.Earthworms Eisenia fetida, bred in substances with stover of two genetically-engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corns (5422Bt1 (Event Bt11) and 5422CBCL (MON810)) expressing Cry1Ab and their near-isogenic non-Bt corn (5422), were used to investigate the non-target effects of Bt corn on soil-dwelling organisms. Cry1Ab concentrations in substances, casts and guts of E. fetida were also investigated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). More than 90% individuals of E. fetida survived ov ...201121955355
purification and characterization of novel fibrinolytic proteases as potential antithrombotic agents from earthworm perionyx excavatus.six protease fractions, namely fi, fii, fiii-1, fiii-2, fiii-3 and fiv, were isolated from perionyx excavatus earthworm biomass by acetone precipitation, followed by serial chromatography using anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction and size exclusion chromatography. all fractions exhibited strong hydrolytic activity towards casein. the activity of six fractions towards fibrin, determined by fibrin plate assay, ranged from 44 to 831 plasmin unit.mg-1 and ranked as fiii-3 > fiii-2 > fi > fiii-1 ...201121961566
effects of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene on the enzyme activities and ultrastructure of earthworm eisenia fetida.adult eisenia fetida earthworms were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene to assess the toxicity of contaminated soils. the lc₅₀ of 1,2,4-tcb at 7 and 14 d were 945±175 and 890±169 mg kg⁻¹. a lower dose of 1,2,4-tcb (25 mg g⁻¹) had stimulatory effects on sod and ache activities, but ache activities were significantly inhibited at higher treatment levels (100 and 400 mg g⁻¹). sod activities increased after 2, 7, and 14 d of exposure, but ache activities were significantl ...201221962413
transmission of a bacterial consortium in eisenia fetida egg capsules.the earthworm eisenia fetida harbours verminephrobacter eiseniae within their excretory nephridia. this symbiont is transferred from the parent into the egg capsules where the cells are acquired by the developing earthworm in a series of recruitment steps. previous studies defined v. eiseniae as the most abundant cell type in the egg capsules, leaving approximately 30% of the bacteria unidentified and of unknown origin. the study presented here used terminal restriction fragment length polymorph ...201021966919
reproductive and behavioral responses of earthworms exposed to nano-sized titanium dioxide in soil.nanometer-sized titanium dioxide (nano-tio(2) ) is found in a number of commercial products; however, its effects on soil biota are largely unknown. in the present study, earthworms (eisenia andrei and eisenia fetida) were exposed to three types of commercially available, uncoated tio(2) nanomaterials with nominal diameters of 5, 10, and 21 nm. nanomaterials were characterized for particle size, agglomeration, surface charge, chemical composition, and purity. standard lethality, reproduction, an ...201221993953
ecotoxicity of cyanide complexes in industrially contaminated soils.this study deals with acute and chronic ecotoxicity of leachates from industrially contaminated soils. analyses focused on cyanides (complex and free forms) to study their possible involvement in leachates toxicity. no acute toxicity on the microtox and 48 h-daphnia magna tests was found in leachates collected over 18 months, but a high chronic toxicity was recorded on the reproduction of ceriodaphnia dubia (ec50-7d=0.31±0.07%) and on the algal growth of pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (ec50-72 ...201122018867
acute and reproductive toxicity of nano-sized metal oxides (zno and tio₂) to earthworms (eisenia fetida).an increase in nanomaterial applications will likely lead to an increased probability of environmental exposures, raising concerns regarding the safety of these materials. recent studies have indicated that manufactured nanomaterials, such as metal oxides, have the potential to be harmful to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. the majority of nano-metal oxide research addressing potential toxicological issues has been focused in aquatic environments with very little terrestrial data. this study c ...201122020256
Bacillus eiseniae sp. nov., a swarming and moderately halotolerant bacterium isolated from the intestinal tract of an earthworm (Eisenia fetida L.).A novel swarming and moderately halotolerant bacterium, designated as strain A1-2, was isolated from the intestinal tract of earthworm (Eisenia fetida L.). Cells of the isolate were rod shaped and endospore forming. Strain A1-2 was facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, and motile with peritrichous flagella. The optimal growth conditions of the strain were a temperature of 30 °C and a pH of 7.0. Its growth was inhibited by 10% (w/v) NaCl concentration. Phylogenetic analysi ...201122021583
effects of different gamma exposure regimes on reproduction in the earthworm eisenia fetida (oligochaeta).ecological risk assessment of ionising radiation requires knowledge about the responses of individuals and populations to chronic exposures, including situations when exposure levels change over time. the present study investigated processes such as recovery and the adaptive response with respect to reproduction endpoints in the earthworm eisenia fetida exposed to (60)co γ-radiation. furthermore, a crossed experiment was performed to investigate the influence of f0 parental and f1 embryonic irra ...201122033357
a comparison of pops bioaccumulation in eisenia fetida in natural and artificial soils and the effects of aging.the close relationship between soil organic matter and the bioavailability of pops in soils suggests the possibility of using it for the extrapolation between different soils. the aim of this study was to prove that toc content is not a single factor affecting the bioavailability of pops and that toc based extrapolation might be incorrect, especially when comparing natural and artificial soils. three natural soils with increasing toc and three artificial soils with toc comparable to these natura ...201222035925
Verminephrobacter aporrectodeae sp. nov. subsp. tuberculatae and subsp. caliginosae, the specific nephridial symbionts of the earthworms Aporrectodea tuberculata and A. caliginosa.Clone library-based studies have shown that almost all lumbricid earthworm species harbour host-specific symbiotic bacteria belonging to the novel genus Verminephrobacter in their nephridia (excretory organs). To date the only described representative from this genus is Verminephrobacter eiseniae, the specific symbiont of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. In this study two novel rod-shaped, non-endosporeforming, betaproteobacterial symbionts were isolated from the nephridia of two closely related ea ...201122041977
[Effects of Bt corn straw insecticidal proteins on enzyme activities of Eisenia fetida].Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins released from Bt corn can enter soil ecosystem via returning straw into field, root exudation, and pollen fluttering-down. In this study, the straws of Bt corn and its near-isogenic non-Bt line were added into soil with an application rate of 5% and 7.5% to breed Eisenia fetida, and the total protein content and the activities of acetylcholine esterase (AchE), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in E. fetida were de ...201122097378
A highly active endo-ß-1,4-mannanase produced by Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13, a hemicellulolytic bacterium in the gut of Eisenia fetida.A xylanolytic gut bacterium isolated from Eisenia fetida, Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13, produced an extracellular glycoside hydrolase capable of efficiently degrading mannose-based substrates such as locust bean gum, guar gum, mannotetraose, and mannopentaose. The purified mannan-degrading enzyme (ManK, 34,926Da) from strain HY-13 was found to have an N-terminal amino acid sequence of DEATTDGLHVVDD, which has not yet been identified. Under the optimized reaction conditions of 50°C and pH ...201122112951
Molecular cloning, characterization of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and expression analysis of stress-responsive genes from Eisenia fetida against dietary zinc oxide.The full length cDNA of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) from Eisenia fetida (E. fetida) was cloned (GenBank accession no. JN579648). Sequence characterization revealed that the cDNA contained characteristic Cu/Zn-SOD family signatures ((45)GFHVHEFGDNT(55) and (138)GNAGGRLACGVI(149)), cysteines (Cys-58 and-146) predicted to form one disulphide bond, Cu-binding (His-47, -49, -64 and -120) and Zn-binding (His-64, -72, -81 and Asp-84). They were essential for the structure and function ...201222137962
earthworm sublethal responses to titanium dioxide nanomaterial in soil detected by ¹h nmr metabolomics.¹h nmr-based metabolomics was used to examine the response of eisenia fetida earthworms raised from juveniles for 20-23 weeks in soil spiked with either 20 or 200 mg/kg of a commercially available uncoated titanium dioxide (tio(2)) nanomaterial (nominal diameter of 5 nm). to distinguish responses specific to particle size, soil treatments spiked with a micrometer-sized tio(2) material (nominal diameter, <45 μm) at the same concentrations (20 and 200 mg/kg) were also included in addition to an un ...201222148900
refnetbuilder: a platform for construction of integrated reference gene regulatory networks from expressed sequence tags.gene regulatory networks (grns) provide integrated views of gene interactions that control biological processes. many public databases contain biological interactions extracted from experimentally validated literature reports, but most furnish only information for a few genetic model organisms. in order to provide a bioinformatic tool for researchers who work with non-model organisms, we developed refnetbuilder, a new platform that allows construction of putative reference pathways or grns from ...201122166047
verminephrobacter eiseniae type iv pili and flagella are required to colonize earthworm nephridia.the bacterial symbiont verminephrobacter eiseniae colonizes nephridia, the excretory organs, of the lumbricid earthworm eisenia fetida. e. fetida transfers v. eisenia into the egg capsule albumin during capsule formation and v. eiseniae cells migrate into the earthworm nephridia during embryogenesis, where they bind and persist. in order to characterize the mechanistic basis of selective tissue colonization, methods for site-directed mutagenesis and colonization competence were developed and use ...201122170422
gene expression analysis of cl-20-induced reversible neurotoxicity reveals gaba(a) receptors as potential targets in the earthworm eisenia fetida.the earthworm eisenia fetida is one of the most used species in standardized soil ecotoxicity tests. end points such as survival, growth, and reproduction are eco-toxicologically relevant but provide little mechanistic insight into toxicity pathways, especially at the molecular level. here we apply a toxicogenomic approach to investigate the mode of action underlying the reversible neurotoxicity of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (cl-20), a cyclic nitroamine explosives compound. we developed an e. ...201222191394
passive samplers provide a better prediction of pah bioaccumulation in earthworms and plant roots than exhaustive, mild solvent, and cyclodextrin extractions.a number of extraction methods have been developed to assess polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (pah) bioavailability in soils. as these methods are rarely tested in a comparative manner, against different test organisms, and using field-contaminated soils, it is unclear which method gives the most accurate measure of the actual soil ecosystem exposure. in this study, pah bioavailability was assessed in ten field-contaminated soils by using exhaustive acetone/hexane extractions, mild solvent (butan ...201222191550
management of food industry waste employing vermicomposting technology.this paper reports the vermicomposting of food industry sludges (fis) mixed with different organic wastes employing eisenia fetida. a total of 10 vermicomposting units containing different wastes combinations were established. after 15 weeks significant increase in total nitrogen (n(total)) (60-214%), total available phosphorous (p(avail)) (35.8-69.6%), total sodium (na(total)) (39-95%), and total potassium (k(total)) (43.7-74.1%), while decrease in ph (8.45-19.7%), total organic carbon (oc(tota ...201222197330
a contribution towards the risk assessment of soils from the são domingos mine (portugal): chemical, microbial and ecotoxicological indicators.this study is a contribution towards a risk assessment of the são domingos mine area (portugal), integrating information from: soil physicochemical characteristics, pseudo-total and bioavailable trace elements (as, cd, cr, cu, ni, pb and zn), ecotoxicological evaluation, and microbial indicators. the bioassays using soil eluates (seed germination, luminescent inhibition of vibrio fischeri and daphnia magna immobilization) confirmed the soil toxicity categorization obtained with the bioassays usi ...201222230067
changes in the chemical characteristics of water-extracted organic matter from vermicomposting of sewage sludge and cow dung.the chemical changes of water-extractable organic matter (weom) from five different substrates of sewage sludge enriched with different proportions of cow dung after vermicomposting with eisenia fetida were investigated using various analytical approaches. results showed that dissolved organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand, and c/n ratio of the substrates decreased significantly after vermicomposting process. the aromaticity of weom from the substrates enhanced considerably, and the amount of v ...201222230755
novel modular endo-β-1,4-xylanase with transglycosylation activity from cellulosimicrobium sp. strain hy-13 that is homologous to inverting gh family 6 enzymes.the gene (2304-bp) encoding a novel xylanolytic enzyme (xylk2) with a catalytic domain, which is 70% identical to that of cellulomonas flavigena dsm 20109 gh6 β-1,4-cellobiohydrolase, was identified from an earthworm (eisenia fetida)-symbiotic bacterium, cellulosimicrobium sp. strain hy-13. the enzyme consisted of an n-terminal catalytic gh6-like domain, a fibronectin type 3 (fn3) domain, and a c-terminal carbohydrate-binding module 2 (cbm 2). xylk2δfn3-cbm 2 displayed high transferase activity ...201122230776
comparative acute toxicity of twenty-four insecticides to earthworm, eisenia fetida.in this study, we used two different types of bioassay, a contact filter paper toxicity bioassay and a soil toxicity bioassay, to compare the acute toxicity of twenty-four insecticides belonging to six chemical categories on earthworm species, eisenia fetida. results of the contact filter paper toxicity bioassay indicated that neonicotinoids were super toxic to e. fetida (48 h-lc(50) value ranged from 0.0088 to 0.45 μg cm(-2)), pyrethroids were very toxic (48 h-lc(50) values ranged from 10.55 to ...201222244824
earthworms and soil pollutants.although the toxicity of metal contaminated soils has been assessed with various bioassays, more information is needed about the biochemical responses, which may help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in metal toxicity. we previously reported that the earthworm, eisenia fetida, accumulates cadmium in its seminal vesicles. the bio-accumulative ability of earthworms is well known, and thus the earthworm could be a useful living organism for the bio-monitoring of soil pollution. in this short re ...201122247659
transformation and availability of nutrients and heavy metals during integrated composting-vermicomposting of sewage sludges.transformation and availability of nutrients and some heavy metals were assessed during the integrated composting-vermicomposting of both primary sewage sludge (pss) and waste activated sewage sludge (was) using matured vermicompost as indigenous bulking material and employing eisenia fetida as earthworm species. vermicomposting resulted in significant increase in total n (tn) (pss: 41.7-64.6%, f=11.6, p<0.05; was: 36.4-58.6%, f=6.4, p<0.05), water soluble n (wsn) (pss: 37.1-50.5%, f=30.1, p<0.0 ...201222277776
biomarker responses of earthworms (eisenia fetida) exposured to phenanthrene and pyrene both singly and combined in microcosms.microcosm studies were undertaken to relate biomarker responses to the toxicities in soil ecosystems contaminated by phenanthrene (phe) and pyrene (pyr), both singly and combined. growth inhibition, enzyme activity, mda content, sperm count, neutral-red retention time (nrrt) and annetocin and tctp gene transcriptions were determined in earthworm eisenia fetida exposed to phe and pyr, both singly and combined pollution in microcosm. exposure to 0.5 and 2.5 mg kg(-1) phe or 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) py ...201222341400
species-specific effects of epigeic earthworms on microbial community structure during first stages of decomposition of organic matter.epigeic earthworms are key organisms in organic matter decomposition because of the interactions they establish with microorganisms. the earthworm species and the quality and/or substrate availability are expected to be major factors influencing the outcome of these interactions. here we tested whether and to what extent the epigeic earthworms eisenia andrei, eisenia fetida and perionyx excavatus, widely used in vermicomposting, are capable of altering the microbiological properties of fresh org ...201222363763
self-assemblage and quorum in the earthworm eisenia fetida (oligochaete, lumbricidae).despite their ubiquity and ecological significance in temperate ecosystems, the behavioural ecology of earthworms is not well described. this study examines the mechanisms that govern aggregation behaviour specially the tendency of individuals to leave or join groups in the compost earthworm eisenia fetida, a species with considerable economic importance, especially in waste management applications. through behavioural assays combined with mathematical modelling, we provide the first evidence of ...201222396774
evaluation of glutathione s-transferase as toxicity indicator for roxarsone and arsanilic acid in eisenia fetida.different compounds can induce stress response by targeting specific genes. studies related to elucidating the detoxification and adaptive responses of proteins like glutathione-s-transferase (gst) can be helpful in better understanding toxicity. roxarsone and arsanilic acid, which have been exhaustively used as animal and poultry feed additives, pose a threat to the environment and human health. gst enzyme bioassay revealed fluctuations in response to different concentrations of roxarsone and a ...201222407816
earthworms and humans in vitro: characterizing evolutionarily conserved stress and immune responses to silver nanoparticles.little is known about the potential threats of silver nanoparticles (agnps) to ecosystem health, with no detailed report existing on the stress and immune responses of soil invertebrates. here we use earthworm primary cells, cross-referencing to human cell cultures with a particular emphasis on the conserved biological processes, and provide the first in vitro analysis of molecular and cellular toxicity mechanisms in the earthworm eisenia fetida exposed to agnps (83 ± 22 nm). while we observed a ...201222432789
vermicomposting of herbal pharmaceutical industry waste: earthworm growth, plant-available nutrient and microbial quality of end materials.efforts were made to decompose herbal pharmaceutical industrial waste (hpiw) spiked with cow dung (cd) using eisenia fetida. a total of five vermibeds: t(1) - hpiw (0%+cd 100%, control), t(2) - hpiw (25%), t(3) - hpiw (50%), t(4) - hpiw (75%) and t(5) - hpiw (100%) were used for vermicomposting. the changes in biology and chemistry of vermibeds were measured after ten days interval. e. fetida showed high growth and cocoon production rate in all vermibeds. the vermicomposted material contained gr ...201222440575
coelomic fluid: a complimentary biological medium to assess sub-lethal endosulfan exposure using ¹h nmr-based earthworm metabolomics.endosulfan is an environmentally persistent pesticide and has been shown to be genotoxic, neurotoxic and carcinogenic to surrounding organisms. earthworms are widely used in environmental metabolomic studies to assess soil ecotoxicity. previous nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr)-based metabolomic studies have analyzed earthworm tissue extracts after exposure to endosulfan and identified some key metabolic indicators that can be used as biomarkers of stress. however, some metabolites may have been ...201222451197
glial cells in the central nervous system of earthworm, eisenia fetida.glial elements in the central nervous system of eisenia fetida were studied at light- and electron microscopic level. cells were characterized with the aid of toluidine blue, glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap), s100 staining. we identified neurilemmal-, subneurilemmal-, supporting-nutrifying- and myelinsheath forming glial cells. both neuronal and non-neuronal elements are s100-immunoreactive in the cns. among glial cells neurilemmal and subneurilemmal cells are s100-immunopositive. with the ...201222453746
toxicity assessment of 45 pesticides to the epigeic earthworm eisenia fetida.this study was conducted to investigate comparative toxicity of 45 pesticides, including insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, and herbicides, toward the epigeic earthworm eisenia fetida. results from a 48-h filter paper contact test indicated that clothianidin, fenpyroximate, and pyridaben were supertoxic to e. fetida with lc(50) values ranging from 0.28 (0.24-0.35) to 0.72 (0.60-0.94) μg cm(-2), followed by carbaryl, pyridaphenthion, azoxystrobin, cyproconazole, and picoxystrobin with lc(50) v ...201222459421
biomarker measurements in trifolium repens and eisenia fetida to assess the toxicity of soil contaminated with landfill leachate: a microcosm study.to assess the toxicity of a soil contaminated with landfill leachate, biomarker measurements in two species living in close contact with the soil, i.e. a plant species trifolium repens and an animal species eisenia fetida, were conducted. briefly, both species were studied after simultaneous exposure conducted in microcosms. the organisms were exposed to soil supplemented with pure leachate, leachate diluted to 50%; leachate diluted to 25% and without leachate. after a 10 weeks exposure period, ...201222520451
effects of lime and compost on earthworm (eisenia fetida) reproduction in copper and arsenic contaminated soils from the puchuncaví valley, chile.the puchuncaví valley in central chile has been exposed to atmospheric depositions from a copper smelter. nowadays, soils in the surrounding area are acidic and contaminated with cu and as. the objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of lime and compost for in situ immobilization of trace elements in the soils of the puchuncaví valley by using earthworms as bioindicators of toxicity. the lime and compost treatments significantly increased soil ph and decreased the soluble and ...201222534173
oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the earthworm eisenia fetida induced by low doses of fomesafen.formesafen is a diphenyl ether herbicide that has adverse effects on non-target animals. however, knowledge about the effect of fomesafen on the antioxidant defense system in earthworms is vague. thus, it is essential to investigate the effects of fomesafen on the antioxidant defense system in earthworms as a precautionary method. in the present study, earthworms (eisenia fetida) were exposed to artificial soil treated with a range of concentrations of fomesafen (0, 10, 100, and 500 μg kg(-1)) a ...201322585392
ecotoxicological effects on earthworms of fresh and aged nano-sized zero-valent iron (nzvi) in soil.although nano-sized zero-valent iron (nzvi) has been used for several years for remediation of contaminated soils and aquifers, only a limited number of studies have investigated secondary environmental effects and ecotoxicity of nzvi to soil organisms. in this study we therefore measured the ecotoxicological effects of nzvi coated with carboxymethyl cellulose on two species of earthworms, eisenia fetida and lumbricus rubellus, using standard oecd methods with sandy loam and artificial oecd soil ...201222595530
combined toxicity of cadmium and lead on the earthworm eisenia fetida (annelida, oligochaeta).cadmium (cd) and lead (pb) in soil have received extensive attention due to their potential toxicological effects. this study analyzed the combined toxicity of cd and pb on the earthworm eisenia fetida. cellulase activity and dna damage were chosen as toxic endpoints. factorial analysis was applied to identify the interaction of cd and pb. the results showed that single pb and cd could increase the cellulase activity and dna damage of coelomocytes. the combination of both metals could significan ...201222608004
vermicomposting of milk processing industry sludge spiked with plant wastes.this work illustrates the vermistabilization of wastewater sludge from a milk processing industry (mpis) unit spiked with cow dung (cd), sugarcane trash (st) and wheat straw (ws) employing earthworms eisenia fetida. a total of nine experimental vermibeds were established and changes in chemical parameters of waste material have been observed for 90 days. vermistabilization caused significant reduction in ph, organic carbon and c:n ratio and substantial increase in total n, available p and exchan ...201222609678
[mild solvent extraction technique for the evaluation of pahs bioavailability].n-butanol and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (hpcd) were used to extract polyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from 9 aged agricultural fields and to assess the pahs bioavailability to earthworm (eisenia fetida). it was demonstrated that the high molecular weight (hmw) pahs (> or = 4 rings) contribute the largest proportions (4-ring pahs: 34.06%, 5-6 rings: 34.09%) to the contaminants in long-term aged field soils. moreover, the light molecular weight pahs were easily accumulated in the earthworm,whil ...201122619979
responses of earthworm to aluminum toxicity in latosol.excess aluminum (al) in soils due to acid rain leaching is toxic to water resources and harmful to soil organisms and plants. this study investigated adverse impacts of al levels upon earthworms (eisenia fetida) from the latosol (acidic red soil). laboratory experiments were performed to examine the survival and avoidance of earthworms from high al concentrations and investigate the response of earthworms upon al toxicity at seven different al concentrations that ranged from 0 to 300 mg kg(-1) o ...201322645004
dna damage and biochemical toxicity of antibiotics in soil on the earthworm eisenia fetida.dna damage and changes in enzyme activities were used as biomarkers to evaluate the genotoxicity and oxidative stress of tetracycline and chlortetracycline on the earthworm eisenia fetida. the results showed that both antibiotics induced significant genotoxicity on earthworms in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01) with chlortetracycline having a stronger effect than tetracycline in the short term. the tests on the activities of superoxide dismutase (sod) and catalase (cat) enzymes further indicated ...201222647195
the combined stress effects of atrazine and cadmium on the earthworm eisenia fetida.to assess the combined toxic effects of atrazine and cadmium on earthworms, specimens of eisenia fetida were exposed in artificial soil to three concentrations of atrazine (0, 0.5, and 2.5 mg kg(-1)) and a range of concentrations of cadmium (cd; 0, 0.03, 0.3, and 3.0 mg kg(-1)) both singly and as mixtures. the dna damage and internal atrazine and cadmium concentrations were assessed in earthworms on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the treatment. the results showed that the olive tail moments (otms) at ...201222653482
biochemical and genotoxic effect of triclosan on earthworms (eisenia fetida) using contact and soil tests.triclosan (tcs) is a broad-spectrum bactericide that is used for a variety of antimicrobial functions. tcs is frequently detected in the terrestrial environment due to application of sewage sludge to agricultural land. in the present study, 48-h paper contact and 28-day spiked soil tests were conducted to examine the toxic effects of tcs on the antioxidative and genetic indices of earthworms (eisenia fetida). the activity of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, sod; catalase, cat) and th ...201222707219
cold-stress induced formation of calcium and phosphorous rich chloragocyte granules (chloragosomes) in the earthworm eisenia fetida.the cytochemical and functional characteristics of chloragocytes of both 'control' and cold-stressed eisenia fetida were examined. flow cytometry revealed the heterogeneity of chloragocytes: the first group was characterized by low, the second one by high acid phosphatase (acp) content. in 'control' animals the former, in cold-stressed ones the latter type were the dominant form. the elevated acp-activity correlated with the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles (avs) in chloragocytes. both avs an ...201222710253
[optimal c/n ratio of pig manure-rice straw mixture for its composting with earthworm and maturity assessment of the mixture compost].taking the pig manure-rice straw mixtures with different c/n ratios (20, 25, 30, and 35) as the feed of earthworm (eisenia fetida), a 90-day incubation test was conducted to study the growth and reproduction of e. fetida, with the average body mass, daily body mass increase, daily cocoon production, and accumulated cocoon production as the indicators. in the meantime, a 35-day composting experiment was arranged to assess the maturity of the same mixtures with c/n 25, 30, and 35, using ph, dissol ...201222720623
antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in earthworm eisenia fetida exposed to 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-γ-2-benzopyran.polycyclic musks have been indicated to cause lethal and sublethal effects on exposed biota. however, knowledge about the effect of polycyclic musks on the antioxidant defense system in earthworms is vague. in this work, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (sod), peroxidase (pod), catalase (cat), and malondialdehyde (mda) exposed to 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-γ-2-benzopyran (hhcb) were systematically investigated. the investigation s ...201222764077
structures of lysenin reveal a shared evolutionary origin for pore-forming proteins and its mode of sphingomyelin recognition.pore-forming proteins insert from solution into membranes to create lesions, undergoing a structural rearrangement often accompanied by oligomerization. lysenin, a pore-forming toxin from the earthworm eisenia fetida, specifically interacts with sphingomyelin (sm) and may confer innate immunity against parasites by attacking their membranes to form pores. sm has important roles in cell membranes and lysenin is a popular sm-labeling reagent. the structure of lysenin suggests common ancestry with ...201222819216
earthworm bioassays and seedling emergence for monitoring toxicity, aging and bioaccumulation of anthropogenic waste indicator compounds in biosolids-amended soil.land application of biosolids (treated sewage sludge) can be an important route for introducing xenobiotic compounds into terrestrial environments. there is a paucity of available information on the effects of biosolids amendment on terrestrial organisms. in this study, the influence of biosolids and biosolids aging on earthworm (eisenia fetida) reproduction and survival and lettuce (lactuca sativa) seedling emergence was investigated. earthworms were exposed to soils amended with varying quanti ...201222832088
a diversified approach to evaluate biostimulation and bioaugmentation strategies for heavy-oil-contaminated soil.a diversified approach involving chemical, microbiological and ecotoxicity assessment of soil polluted by heavy mineral oil was adopted, in order to improve our understanding of the biodegradability of pollutants, microbial community dynamics and ecotoxicological effects of various bioremediation strategies. with the aim of improving hydrocarbon degradation, the following bioremediation treatments were assayed: i) addition of inorganic nutrients; ii) addition of the rhamnolipid-based biosurfacta ...201222858534
physiological and molecular responses of the earthworm (eisenia fetida) to soil chlortetracycline contamination.this study aims to evaluate toxic effects of exposure to chlortetracycline (ctc) in soil on reproductive endpoints (juvenile counts and cocoon counts), biochemical responses, and genotoxic potentials of the earthworm eisenia fetida. results showed that juvenile counts and cocoon counts of the tested earthworms were reduced after exposure to ctc. the effective concentrations (ec(50) values) for juvenile and cocoon counts were 96.1 and 120.3 mg/kg, respectively. treatment of earthworms with ctc si ...201222868346
fate and bioavailability of ¹⁴c-pyrene and ¹⁴c-lindane in sterile natural and artificial soils and the influence of aging.soil organic matter is used to extrapolate the toxicity and bioavailability of organic pollutants between different soils. however, it has been shown that other factors such as microbial activity are crucial. the aim of this study was to investigate if sterilization can reduce differences in the fate and bioavailability of organic pollutants between different soils. three natural soils with increasing total organic carbon (toc) content were collected and three artificial soils were prepared to o ...201222892571
trophic transfer of au nanoparticles from soil along a simulated terrestrial food chain.to determine if nanoparticles (nps) could be transferred from soil media to invertebrates and then to secondary consumers, we examined the trophic transfer of au nps along a simulated terrestrial food chain. earthworms (eisenia fetida) were exposed to au nps in artificial soil media and fed to juvenile bullfrogs (rana catesbeina). earthworm au concentrations were continuously monitored so that the cumulative dose to bullfrogs could be accurately estimated throughout the experiment. we exposed a ...201222897478
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