oligochaeta

..terrestris. This study demonstrates the utility of NMR spectroscopy in detecting previously unknown potential biomarkers for ecotoxicity testing and identified maltose as a potential biomarker compound deserving of further study...

..Hence, we conclude that the selection of bacteria associated with the gut wall of earthworms is a natural selection process and the strongest determinant of this process is in the order ecological group>habitat>species...

..Experiments were conducted to understand the therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities of biologically active extract isolated from whole earthworm (Lampito mauritii, Kinberg)...

..Some genes were differentially expressed in a stress specific manner and, in general, the responses were related with effects in the energy metabolism and cell growth...

..It is proposed to standardize the Enchytraeid Avoidance Test as it is currently done for the Earthworm Avoidance Test by the International Standard Organization (ISO)...

..This study highlights the importance of dose dependencies when testing chemical mixtures and that avoidance tests can also be used to asses the effects of mixture toxicity...

..We conclude that toxicity of pesticides in tropics may not be predicted from data generated under temperate conditions, even within the same species...

..fetida than by interactions with the earthworm-shaped microbial community...

..Here we proposed to standardize the Enchytraeid avoidance test in a way similar to what is currently done for the earthworm and collembolan avoidance tests by the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO)...

..Since feeding represents a main perturbation of the gut microbiota, we determined the effect of a single dose of feed on the microbiota associated with an earthworm population in a simulated microenvironment...

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..nov. is proposed for the earthworm nephridial symbionts. The name Verminephrobacter eiseniae sp. nov. is proposed for the type species with strain EF01-2(T) (=ATCC BAA-1489(T)=DSM 19286(T)) as the type strain of the type species...

..From an ecological point of view, avoidance tests are relevant but due to lower sensitivity and higher variability it is recommended that the enchytraeid avoidance test should not be used for risk assessment purposes...

..e. effects derived from earthworm activities such as cast ageing). Here we test whether indirect earthworm effects affect microbial community functioning in the substrate, as when earthworms are present (i. e., direct effects)...

..albidus. It demonstrates the usefulness of cDNA normalization in the production of cDNA libraries of ecotoxicological standard organisms that are not genome models like E. albidus...

..Nevertheless, casts were also characterized by an increased enzyme potential that might lead to a further thorough degradation of pig and cow manure...

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..In conclusion, our results suggest that some specific bacterial taxonomic groups maintain their diversity and even increase their relative numbers during transit through the gastrointestinal tract of earthworms...

Spermatogonial and metaphase I chromosomes of the lumbricid earthworm Octodrilus complanatus (Annelida: Oligochaeta) were examined using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with three repetitive DNA probes-5S rDNA, 18S-26S rDNA, and ..

..In this study, the anti-tumor activity of EFE, isolated from Eisenia foetida, on human hepatoma cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The potential mechanisms involved were also studied...

..and legumes function as keystone organisms for grassland decomposition processes and presumably contribute to the recorded increase in primary productivity with increasing plant diversity...

..Further, earthworms likely alter competitive interactions among plants and the structure of plant communities by beneficially affecting certain plant functional groups...

..Disturbances by ecosystem engineers affect the distribution, establishment, and abundance of species but this has been ignored in studies on diversity-invasibility relationships...

..These results suggest that EjGS may play roles in regeneration, nerve function, cell proliferation, nitrogenous waste excretion, macromolecule synthesis, and gametogenesis...

..e. soil respiration, soil microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity were greater by application of vermicomposts over that after application of inorganic fertilizer in a new plantation of T. grandis...

..aporrectodeae subsp. caliginosae (type strain, Ac9(T) = DSM 21895(T) = LMG 25312(T)) isolated from the nephridia of the earthworms Aporrectodea tuberculata and A. caliginosa, respectively...

..was investigated in three geographically different populations of the enchytraeid Enchytraeus albidus (Oligochaeta). E. albidus is widely distributed from the high Arctic to temperate Western Europe. Our results show that E...

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..Results showed that for both organisms a clear response within 24 h of exposure can be obtained. This rapid response enhances the utility of the test for "on site" analysis to evaluate contaminated sites...

..Studies that use metal-amended artificial soils are not useful to predict toxicity of field multi-contaminated soils...

..In the investigated 'Oligochaeta' the outgrowing fibers of the ventral nerve cord are soon bundled into at least two distinct connective pairs, ..

..Results showed that DNA damage from Cd was more serious than that from Pb. And this indicated that the earthworm was more sensitive to the effects of Cd...

..As a result of the ringtest, the ERT draft guideline was significantly improved. The new version is currently being standardised by OECD, ISO and ASTM...

..These results challenge the free ion activity model and suggested that Cu may be partly taken up as Cu-CIP complexes in earthworms, changing the bioavailability, subcellular distribution, and toxicity of Cu to earthworms...

..In addition, biota to soil accumulation factor (BSAF) used to express the bioaccumulation of metalaxyl enantiomers was investigated, and significant difference was observed between rac-metalaxyl and R-metalaxyl...

..No bioaccumulation of TiO(2) nanocomposites could thus be observed...

..These findings indicate that the stem cell system in E. japonensis is regulated by both internal and external environmental factors...

..in inhibiting grimp expression by RNA interference (RNAi), thus applying this technique for the first time in Oligochaeta. In knock-down worms, the number of BrdU-positive neoblasts and the non-neoblast grimp-expressing cells in the ..

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..paratuberculosis. The results suggest that earthworms may become vectors of mycobacteria...

..Furthermore the behaviour parameter was equally or more sensitive then other sublethal parameters (e.g. reproduction or growth), expressing the advantages of Avoidance Behaviour Tests as screening tools in ERA...

..These results were consistent with a model where a large portion of the microbial population in soil passes through the gastrointestinal tract of the earthworm unchanged while representatives of some phyla increase in abundance...

..Furthermore, CaCl(2) and DTPA extraction methods are proved as promising, precise, and inexpensive surrogate measures of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn bioavailability from heavy metal-contaminated soils...

..The organophosphate insecticides chlorpyrifos (LC(50) - 28.58 mg kg(-1)), and monocrotophos (LC(50) - 39.75 mg kg(-1)) were found less toxic and ecologically safe because the LC(50) values were much higher than their respective RAD...

..This is the first report to directly show that the germ and somatic lineages are segregated in asexually growing animals and behave differently during regeneration...

..luxuriosus > E. albidus >> F. candida. Differences in toxicity of offspring survival between enchytraeids and F. candida might be explained by the different routes of uptake...

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..These results suggest that coping with different metals in earthworms is associated with differential energy demands depending on the associated detoxification strategy...

..e., emitted H(2)) for microbiota in aerated soils...

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..F., Shen, H.-P., Tsai, S.-C., 2000a. Native and exotic species of terrestrial earthworm (Oligochaeta) in Taiwan with reference to Northeast Asia. Zool. Stud. 39, 285-294, Tsai, C.-F., Tsai, S.-C., Liaw, G.-J...

..The cryptic diversity revealed by these results has profound consequences for all areas of earthworm research...

..fetida casts was significantly higher than in the bulk of the soil. In remediated soil the Pb bioavailability in the simulated stomach phase increased by 5.1 times...

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..This dynamic does not seem to be affected by earthworms because similar decaying patterns of microbial biomass and activity were found in substrate where earthworms were present...

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..All six iso-enzymes had identical aa residues 2-3 and 13-15. The N-terminal 21-22 aa sequences of the F2, F3, and F4 iso-enzymes were almost the same. The N-terminal aa sequences of F5 and F6 were identical...

..These results obtained from in vitro experiments were similar to those in vivo. Moreover, menthol and glucose showed absorption enhancement properties with a relatively low cytotoxicity...

..fetida triggered fungal growth during vermicomposting. We suggest that this activation is a key step leading to more intense and efficient cellulolysis during vermicomposting of organic wastes...

..The presence of earthworms increases C limitation of soil microorganisms, due to increased availability of N and P in earthworm casts or a direct depletion of easily available carbon resources by earthworms...

..cerebralis reduced feeding activity of T. tubifex by approximately 40%. Low energy intake and impaired energetic allocation may be the underlying mechanism behind reduced fecundity of infected T. tubifex...

..Moreover our analyses also showed the presence of highly divergent lineages within A. caliginosa, A. trapezoides, and A. longa, suggesting the existence of cryptic diversity within these taxa...

..Toxicity data for other soil invertebrate species are required to fully establish benchmark levels/ecological soil screening levels for tungsten...

..We believe that the resources described herein will facilitate phylogenetic studies on the molecular level, which will help to understand lophotrochozoan evolution...

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..The clitellate annelid Lumbricus rubellus is a model organism for soil health testing, but genetic data have been lacking...

..We propose a model that describes how the versatile metabolism within this symbiotic consortium provides the host with an optimal energy supply as it shuttles between the upper oxic and lower anoxic coastal sediments that it inhabits...

..This information should prove valuable in assessing the bioaccumulation potential and ecological risks of CL-20...

..Lethality, growth and reproductive endpoints were measured...

..This is the first description concerning the functional correlation between an invertebrate OT/VP-related peptide and egg-laying behaviour...

..The non- or late recovery of E2 makes this enzyme a potential biomarker candidate for previous OP insecticide exposure in Eisenia fetida, provided the protocol for measurements is improved and standardized...

..This study for the first time presents data on the impact of heavy metal pollution on various terrestrial organisms in Taiwan...

..Since it is a non-carcinogenic PAH, we propose that the metabolic changes observed in worms may reflect the non-specific toxic effects of pyrene as a typical, non-polar organic compound...

..fetida libraries enriched with genes responsive to ten ordnance related compounds using suppressive subtractive hybridization-PCR...

..This pathway may be an ancestral innate immune signaling pathway found in a putative common ancestor of nematodes, arthropods and even vertebrates. It could also help us to link pollution, innate immunity and transduction in earthworms...

..Others expressed weak changes of expression as heat shock proteins. At lastfor catalase and metallothionein, early suitable variations of expression were observed...

..Colonization of the correct tissues by specific bacteria during differentiation and maturation of the organs must involve selective host defenses and signaling between the two partners to prevent over growth of nascent tissues...

..Our present results, therefore, demonstrate the great potential of annelids as a new experimental subject for the exploration of unknown genes that play critical roles in animal regeneration...

..Taken together, this evidence leads to the notion that eVCP-2 is a likely component involved in the final modulation of spermatogenesis...

..fetida MT is a sensitive and relevant biomarker of Cd exposure and especially when considering gene expression response. Further experiments have now to prove its usefulness in natural metal-contaminated soil toxicity assessments...

..In older animals, the morphology of the chloragogenous tissue had not been restored, while a reduction in coelomocyte number was found after 1 week...

..Further experiments have now to be performed to evaluate the usefulness of these MT responses for field contaminated soils toxicity assessment using this earthworm species...

..This early embryonic pattern in E. coronatus resembles the adult body-wall muscle arrangements in several polychaete groups as well as muscle differentiation during embryonic development of the polychaete Capitella sp. I...

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..The CL-20 is more potent than RDX, which is consistent with previous studies on lethality, growth, and reproduction endpoints in soil oligochaetes...

..A strong decrease of the number of transcripts was also detected for most effectors soon after the exposure to cadmium suggesting that a trade-off mechanism occurs...

..Dot-blotting assay with ConA suggested the oligosaccharides were composed of mannose residues...

..The analysis of the amorphous structure factor of this ACC indicates that these transformations are preceded by short-range order modifications of the amorphous precursor phase...

..However, risk assessment can conservatively rely on equilibrium partitioning, but accurate prediction requires quantification of the kinetics of bioavailability...

..In summary, this paper provides a detailed dissection of the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of a sophisticated pathway that facilitates the uptake, accumulation, transport, and excretion of cadmium...

..A neural network appears around the pygidium, and this is followed by growth of the body at the posterior end. The nervous system appears to play an important role in both anterior and posterior regeneration...

..These findings, together with its simple metameric morphology and ease of culture and handling, suggest that E. japonensis is an excellent material for studying animal regeneration...

..6%), and fibrin hydrolysis (4.7%). In addition, we were able to identify novel ESTs in the earthworm, which were related to the innate immune system, including destabilase, a possible antagonist of transglutaminase...

..Such a phylogenetically diverse yet highly specific and stable association in which multiple bacterial phylotypes coexist within a single host has not been described previously for marine invertebrates...

..Possible implications for intracellular metal trafficking are discussed...

..Toll and Toll-like receptor signaling is essential for phagocytosis and antimicrobial peptide synthesis and secretion in insects and vertebrates but has not yet been shown to be essential in earthworm innate responses...

..Accumulation of certain PBDE congeners from biosolids and sediments by benthos provides a pathway for transfer to higher trophic levels, and congener discrimination may increase with each trophic transfer...

..These studies will provide insight into the molecular mechanism of IRF signaling, providing possible targets for rational drug design to combat viral pathogenesis. ..

..Our structural analysis suggests a number of hypotheses for the regulation of function, which we will be testing by mutagenesis, kinetic and structural experiments. ..

..Understanding such principles will aid in the rational manipulation of a number of biological processes. ..

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..Crystallization of a 43OkDa hemoglobin from a related arcid clam, Barbatia reeveana, will be pursued to determine the manner by which a tandem repeat of globin folds can be accommodated while still maintaining cooperative oxygen binding...

..They will also contribute to understanding the cellular processes known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), which play a critical role both in normal development and in cancer metastasis. ..

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..They will also contribute to understanding the cellular processes known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), which play a critical role both in normal development and in cancer metastasis. ..