Survival of earthworms in the environment depends on their ability to recognize and eliminate potential pathogens. This work is aimed to compare the innate defense mechanisms of two closely related earthworm species, Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida, that inhabit substantially different ecological niches. While E. andrei lives in a compost and manure, E. fetida can be found in the litter layer in forests. Therefore, the influence of environment-specific microbiota on the immune response of both species was followed. Firstly, a reliable method to discern between E. andrei and E. fetida based on species-specific primers for cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and stringent PCR conditions was developed. Secondly, to analyze the immunological profile in both earthworm species, the activity and expression of lysozyme, pattern recognition protein CCF, and antimicrobial proteins with hemolytic function, fetidin and lysenins, have been assessed. Whereas, CCF and lysozyme showed only slight differences in the expression and activity, fetidin/lysenins expression as well as the hemolytic activity was considerably higher in E. andrei as compared to E. fetida. The expression of fetidin/lysenins in E. fetida was not affected upon the challenge with compost microbiota, suggesting more substantial changes in the regulation of the gene expression. Genomic DNA analyses revealed significantly higher level of fetidin/lysenins (determined using universal primer pairs) in E. andrei compared to E. fetida. It can be hypothesized that E. andrei colonizing compost as a new habitat acquired an evolutionary selection advantage resulting in a higher expression of antimicrobial proteins.

• MeSH
• Bacteria classification   genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Toxins, Biological genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Ecosystem * MeSH
• Gene Expression MeSH
• Hemolysis genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Manure microbiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Muramidase genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Oligochaeta classification   genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Immunity, Innate genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Proteins genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Soil Microbiology MeSH
• Electron Transport Complex IV genetics   MeSH
• Base Sequence MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Toxins, Biological MeSH
• fetidin MeSH Browser
• Manure MeSH
• lysenin MeSH Browser
• Muramidase MeSH
• Proteins MeSH
• Electron Transport Complex IV MeSH

Discrimination of self and nonself is one of the features of all animal species but the ways of elimination of nonself are different. Defense strategies of invertebrates, which lack antibodies and lymphocytes, are based on innate defense mechanisms. The study of such, undoubtedly less complex, defense mechanisms in invertebrates may shed a new light on the more sophisticated immunity of vertebrates. The main aim of this review is to show on one experimental model--an oligochaete annelid--cellular and humoral defense pathways protecting against microbial infection.

• MeSH
• Toxins, Biological MeSH
• Cytotoxins genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins immunology   MeSH
• Lectins * MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Oligochaeta immunology   microbiology   physiology   MeSH
• Antigen Presentation MeSH
• Proteins chemistry   genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Sequence Alignment MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Toxins, Biological MeSH
• coelomic cytolytic factor 1, Eisenia fetida MeSH Browser
• Cytotoxins MeSH
• fetidin MeSH Browser
• Hemolysin Proteins MeSH
• Lectins * MeSH
• lysenin MeSH Browser
• Proteins MeSH

Coelomic fluid of Eisenia foetida earthworms is known to exert strong proteolytic, hemolytic, bacteriostatic, and cytolytic properties. Ultrastructural observations revealed that coelomic fluid causes multiple ruptures and defects in the erythrocyte membrane as well as in the membrane of murine peritoneal leukocytes. Incubation of peritoneal cells in coelomic fluid resulted in a disorganization of the macrophage surface microvilli, changes in the organization of cytoplasmic organelles and disruption and degranulation of mast cells. Severe mesothelial damage was observed after intraperitoneal administration of the coelomic fluid.

• MeSH
• Epithelial Cells drug effects   MeSH
• Erythrocytes drug effects   MeSH
• Injections, Intraperitoneal MeSH
• Leukocytes drug effects   MeSH
• Mast Cells drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Microvilli drug effects   MeSH
• Mitochondria drug effects   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Oligochaeta chemistry   immunology   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Sheep MeSH
• Peritoneal Cavity cytology   MeSH
• Macrophages, Peritoneal drug effects   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Peritoneum cytology   drug effects   MeSH
• Body Fluids chemistry   MeSH
• Digestive System chemistry   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH