Earthworms also known as farmer's friends are natural tillers of soil. They belong to Phylum Annelida and class Oligochaeta. Acid soils with organic matter and surface humus maintain the largest fauna of worms and earthworms. Due to their habitat in soil, they are constantly exposed to microbes and pollution generated by anthropogenic sources. Studies have revealed that damage of the immune system of earthworms can lead to alterations of both morphological and cellular characteristics of worms, activation of signalling pathways and can strongly influence their survival. Therefore, the understanding of the robust immune system in earthworms has become very important from the point of view of understanding its role in combating pathogens and pollutants and its role in indicating the soil pollution. In this article, we have outlined the (i) components of the immune system and (ii) their function of immunological responses on exposure to pollutants and pathogens. This study finds importance from the point of view of ecotoxicology and monitoring of earthworm health and exploring the scope of earthworm immune system components as biomarkers of pollutants and environmental toxicity. The future scope of this review remains in understanding the earthworm immunobiology and indicating strong biomarkers for pollution.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-1167-8 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Risk of adverse birth outcomes and birth defects among women living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy and HIV-negative women in Uganda, 2015-2021.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
January 2025
Makerere University - Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
Introduction: We assessed the risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes and birth defects among women living with HIV (WLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV-negative women.
Methods: We analyzed data on live births, stillbirths, and spontaneous abortions during 2015-2021 from a hospital-based birth defects surveillance system in Kampala, Uganda. ART regimens were recorded from hospital records and maternal self-reports.
Revealing NOD1-Activating Gram-Positive Gut Microbiota via in Vivo Labeling with a meso-Diaminopimelic Acid Probe.
ACS Chem Biol
January 2025
Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China.
As an important receptor in a host's immune and metabolic systems, NOD1 is usually activated by Gram-negative bacteria having -diaminopimelic acid (-DAP) in their peptidoglycan (PGN). But some atypical Gram-positive bacteria also contain -DAP in their PGN, giving them the potential to activate NOD1. The prevalence of -DAP-type Gram-positive bacteria in the gut, however, remains largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShort-term effects of follicle stimulating hormone on immune function, lipid, and vitamin metabolism in transiently castrated men.
Endocr Connect
January 2025
Y Giwercman, Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Background: Prostate cancer therapy with surgical or chemical castration with GnRH agonists has been linked to elevated FSH levels, which may contribute to secondary health disorders, including atherosclerosis and diabetes. Although recent findings suggest a role for FSH beyond the reproductive system, its metabolic impact remains unclear and difficult to disentangle from that of androgens. In this study, we examined the metabolic changes induced by FSH and distinguished them from those caused by testosterone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCharacteristics of viral ovarian tumor domain protease from two emerging orthonairoviruses and identification of Yezo virus human infections in northeastern China as early as 2012.
J Virol
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Emerging tick-borne orthonairovirus infections pose a growing global concern, with limited understanding of the viral ovarian tumor-like cysteine proteases (vOTUs) encoded by novel orthonairoviruses. These vOTUs, a group of deubiquinylases (DUBs), disrupt the innate immune response. Yezo virus (YEZV), a recently discovered pathogenic orthonairovirus, was first reported in Japan in 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomarkers in the diagnosis of mast cell activation.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol
February 2025
Division of Allergic Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Purpose Of Review: Mast cell activation is defined by activation of mast cells by varying stimuli with release of chemical mediators either through degranulation or release of de novo synthesized proteins or lipid mediators. Currently, tryptase measurement increase during symptomatic episodes is the most accepted biomarker measurement for mast cell activation. However, newer diagnostic tools including clinically available urinary mast cell mediators are noninvasive and can be more readily obtained compared to serum tryptase levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!