Enantioselective toxicity and degradation of chiral herbicide fenoxaprop-ethyl in earthworm Eisenia fetida

The enantioselective degradation of fenoxaprop-ethyl in ecological indicator earthworm was studied and the main metabolites (fenoxaprop, 6-chloro-2,3-dihydrobenzoxazol-2-one, ethyl-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propanoate, 2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propanoic acid) were also monitored on an enantiomeric level. The individual enantiomers of fenoxaprop-ethyl and its three chiral metabolites were prepared to study the acute toxicity to earthworm. Chiral analysis methods were set up based on HPLC–MS/MS with chiralpak IC chiral column. Fenoxaprop-ethyl was not found in earthworms, while the primary metabolite fenoxaprop was in relatively high levels indicating a quick hydrolysis degradation. Fenoxaprop was accumulated almost exclusively with R-enantiomer in earthworms and the bio-concentration factors of R-fenoxaprop and S-fenoxaprop were 1.39 and 0.17 respectively with the enantiomer fraction (EF) values about 0.99. The degradation of R-fenoxaprop in earthworms followed first-order kinetics with half-life of 1.82 day. The other metabolites could not be detected in earthworms. The calculated LC₅₀ values showed ecological indicator earthworm was more sensitive to the four metabolites than fenoxaprop-ethyl. Furthermore, earthworm was more sensitive to the R-form of the chiral metabolites than the S-form and rac-form. The results suggested metabolites and enantioselectivity should be taken into consideration to better predict the exposure concentration and apply ecological indicators in toxicological studies.     

Vermifiltration as a stage in reuse of swine wastewater: Monitoring methodology on an experimental farm

Vermifiltration is a new technology using earthworms to process organically polluted water. A pilot associated with a swine facility (piggery) with 66 swine was developed to treat diluted manure, produce earthworms and vermicompost, and reduce air pollution. The aim of the experiment reported here was to devise an integrated method – biological, chemical and physical – for further research and development of vermifiltration in diluted swine manure, and provide some preliminary results. The earthworm population increased by 30% in 4 weeks, indicating the acclimation of the earthworms. A reduction in ammonia emission was observed of about 50% for the whole system. Higher water (+100%), carbon (+70%), and total nitrogen (+80%) gaseous losses were observed compared to conventional breeding on a slatted floor. This methodology can be used for further studies to develop vermifiltration for earthworm and vermicompost production from diluted animal manure, without pollution transfer.     

一株来自蚯蚓的产纤溶酶蜡状芽孢杆菌Bacillus cereus的筛选及鉴定

对来自4个不同省份的5条蚯蚓的肠道及体表细菌进行分离,共获得122株细菌。通过脱脂奶粉平板法初筛,纤维蛋白平板法复筛,以透明圈为筛选标记,共筛选出产纤溶酶菌株12株,其中菌株SC-3-W-3的纤溶酶活力较高,达到了538.64 U/mL(相当于尿激酶的活力单位)。通过对其形态、培养、生理生化特征进行研究,发现其与蜡状芽孢杆菌Bacillus cereus Frankland的特征很相符。进一步对SC-3-W-3的16S rDNA序列及系统发育分析表明,该菌株与蜡状芽孢杆菌的同源性高达100%。综合生理生化及16S rDNA序列比对结果,将SC-3-W-3菌株鉴定为蜡状芽孢杆菌。     

Upregulation of cellulase activity and mRNA levels by bacterial challenge in the earthworm Eisenia andrei,supporting the involvement of cellulases in innate immunity

To investigate whether earthworm cellulases contribute to the innate immune system, the responsiveness of cellulase activity and mRNA expression to bacterial challenge was examined by zymography and RNA sequencing. A zymographic analysis revealed that the activity levels of earthworm cellulases were upregulated in response to either a bacterial (Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli) or LPS challenge. After the challenge, significant increases in cellulase 1 and cellulase 2 activity levels were observed within 8–16 and 16–24 h, respectively. In the coelomic fluid, both activities were significantly upregulated at 8 h post-injection with B. subtilis. Based on RNA sequencing, cellulase-related mRNAs encoding beta-1,4-endoglucanases were upregulated by 3-fold within 6 h after B. subtilis injection. Our results clearly demonstrated that earthworm cellulases are upregulated by bacterial challenge at the mRNA and protein levels. These results support the view that earthworm cellulases act as inducible humoral effectors of innate immunity against bacterial infection.     

1H NMR spectroscopic investigations of tissue metabolite biomarker response to Cu II exposure in terrestrial invertebrates: identification of free histidine as a novel biomarker of exposure to copper in earthworms

High resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy of biofluids, cells and tissue extracts allows rapid, non destructive analysis for a wide range of metabolites and organic compounds with minimal sample pre treatment. We have applied high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy to investigate the biochemical effects of Cu II in two earthworm species Eisenia andrei n =78 and Lumbricus rubellus n =45 exposed under laboratory and semi field conditions respectively. The most marked metabolic response was the elevation of endogenous whole body free histidine in animals which positively correlated with increasing copper exposure and total copper burden in the semi field experiment. Histidine forms thermodynamically stable copper complexes under a wide range of physico chemical conditions and we proposed that the elevation of free histidine in response to copper challenge provides an energetically low cost detoxification mechanism. Histidine elevation may also provide a novel molecular biomarker of Cu II exposure in environmental situations.     

An NMR-based metabonomic investigation of the toxic effects of 3-trifluoromethyl-aniline on the earthworm Eisenia veneta

¹H NMR spectra of earthworms Eisenia veneta treated with 3-trifluoromethyl-aniline in a 72-h contact filter paper test have been analysed using pattern recognition techniques to determine the biochemical response. Various strategies for data reduction of the metabolite profile, and illustration by principal components analysis are applied and discussed. The use of mean principal components plots in simplifying group data representation and highlighting the dose-response function is demonstrated. Hierarchical cluster analysis, and cluster significance analysis of the principal components were also used to examine the relative distribution of dose groups. Identification and assignment of metabolite responses to toxicity were found via correlation coefficient-shift plots. As measured by the correlation coefficients alanine was the most significant metabolite, but increased levels of other amino acids such as glycine and asparagine were also observed. Further, elevated levels of glucose, and the citric acid cycle intermediates citrate and succinate were noted as potential biomarkers of toxicity. This work provides a basis for examining the biochemical response of invertebrates to toxins. This should provide a framework to examine toxicity effects of other halogenated aromatic pollutants to earthworms used as environmental monitors.     

一种新型蚯蚓纤溶酶的部分性质研究

为获得一种高效的溶栓药物。从赤子爱胜蚓(Eiseniafoelida)中分离纯化得到了一种纤溶酶组分。用Lowry法测定蛋白质浓度,SDSPAGE鉴定纯度为98%,表观相对分子质量(Mr)为14850,纤维蛋白平板法测定其总纤溶活性为65.51×103mm2/mg,直接纤溶活性为15.61×103mm2/mg,间接纤溶活性为26.34×103mm2/mg。水解BAEE的米氏常数(Km)为1.82×105mol/L。水解ChromozymPL的米氏常数(Km)3.98×105mol/L,水解ChromozymtPA的米氏常数(Km)5.55×105mol/L活性,N端氨基酸序列测定的结果为VIGGTNAIPGEFPYQ。结果表明该纤溶酶分子量较小,间接活性较高,适宜作为一种新型的溶栓药物。     

土壤重金属污染对蚯蚓的急性毒性效应研究

测定了草甸棕壤条件下 ,Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd单一 /复合污染对蚯蚓的急性致死及亚致死效应 .结果表明 ,Cu、Pb浓度与蚯蚓死亡率显著相关 (α=0 .0 5 ,RCu=0 .86 ,RPb=0 .87) ,Cu浓度与生长抑制率显著相关 (α=0 .0 5 ,RCu=0 .84) ,其他供试重金属浓度与蚯蚓死亡率和生长抑制率相关性不显著 .蚯蚓个体对重金属毒性的耐受程度差别较大 .其毒性阈值 (引起个体蚯蚓死亡浓度 )分别为 :Cu 30 0mg·kg-1,Zn 130 0mg·kg-1,Pb 170 0mg·kg-1,Cd 30 0mg·kg-1.LC50 分别为 :Cu 40 0～ 45 0mg·kg-1,Zn15 0 0～ 190 0mg·kg-1,Pb2 35 0～ 2 40 0mg·kg-1,Cd 90 0mg·kg-1.在Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd单一污染引起 >10 %蚯蚓死亡的浓度下 ,复合污染导致 10 0 %蚯蚓死亡 ,表明复合污染极强的协同效应 .     

Earthworm effect on root morphology in a split root system

Plants respond to their environment through adaptations such as root proliferation in nutrient-rich patches. Through their burrows and casts production in soil, earthworms create heterogeneity which could lead to local root adaptations or systemic effects. To investigate the effect of earthworms on root system morphology and determine whether earthworm effect is local or systemic, we set up two independent split root experiments with rice or barley, (i) without earthworm (CC), (ii) with earthworms in both compartments (EE), and (iii) with earthworms in one single compartment (CE). Earthworms had an effect on belowground plant biomass. The relative length of thick roots decreased with an increasing abundance of earthworms. Some root diameter classes responded to earthworm number in a linear or curvilinear way, making simple conclusions difficult. We found no difference in root biomass or morphology between the two compartments of the split root system in the CE treatment, but a positive effect of earthworm biomass on root biomass, volume, surface area, and length at the whole plant level. Results supported a systemic effect dependent on earthworm abundance. Modification of nutrient mineralization, soil physical structure, and/or the concentration of signal molecules could all be responsible for this systemic effect.