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.     

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.     

Earthworm leukocyte populations specifically harbor lysosomal enzymes that may respond to bacterial challenge

Earthworm leukocytes (coelomocytes) are responsible for innate cellular immune functions such as phagocytosis and encapsulation against parasites and pathogens. Microbial killing results from the combined action of the phagocytic process with humoral immune factors such as agglutinins (e.g., lectins), lysosomal enzymes (e.g., acid phosphatase, lysozyme), and various cytotoxic and antimicrobial molecules. There is also evidence of weak adaptive immune responses against foreign transplants. This study focused on aspects of the innate immune response. First, anti-human acid phosphatase (anti-AcP) polyclonal antibody characterized different acid hydrolase patterns in coelomocytes. Second, flow cytometry identified a strongly immunoreactive coelomocyte population. Third, ultrastructural and cytochemical analyses revealed acid phosphatase in discrete granules (lysosomes) of effector hyaline and granular coelomocytes but not in mature chloragocytes. Coelomocytes were exposed to bacteria to assess how phagocytosis influences: (a) the production of acid phosphatase using Western blot, and (b) release of acid phosphatase using ELISA from cell-free coelomic fluid. Fourth, after phagocytosis, acid phosphatase levels differed between controls and experimentals. Fifth, we found a 39-kDa molecule that reacted intensely with anti-AcP. Our results suggest that effector earthworm coelomocytes may not eliminate pathogens only by phagocytosis but also by extracellular lysis.E.L. Cooper has been supported by The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a GAAC grant from the Federal Republic of Germany and two grants from NATO, a Cooperative Research grant (971128) and an Advanced Research Workshop grant (976680)     

Reconfirmation of antimicrobial activity in the coelomic fluid of the earthwormEisenia fetida andrei by colorimetric assay

A novel tetrazolium salt, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulphophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) was used in the assessment of antimicrobial activity in earthworm in the presence of phenazine methosulphate (PMS) as an electron coupling reagent. This activity was purified from the coelomic fluid of the earthworm (ECF),Eisenia fetida andrei (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae, annelids) using a series of column chromatography techniques and was tested against three Gram-negative strains ofEscherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila and three Gram-positive strains ofStaphylococcus aureus, Bacillus megaterium, Arthrobacter sp., respectively. Only the pigment-free eluate of coelomic fluid of the earthworm (ECFPE) showed activity againstB. megaterium amongst three isolated active fractions. The anion (DEAE-52) exchange effluent of the ECFPE was reported to have the strongest activity againstP. aeruginosa amongst the three active fractions. The 20% acetonitrile eluate (AE) by Sep-Pak C₁₈ cartridge was also tested and showed fair resistance againstE. coli, P. aeruginosa andArthrobacter sp., respectively.     

Inhibitory effects of brown algal phlorotannins on secretory phospholipase A2s, lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases

The inhibitory effects of brown algal phlorotannins on secretory phospholipase A₂s (sPLA₂s), lipoxygenases (LOXs) and cyclooxygenases (COXs) were determined with an in vitro assay. Oligomers of phloroglucinol; eckol (a trimer), phlorofucofuroeckol A (a pentamer), dieckol (a hexamer) and 8,8-bieckol (a hexamer) isolated from the brown alga Eisenia bicyclis had pronounced inhibitory effects on sPLA₂ from porcine pancreas and bee venom (IC₅₀ 100–200 M). The phlorotannins inhibited LOX activity more effectively than the well-known LOX inhibitors; resveratrol and epigallocatechin gallate. 8,8-Bieckol, the strongest LOX inhibitor in this study, inhibited soybean LOX and 5-LOX with IC₅₀ values of 38 and 24 M, respectively. Negligible or very weak effects of the phlorotannins on COX-1 and COX-2 were found, except for an inhibitory effect of dieckol on COX-1 (74.7%) and of eckol on COX-2 (43.2%) at 100 M.     

种植Bt水稻后的土壤对赤子爱胜蚓生长发育及酶活性的影响

【背景】转基因作物种植的安全问题一直备受关注。关于Bt蛋白对地下非靶标生物影响的研究是转基因作物安全评价的重要内容。【方法】在转Bt基因水稻收割后的稻田里分别种植豌豆、紫云英和油菜作为后茬作物。分别于2013年1、3和6月3次采集不同后茬作物田中的土壤作为材料,于室内饲养赤子爱胜蚓,4周和7周后,测定蚯蚓的生长发育指标、存活率以及体内酶活性的变化情况。此外,还测定了不同深度土壤中Bt蛋白的含量以及用Bt蛋白直接饲喂的赤子爱胜蚓的存活率。【结果】与种植过非转基因水稻MH63的土壤相比,分别种植过含cry2A和cry1C基因水稻后的土壤对赤子爱胜蚓的生长发育、存活率及体内酶活性无显著影响。1月份和3月份转cry2A基因水稻田以及1月份转cry1C基因水稻田采集的表层土样中的Bt蛋白含量显著高于地下10 cm和地下20 cm土壤中的含量,地下2层土样中的Cry2A蛋白含量之间无差异。3月份转cry1C基因水稻田以及6月份转cry2A和转cry1C基因水稻田的土壤中Bt蛋白的含量均不受土壤深度的影响。种植的后茬作物对土壤中的Bt蛋白无显著消解作用。室内模拟土壤最高Bt蛋白浓度的条件下,Cry2A蛋白处理的蚯蚓存活率为96.7%,Cry1C蛋白处理的蚯蚓存活率为95.0%,两者与对照相比无显著差异。【结论与意义】转cry2A和cry1C基因Bt水稻的种植对蚯蚓的生长发育和体内酶活性无显著影响。本研究为转基因水稻的安全评价提供了一定的依据。     

Monomer composition and sequence of sodium alginate extracted at pilot plant scale from three commercially important seaweeds from Mexico

The marine waters of the Baja California peninsula (Mexico) are a rich source of brown seaweeds with a great potential for exploitation. For that reason, Sargassum sinicola, Eisenia arborea, and Macrocystis pyrifera collected from different locations were subjected to extraction of sodium alginate using a pilot-plant scale process developed in our facilities. The composition and sequence parameters of the recovered alginate were studied by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spectral analysis of the products revealed that sodium alginate from S. sinicola contains a greater proportion of guluronate monomers (64%) than that from E. arborea (48%), and M. pyrifera (38%). Computation of the frequencies of diads and triads indicated that the alginate from S. sinicola was constructed by intercalated guluronate-blocks of 14 residues in length. In contrast, the length of the G-block in the alginates from E. arborea and M. pyrifera were 7 and 4 residues, respectively. The results show that S. sinicola, E. arborea, and M. pyrifera are sources of sodium alginate with different mannuronate/guluronate ratios, as well as a varied building-block length. In consequence, aqueous dispersions of sodium alginate from the three studied species are expected to exhibit different physical properties.     

Phoresy of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae by the earthworm Eisenia fetida

The free-living stage of entomopathogenic nematodes occurs in soil, and is an environmental-friendly alternative for biological control. However, their dispersal capability is limited. Earthworms improve soil characteristics, changing soil structure and influencing many edaphic organisms. Thus, earthworms could be used as vectors to introduce/disperse beneficial organisms. Nevertheless this interaction has not been studied in detail. This study presents the infectivity results of Steinernema feltiae after passing through the Eisenia fetida gut. Although entomopathogenic nematodes have no deleterious effects on earthworms, their passage through E. fetida gut seriously affected their mobility and virulence.     

赤子爱胜蚓在不同猪粪和农作物秸杆混合物中生长繁殖状况

本文研究了赤子爱胜蚓在长春市城郊不同组合的粮食猪粪、饲料猪粪和玉米、水稻秸杆混合物中生长繁殖状况,结果发现赤子爱胜蚓的质量在0 ～30 d大幅度增加,30 ～ 60 d增加减缓,60～ 90 d呈负增长趋势.赤子爱胜蚓产茧量在试验期间的总趋势是递增的.猪粪种类、秸杆种类和两者的混合比例差异对赤子爱胜蚓的质量变化产生重要影响.粮食猪粪和玉米秸杆混合物的质量比例大致在1∶1时特别适宜赤子爱胜蚓生长和繁殖.赤子爱胜蚓在饲料猪粪和玉米秸杆混合物中的日增重倍数和日产茧量多于饲料猪粪和水稻秸杆混合物.本试验结论可为城郊猪粪和作物秸杆的大规模资源化利用提供参考.