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Abstract Cyclophosphamide (CPAm) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent that exhibits potent anti-cancer properties but is often associated with debilitating side effects. Despite its efficacy, the management of CPAm-induced toxicities remains a significant clinical challenge. There has been growing interest in exploring complementary and alternative therapies to mitigate these adverse effects in recent years, and this may be a chance for the earthworm-derived preparation, Venetin-1. Its rich composition of bioactive compounds has demonstrated promising pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. These properties suggest its potential to counteract various systemic toxicities induced by CPAm. We conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the effect of Venetin-1 on cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity. Mice were administered CPAm for four days, followed by application of the earthworm preparation in two doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg b.w). Importantly, the preparation did not cause any side effects in all mice, ensuring the safety of the intervention. We then determined global changes in the proteome using proteomics and quantitative SWATH-MS analysis, which is a robust and reliable method. This allowed us to identify up- and downregulated proteins in each studied group, providing valuable insights into the mechanism of action of Venetin-1. As shown by the results, Venetin-1 had a significant effect on the proteome of mouse lung tissue. It was possible to determine quantitative changes in 400 proteins, and the analysis after administration of Venetin-1 showed a change in the global proteomic profile from upregulated to down-regulated. The stimulating properties of the preparation concerning the complement system were also confirmed in a separate validation experiment. Venetin-1 shows promise in reducing the harmful effects of cyclophosphamide on lung tissue. It encourages tissue regeneration, reduces inflammation, supports autophagy, and boosts the immune system. However, more research is needed to thoroughly elucidate and describe the benefits of Venetin-1.

Oil refinery sludge (ORS) management is a global concern, yet information on its low-cost biotransformation possibility is fairly limited. We present a novel approach for ORS mitigation by Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae and aerobic composting (AC) in producing clean aqueous extracts (compost teas). Detailed physicochemical characterization, phytotoxicity assays, economic feasibility comparisons, and mathematical equation-based environmental and human health hazard prediction studies were done for all the earthworm and non-earthworm processed compost teas. The E. eugeniae-compost tea reduced Cr, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn contents by 52.7, 61.2, 41.8, 80, and 93.8%, respectively. The earthworm-sourced teas showed lower ecological risk (

Talas Beneng is a type of wild plant that was not originally cultivated but could be processed into worm food using a chopping machine. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a chopper with a dual blade type using Talas Beneng as test material. The analyzed parameters include the effective capacity of the tool, the required power, the amount of material remaining in the machine, the yield, and the level produced by the machine. The average percentage of material loss ranged from 7% to 17%. The second experiment had the highest average yield, which was 93%. The average fuel consumption for the test with 1 kg of material was 40 ml, while with 2 kg and 3 kg of material, the average fuel consumption was 33,333 ml. The highest average level produced by the taro chopping machine was 78.24 dB.

Cadmium is a hazardous heavy metal that is commonly found in the soil and poses significant risks to soil organisms. The toxic effects of Cd on soil microorganisms and earthworms (Eisenia foetida) have been extensively studied, but most studies focused on high Cd pollution levels. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the different responses of soil organisms to moderate and low levels of Cd contamination. According to the study, the presence of 2.5 mg/kg of Cd had a significant impact on the microbial community’s composition and diversity. The relative abundance of most microbes decreased, while the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota showed a considerable increase. The LEFSE analysis revealed that the Bacillus genus of the Firmicutes phylum can serve as a biomarker in soil contaminated with 2.5 mg/kg of Cd. At the same time, the functional analysis of PICRUSt 2 shows that microorganisms found in polluted soil have a noticeable decrease in their ability to metabolize lipids. On the other hand, our findings indicate that Cd has a detrimental effect on the biomass of earthworms and induces oxidative stress in these animals. The activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes in earthworms was carried out to mitigate oxidative stress. The study found a strong positive relationship between SOD and both time and Cd pollution. However, CAT exhibited inhibition throughout the later stages of the experiment, particularly when exposed to relatively higher levels of pollution. The analysis of RNA in earthworms revealed that soil Cd pollution at a concentration of 2.5 mg/kg primarily impacts the cellular structure and function of earthworms. This pollution disrupts the integrity of the cytoskeleton structure, hampers DNA replication, and compromises the precision of cell signaling. Simultaneously, when compared to the control group, several metabolic pathways exhibited abnormalities.

The effect of pesticide pollution on environmental microorganisms in soil has become the focus of widespread concern in society today. The response of earthworm gut and surrounding soil microbial functional diversity and enzyme activity to carbendazim (CBD) was studied in a soil-earthworm ecosystem amended with manure. In the experiment, CBD was added to the manured soil (MS). Meanwhile, the pesticide treatment without manure and the control treatment without pesticides were also set up. The activities of catalase (CAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were measured to evaluate the toxicity of CBD. The Biolog method was used to assess the functional diversity of the microbial community. In the 2 mg/kg CBD treatment, earthworm AChE activity decreased significantly in the MS after 14 d, which occurred earlier than in the un-manured soil (NS). The changes of earthworm CAT activity in the pesticide treatments showed a trend of initially increasing and then maintaining at a high activity level. However, the CAT activities at 28 d in the manured soils were clearly lower than that at 7 d for both the CBD treatments, while they remained stable in the control treatments. The carbon source utilization, Simpson index, Shannon index, and McIntosh index of soil microorganisms in the MS treatments were significantly higher than those in the NS treatments. The overall activity of earthworm gut microorganisms in the MS treated with 2 mg/kg CBD was higher than that in the control. Also, CBD treatment (2 mg/kg) increased significantly the Simpson index and McIntosh index of earthworm gut microorganisms. The results indicated that the enzyme activities in the manured soils increased before 7 d for the pesticide treatments. Furthermore, exposure to CBD at a high concentration in the MS not only led to the earlier inhibition of earthworm enzyme activity but also significantly improved the overall activity of earthworm gut microorganisms and microbial functional diversity. This study revealed the ecotoxicological effects of earthworms in response to pesticide stress following the use of organic fertilizers under facility environmental conditions, which can provide a theoretical basis for the remediation of pesticide pollution in soil in the future.

IntroductionSome studies have found that probiotics have the potential to treat PD, and earthworm protein is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of PD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Bacteroides fragilis 839 (BF839) + earthworm protein supplement as an adjunctive therapy for PD and to observe changes in the gut microbiota.MethodsForty-six patients with PD were recruited for a 12-week 1:1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate changes in motor and some non-motor symptom scores and detect metagenomic changes in the gut microbiota.ResultsFrom baseline to 12 weeks, compared with placebo, the trial group showed significant reductions in the United Parkinson’s Disease Rate Scale (UPDRS) total score (−7.74 ± 5.92 vs. –1.83 ± 4.14, p

Correct and timely identification of an invasive species during quarantine or at an early stage of invasion before establishment or spread is critical for preventing biological invasions. However, taxonomic confusion of potential invasive earthworm species caused by incorrect taxonomic treatment or reckless taxonomic work has made it difficult to properly recognize potential invasion threats. Through analyzing publicly available DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, we confirmed the validity of the specific status of Amynthas masatakae (Beddard, 1892), a peregrine earthworm species in East Asia with the potential to spread to other regions of the world, and designated two new synonyms of A. masatakae: Amynthas tralfamadore Blakemore, 2012 syn. nov. and Amynthas scaberulus Sun and Jiang, 2021 syn. nov. Additionally, the name A. triastriatus usualis Dong, Jiang, Yuan, Zhao and Qiu, 2020 is nomenclaturally unavailable since it was published in an electronic journal without ZooBank registration and an explicit statement establishing a new nominal taxon. Specimens described under this unavailable name actually belong to A. masatakae. Inadequate literature review and erroneous species identities associated with sequences in GenBank have caused even more problems in the already confusing earthworm taxonomy.

The intensive use of chemical inputs in the agricultural field has reduced soil fertility as well as affected human health and the environment. To overcome these problems, environmentally friendly alternatives such as vermicompost applications should be used. Vermicomposting is an eco-friendly way in which earthworms convert organic residues into compost and contribute to plant growth and development. This is the first study of two forms of vermicompost applied as solid and liquid on plant growth and fungicide tolerance in lettuce. In this study, barnyard manure was composted with the Red California earthworm Eisenia foetida (Lumbricidae). The effects of different doses (0, 10, 20 and 30 %) of solid vermicompost and commercial liquid vermicompost were investigated on some growth and yield parameters (leaf length, leaf width, SPAD chlorophyll amount, number of marketable leaves, number of discarded leaves, leaf pH, leaf nitrogen content and fungicide residue values) of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) grown under greenhouse conditions. The parameters were statistically significant for vermicompost type and dose for all results except leaf pH, number of discarded leaves and fungicide residue analysis. The results of solid vermicompost application were higher than control and commercial liquid vermicompost in terms of all parameters. The highest leaf length and width values were determined at a 20% dose of solid vermicompost, while the highest SPAD chlorophyll value and leaf nitrogen values were determined at a 30% dose. The number of marketable leaves was higher in all doses of solid vermicompost application. However, there was no statistically significant difference in fungicide residue analyses in terms of vermicompost types, dose, and vermicompost type-dose interactions. Fungicide residue levels were detected above the MRL (maximum residue limits) in all samples.

Purpose: Vermicomposting of phenolics-rich lignocellulosic materials takes a long time to reach maturity, while worm mortality and weight loss are often encountered. Phenolic compounds have antimicrobial properties which may affect the vermicomposting process. The present study aims at investigating the effect of the initial total phenolic content (TPC) on coir pith vermicomposting. Method: The earthworm activities and performance during vermicomposting of coir pith and cow manure containing 4.8 (T0), 6.4 (T1), 7.2 (T2), 8.8 (T3), 10.3 (T4) and 12.7 (T5) mg initial TPC g-1 substrate using Eudrilus eugeniae were investigated. Results: Total carbon loss increased as initial TPC increased and only T0 and T1 reached maturity. Earthworm mortality and weight loss increased as initial TPC of materials increased in a concentration dependent manner. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed that the total numbers of water-soluble phenolics of coir pith and cow manure were, respectively, 17 and 16 out of which 5 and 4 were unique to coir pith and cow manure, respectively. By the end of vermicomposting, almost all of phenolics present in cow manure disappeared while those in coir pith remained intact, albeit, reduced in concentrations. 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid were detected in all treatments. Disappearance of 4.90 and 6.35 minute-peaks was observed with T0, T1 and T2 whilst a new phenolic (5.30 minute-peak) was detected only in T1 indicating the better degradation of phenolic compounds. Conclusion: Results indicated a significant role of initial TPC on earthworm activities during coir pith vermicomposting. Highlight The initial phenolic concentration of coir pith exhibited antagonistic effects on earthworm activities. The optimal initial phenolic content of the feedstock was the key to the successful vermicomposting of phenolic-rich agricultural wastes. Total phenolic content of the feedstock greatly affected bacterial population during initial phase of coir pith vermicomposting. There were 17 and 16 water soluble phenolics found in coir pith and cow dung, respectively, of which 5 and 4 were unique to coir pith and cow manure, respectively.

Abstract Fetal bovine serum (FBS) plays a pivotal role in animal cell culture. Due to ethical and scientific issues, searching for an alternative, comprising the three R’s (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement) gained global attention. In this context, we have identified the heat inactivated coelomic fluid (HI-CF) of the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus as a potential alternative for FBS. Briefly, we formulated HI-CF (f-HICF) containing serum free medium which can aid the growth, attachment, and proliferation of adherent cells, similar to FBS. In this study, we investigated the biochemical characterization, sterility, stability, formulation, and functional analysis of HI-CF as a supplement in culturing animal cells. Notably, vitamins, micronutrients, proteins, lipids, and trace elements are identified and compared with FBS for effective normalization of the serum free media. HI-CF is tested to be devoid of endotoxin and mycoplasma contamination thus can qualify the cell culture grade. The f-HICF serum free media was prepared, optimised, and tested with A549, HeLa, 3T3, Vero and C2C12 cell lines. Our results conclude that f-HICF is a potential alternative to FBS, in accordance with ethical concern; compliance with 3R's; lack of unintended antibody interactions; presence of macro and micronutrients; simple extraction; cost-effectiveness and availability.

Introduction: Peptide drugs are highly regarded for their therapeutic versatility, safety, and efficacy in treating conditions like cancer, hepatitis, and diabetes. Animal-derived Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) are promising peptide sources, often outperforming plant-based alternatives. The therapeutic effects of leeches, earthworms, and Eupolyphaga sinensis Walkers in thrombosis and blood stasis have been clinically validated, with anticoagulant peptides as key components; however, their pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. This review categorizes and summarizes anticoagulant peptides from animal-derived TCMs by species. Methods: This study explores the important role of anticoagulant peptides from animal-sourced medicine in treating thrombosis-related diseases. A literature search using keywords like “anticoagulant peptides,” “leech peptides,” and “earthworm peptides” yielded over 120 articles, of which 85 were selected. Priority was given to studies from the past 20 years, while significant historical research was also noted. Articles lacking specific information on the animal sources of these peptides were excluded. Data were obtained from a diverse range of references, including both ancient and modern texts, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Springer, and CNKI. Conclusion: This study reviews six promising animal-derived anticoagulant drugs currently in clinical use: leeches, earthworms, scorpions, Eupolyphaga sinensis Walkers, and centipedes. Key peptides under development include hirudin (Hirudo nipponica), WP-30 (Whitmania pigra), Lomburkinase (Eisenia foetida). These peptides exhibit potent anticoagulant, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory effects, rendering them valuable in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, amenorrhea, cerebral thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. Discussion: This study critically evaluates the therapeutic mechanisms of anticoagulant peptides in animal-sourced medicines, emphasizing the potential of peptide-based therapies across different strains of the same species for traditional Chinese medicine and modern clinical use. Despite promising potential, challenges such as low bioavailability, difficulties in peptide identification, pharmacological evaluation, and toxicity assessment persist. Addressing these issues will facilitate deeper exploration and development of peptide-based therapies.

Earthworms’ coelomic fluid (CF) has been discovered to possess properties that promote plant development. In particular, the earthworm’s coelomic fluid-associated bacteria (CFB) are the primary factor influencing the plants’ response. To investigate this, we used bacteria isolated from the CF and selected based on different plant growth-promoting traits, in a mesocosm ecosystem that includes plants. This experiment aimed to assess their impact on the metabolism of plants growing under abiotic stress environments (alkaline soil and nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K) deficit) and compare the lipid profiles of plants under the various treatments. We used seven different bacterial species isolated from the CF of Aporrectodea molleri and as a plant model Zea mays L. For the metabolomic analysis method, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry lipidomic. After observing the metabolomic profiles, we found that a few molecular pathways are involved in how plants react to bacterial biostimulants. The bacterial isolates belonging to Pantoea vagans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus paramycoides, and Bacillus thuringiensis have led to a significant increase in synthesizing several metabolites belonging to various chemical categories. Contrary to predictions, abiotic stress did not cause a drop in the composition and concentration of lipids in plants treated with the CFB, demonstrating the rigidity of the protective mechanisms. The statistical analysis based on the Pearson method revealed a positive significant correlation between plant growth parameters (length of the aerial part, surface of the leaves, and biomass) and some metabolites belonging to fatty acids, carboxylic acids, benzene derivatives, and alkanes. Moreover, the standard metabolic components of all treatments in much higher concentrations during bacterial treatments than the control treatment suggests that the bacteria have stimulated the overexpression of these metabolic components. According to these results, we could assume that plants treated with CFB exhibit an adaptability of abiotic stress defense mechanisms, which may be attributed to the upregulation of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis pathways.

Introduction: Early risk assessment studies usually based on total heavy metal (loid) contents, inevitably leading to an overestimation of the health risks. In addition, inputs are represented as single-point estimates in deterministic models, leading to underestimation or overestimation of the health risks.Methods: To overcome these barriers, a novel probabilistic risk assessment strategy based on the combinational use of bioaccessibility and Monte Carlo simulation was developed to assess heavy metal (loid) associated health risks of earthworms in this study. To obtain a realistic and robust probabilistic risk assessment, heavy metal (loid) exposure duration and frequency were determined using our questionnaire data.Results: As a result, the mean gastrointestinal bioaccessibility was in the order: Cd > As > Cu > Hg. The mean hazard index (HI) values for investigated metal (loid)s were 0.65 and 0.59 for male and female, respectively, demonstrating an acceptable health risk in an average community. However, the 90th percentile of HI values was 1.87 and 1.65 for male and female, respectively. And the total non-cancer risks of heavy metal (loid) exposure exceeded the acceptable threshold for 19.9% and 17.8% of male and female, respectively. In addition, the total cancer risk (TCR) value through co-exposure to As and Cd suggested that the carcinogenic risks may be of concern for average exposure population. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the exposure frequency and bioaccessible As concentration were the dominant contributors to the total risk variance, which provided meaningful implications for environmental management.Conclusion: Altogether, the refined strategy based on bioaccessibility and Monte Carlo simulation is the first of its kind, such effort attempts to scientifically guide the rational clinic use of TCM and the improvement of population-health.

Monopterus albus is one of China’s renowned and superior aquaculture species, with its seedlings mainly sourced from wild capture. One of the bottlenecks in M. albus aquaculture is the high mortality rate and low feeding initiation rate from stocking wild fry to the initiation of feeding. In production, trash fish is commonly used to wean M. albus juveniles onto feeding. In this study, we introduced three other natural feeds, earthworms (EW), yellow mealworms (YMW), and fly maggots (FM), with frozen trash fish (TF) serving as the control group, to evaluate the effects of these four natural feeds on the survival rate, feeding initiation, antioxidant enzymes activity, and body composition of M. albus juveniles under recirculating water aquaculture conditions. The experiment comprised four treatments, each with three replicates. Each replicate consisted of stocking 150 M. albus juveniles weighing 10.02 ± 0.89 g in size, raised for 5 weeks. The survival rate of the YMW group was 73.33%–85.33%, which was significantly higher than that of the other three bait groups (p < 0.05). The four bait groups showed no significant differences in final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) (p > 0.05). The EW group showed the highest final body weight, with an average SGR of 2.73, whereas the YMW group had an average SGR of 1.87. The average daily feeding amount was significantly higher in EW and YMW groups than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The percentage of feeding amount to fish weight in the EW group reached 7.3% in the fifth week. After 5 weeks of cultivation, NO2−-N content was significantly higher in the waters of the TF and EW groups than in the waters of the FM and YMW groups (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in TAN content among the treatment groups (p > 0.05). Liver malondialdehyde content was significantly higher in the TF group than in the other bait groups (p < 0.05). GSH-Px activity was significantly higher in the EW group than in the FM group and YMW group. No significant differences in SOD and CAT activity and T-AOC were observed among the bait groups (p > 0.05). The increase in crude protein content was significantly higher in the TF group than in the FM group, but the increase in crude ash content was significantly lower in the TFgroup. In conclusion, Tenebrio molitor could potentially serve as one of the alternative feeds during the initial stages of M. albus juveniles stocking.

Heavy metals (HMs) contamination is a serious environmental concern in different parts of the world. In this study, two indigenous phytoextractors, Sida acuta and Melissa officinalis L. were used and assisted with plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and vermicompost by-product (vermicast) produced for remediation purposes. The concentration of heavy metal accumulation in plants were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and analyzed by canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). Pre- and post-remediation analysis of the physico-chemical properties of the soil was conducted. M. officinalis L components in the primary location were able to remove HMs, particularly lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) with metalloid (arsenic (As) concentration in plant ranges from 0.09 to 4.39 ppm, 0.07–10.35 ppm and 0.007–0.33 ppm, correspondingly. In the contaminated soil after remediation, the amount of Pb varied from 5.88 to 12.37 ppm, Cd concentration was between (0.026–0.58 ppm) while As was between 0.32 and 5.48 ppm. HMs concentration of soil remediated with Sida acuta had Pb, Cd, As varied from (1.68–10.7 ppm), (0.002–0.43 ppm) and As (0.27–3.79 ppm) individually. The organic carbon and nitrogen concentration before (C: 0.27; N: 0.01) and after (C:6.40; N: 0.70) the remediation process showed a significant increase, pointing to less contaminated soil. The role of vermitechnology in phytoremediation is important and could be employed to restore a contaminated soil with HMs as reported in this study.

Farmland soil organisms frequently encounter pesticide mixtures presented in their living environment. However, the underlying toxic mechanisms employed by soil animals to cope with such combined pollution have yet to be explored. This investigation aimed to reveal the changes in cellular and mRNA levels under chlorpyrifos (CPF) and lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) co-exposures in earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Results exhibited that the combination of CPF and LCT triggered an acute synergistic influence on the animals. Most exposures resulted in significant alterations in the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), caspase 3, and carboxylesterase (CarE) compared to the basal level. Moreover, when exposed to chemical mixtures, the transcription levels of four genes [heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), gst, sod, and calreticulin (crt)] also displayed more pronounced changes compared with their individual exposures. These changes in determined parameters indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress, cell death, detoxification dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum damage after co-exposure to CPF and LCT in E. fetida. The comprehensive examination of mixture toxicities of CPF and LCT at different endpoints would help to understand the overall toxicity they cause to soil invertebrates. The augmented deleterious effect of these pesticides in a mixture suggested that mixture toxicity assessment was necessary for the safety evaluation and application of pesticide mixtures.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Earthworms are one of the key components of soil, and they play a crucial role in the transformation of various nutrients and pollutants in the soil. The purpose of this study is to characterize the NDM-1-producing C. freundii isolated from soil-dwelling earthworms near a hospital, exploring their potential role as carriers of carbapenem-resistant genes. Methods: Isolates were isolated from the intestines of earthworms and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The presence of NDM enzyme was verified through the CARBA-5 Assay. Whole genome sequencing was conducted using the Illumina NovaSeq PE150 platform. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and conjugation experiment were performed for phenotypic analysis. Results: This isolate exhibited a multidrug-resistant profile, including resistance to imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem and successfully transferred blaNDM-1 gene to Escherichia coli. Whole genomic sequencing showed that blaNDM-1 gene was located on an IncFIIY-type plasmid. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between the QY221001 strain obtained from earthworms and the human isolate F2021 in the NCBI database, both of which were collected in Hangzhou, China. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of an NDM-1-producing bacteria isolated from the intestine of an earthworm. Our finding suggested that earthworms could be a potential reservoir of carbapenem resistance genes, emphasizing the importance of enhanced environmental monitoring of antimicrobial resistance.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, regulates the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, essential for cytokine signaling and immune responses. Its dysregulation contributes to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by promoting abnormal cell growth, inflammation, and resistance to cell death. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between Lumbricus-derived proteins and peptides and SOCS2, with a focus on identifying potential therapeutic candidates for CVDs. Utilizing a multifaceted approach, advanced computational methodologies, including 3D structure modeling, protein–protein docking, 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and MM/PBSA calculations, were employed to assess the binding affinities and functional implications of Lumbricus-derived proteins on SOCS2 activity. The findings revealed that certain proteins, such as Lumbricin, Chemoattractive glycoprotein ES20, and Lumbrokinase-7T1, exhibited similar activities to standard antagonists in modulating SOCS2 activity. Furthermore, MM/PBSA calculations were employed to assess the binding free energies of these proteins with SOCS2. Specifically, Lumbricin exhibited an average ΔGbinding of −59.25 kcal/mol, Chemoattractive glycoprotein ES20 showed −55.02 kcal/mol, and Lumbrokinase-7T1 displayed −69.28 kcal/mol. These values suggest strong binding affinities between these proteins and SOCS2, reinforcing their potential therapeutic efficacy in cardiovascular diseases. Further in vitro and animal studies are recommended to validate these findings and explore broader applications of Lumbricus-derived proteins.

The present study used the adult earthworm Aporrectodea trapezoides as a bioindicator species to look into the possible dangers of ammonium sulfate (AS) fertilizer. Two complementary toxicity tests were conducted to determine the LC50values, growth rate inhibition, morphological alterations, and histopathological texture of worms. The lethality test included four increasing concentrations of AS fertilizer (ranging from 2500 to 7500 mg/kg of dry soil weight (d.w.)), while sub-lethal concentrations were based on 10%, 30%, 40%, and 50% of the 14-day median lethal concentration (LC50), with a control group included for both tests. The LC(50) values for AS fertilizer were significantly higher at 7 days (4831.13 mg/kg d.w.) than at 14 days (2698.67 mg/kg d.w.) of exposure. Notably, earthworms exhibited significant growth rate inhibition under exposure to various concentrations and time durations (14/28 exposure days). Morphological alterations such as clitellar swelling, bloody lesions, whole body coiling and constriction, body strangulation, and fragmentation were accentuated steadily, with higher concentrations. Histopathological manifestations included severe injuries to the circular and longitudinal muscular layers, vacuolation, muscle layer atrophy, degradation of the chloragogenous tissue in the intestine, collapsed digestive epithelium of the pharynx with weak reserve inclusion, and fibrosis of blood vessels. These effects were primarily influenced by increasing concentrations of fertilizer and time exposure. The study highlights the strong relationship between concentration and exposure time responses and underscores the potential of A. trapezoides earthworms as valuable biological control agents against acidic ammonium sulfate fertilizer. Importantly, this research contributes to the use of such biomarkers in evaluating soil toxicity and the biological control of environmental risk assessment associated with chemical fertilizers.

The study aimed to assess the ecotoxicological risk associated with the indiscriminate disposal of spent engine oil on terrestrial ecosystem using earthworm and microbial assays. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-20 cm and subjected to standard analytical protocols for analysis. Earthworms (assessed by mortality rate) and microorganisms (evaluated for inhibitory effects) covered a wide range of short-term lethal and sub-lethal endpoints used for risk characterization, analyzed through Probit analysis. The result of acute toxicity assay revealed that microbial absorbance rated depended on the dose and type of organism, ranking in the order: Acinetobacter > Enterobacter > Bacillus species >Pseudomonas. Aas oil concentratoin increase, mortality among earthworm was observed. Risk Quotient (RQ) values for Zea mays, Vigna unguiculata, Glycine max and earthworm varied from low to very high risk based on estimated Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC) values. Microorganisms exhibited differing level of biotolerance to spent engine oil exposure as indicated by respective risk quotient values. Exposure to spent engine oil posed minimal risk to Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., and Acinetobacter sp., with RQ values below unity (< 1). Conversely, Enterobacter sp. Showed a high risk with values above unity. Earthworms play a pivotal role in agriculture due to their numerous economic benefots. Soil microorganisms are essential for maintening soil quality by performing vital processes. The antimicrobial properties of spent engine oil on soil may distort microbial activities, potentially inhibiting their growth and leading to alterations in ecological functionality of the soil.

Quantifying the diet of endangered species is crucial for conservation, especially for diet specialists, which can be more susceptible to environmental changes. The vulnerable fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) is considered a specialist that primarily feeds its nestlings with earthworms. However, there have been few studies of the nestling diet provisioned by parents, and no assessments of earthworm proportion in the diet of adults. Our study aimed to fill these gaps, shedding light on crucial factors for conservation. Combining new observations with existing literature, we confirmed a consistent dominance of earthworms in the nestling diet, regardless of rainfall, nestling age, and time of day. We extrapolated the total earthworm consumption during a breeding event, accounting for potential variation in the availability of earthworms and their prevalence in the adult diet. We used literature-based earthworm densities in pitta habitats and our estimates of family earthworm consumption to calculate the habitat area that could provide a pitta family with the number of earthworms consumed during a breeding event. The predictions matched observed pitta home range sizes when assumed that the adult diet is comprised of approximately 70% earthworms. The results highlight the importance of earthworm-rich habitats for conservation planning of the fairy pitta. To mitigate the effects of habitat destruction, we discuss conservation practices that may involve enhancing earthworm abundance in natural habitats and providing vegetation cover for foraging pittas in adjacent anthropogenic habitats rich in earthworms. To guide conservation efforts effectively, future studies should investigate whether previously reported breeding in developed plantation habitats is due to high earthworm abundance there. Future studies should also quantify correlations between local earthworm densities, home range size, and the breeding success of the fairy pitta.

The potential of microplastics to act as a vector for anthropogenic contaminants is of rising concern. However, directly quantitatively determining the vector effects of microplastics has been rarely studied. Here, we present a dual-dosing method that simulates the chemical bioaccumulation from soil and microplastics simultaneously, wherein unlabeled hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) were spiked in the soil and their respective isotope-labeled reference compounds were spiked on the polyethylene microplastics. The comparison of the bioavailability, i.e., the freely dissolved concentration in soil porewater and bioaccumulation by earthworm, between the unlabeled and isotope-labeled HOCs was carried out. Relatively higher level of bioavailability of the isotope-labeled HOCs was observed compared to the unlabeled HOCs, which may be attributed to the irreversible desorption of HOCs from soil particles. The average relative fractions of bioaccumulated isotope-labeled HOCs in the soil treated with 1 % microplastics ranged from 6.9 % to 46.4 %, which were higher than those in the soil treated with 0.1 % microplastics. Treatments with the smallest microplastic particles were observed to have the highest relative fractions of bioaccumulated isotope-labeled HOCs, with the exception of phenanthrene, suggesting greater vector effects of smaller microplastic particles. Biodynamic model analysis indicated that the contribution of dermal uptake to the bioaccumulation of isotope-labeled HOCs was higher than that for unlabeled HOCs. This proposed method can be used as a tool to assess the prospective vector effects of microplastics in complex environmental conditions and would enhance the comprehensive understanding of the microplastic vector effects for HOC bioaccumulation.

Afidopyropen has high activity against pests. However, it poses potential risks to the soil ecology after entering the environment. The toxicity of afidopyropen to earthworms (Eisenia fetida) was studied for the first time in this study. The results showed that afidopyropen had low level of acute toxicity to E. fetida. Under the stimulation of chronic toxicity, the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level activated the antioxidant and detoxification system, which led to the increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. Lipid peroxidation and DNA damage were characterized by the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents. Meanwhile, the functional genes SOD, CAT, GST, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), transcriptionally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), and annetocin (ANN) played a synergistic role in antioxidant defense. However, the comprehensive toxicity of high concentration still increased on the 28th day. In addition, strong histopathological damage in the body wall and intestine was observed, accompanied by weight loss, which indicated that afidopyropen inhibited the growth of E. fetida. The molecular docking revealed that afidopyrene combined with the surface structure of SOD and GST proteins, which made SOD and GST become sensitive biomarkers reflecting the toxicity of afidopyropen to E. fetida. Summing up, afidopyropen destroys the homeostasis of E. fetida through chronic toxic. These results provide theoretical data for evaluating the environmental risk of afidopyropen to soil ecosystem.

The effects of nitrogen application or earthworms on soil respiration in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China have received increasing attention. However, the response of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to nitrogen application and earthworm addition is still unclear. A field experiment with nitrogen application frequency and earthworm addition was conducted in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Results showed nitrogen application frequency had a significant effect on soil respiration, but neither earthworms nor their interaction with nitrogen application frequency were significant. Low-frequency nitrogen application (NL) significantly increased soil respiration by 25%, while high-frequency nitrogen application (NH), earthworm addition (E), earthworm and high-frequency nitrogen application (E*NH), and earthworm and low-frequency nitrogen application (E*NL) also increased soil respiration by 21%, 21%, 12%, and 11%, respectively. The main reason for the rise in soil respiration was alterations in the bacterial richness and keystone taxa (Myxococcales). The NH resulted in higher soil nitrogen levels compared to NL, but NL had the highest bacterial richness. The abundance of Corynebacteriales and Gammaproteobacteria were positively connected with the CO2 emissions, while Myxococcales, Thermoleophilia, and Verrucomicrobia were negatively correlated. Our findings indicate the ecological importance of bacterial communities in regulating the carbon cycle in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.

The chiral pesticide hexythiazox was extensively employed in agricultural activities and has garnered growing concern for its harmful impact on the ecosystem. This study investigates the toxicodynamic earthworm at the enantiomeric level of hexythiazox. Earthworms exhibited notable enantioselectivity during the accumulation stage. Furthermore, the presence of earthworms can impact the rate of degradation and enantioselectivity of hexythiazox in soil. The accumulation of the two hexythiazox enantiomers in the earthworm adhered to the one-compartment model, whereas the elimination phase was governed by the first-order kinetics equation. Furthermore, it was discovered that there was no notable enantioselectivity observed during the elimination phase.

Abstract Numerous studies have unequivocally demonstrated that biochar and, to a lesser degree, earthworms can independently improve soil fertility and crop productivity, although information about their co-application effects on soil characteristics is limited. In this review, (1) earthworm biomarkers and underlying influencing factors, as well as the changes in the amended soil quality in response to co-application of earthworms and biochar are presented, (2) the functional interactions between earthworms and biochar in soil are summarized; (3) the principles governing the synergetic effects of biochar and earthworms on soil quality enhancement are probed; and (4) alternative strategies to optimize the efficacy of earthworm and biochar amendments are provided. It is noteworthy that while low doses of biochar can have a positive effect on various earthworm biomarkers, including growth and reproduction, restoration of the intestinal environment, and the mitigation of cellular organelle toxicity and genetic damage, high biochar dosages can yield adverse effects. Conversely, earthworms play a crucial role in distributing biochar particles deeper into the soil matrix, bolstering carbon sequestration potential, and enhancing the persistence and efficiency of biochar utilization. Moreover, earthworms stimulate the production of soil extracellular enzymes by microorganisms, which are pivotal to the processing, stabilization, and decomposition of soil organic matter, as well as nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Additionally, they enhance the binding affinities of these enzymes to biochar. Significantly, changes in earthworm biomarkers in response to biochar integration are predominately governed by biochar properties and dosage, contact time, and soil type. Graphical Abstract

The human population is expected to be more than 9 billion by 2050. In order to feed this huge population, we would require about additional 60-70% food which is one of the major challenges ahead of humankind as well as to researchers. Although biotic stresses in soil such as microorganisms, insects, parasites, weeds are major reasons for reduced food production, abiotic stresses such as extreme temperature, soil salinity, natural disasters, pH imbalance are significantly affect the soil quality. There is not only degradation in soil quality but also a significant reduction in arable agricultural land in India affecting the productivity and nutrition values of the grains. Therefore, there is an urgent need to not only increase food production but also to maintain its nutritional quality. In addition, excess use of chemical fertilizers, increasing soil pollution and metal toxicity is becoming a serious threat and are responsible for reduced crop yield, crop failures and loss in agricultural economy worldwide. Moreover, the arable lands are not only shrinking due to industrialization, modernization and urbanization, ~50% of all arable land will be impacted by salinity by 2050. Indian continent is primarily agricultural driven and per capita land cover is decreasing day by day. On top of it, unregulated uses of chemical fertilizers are adding even more stress on the soil as well as produces greenhouse gases like N2O. Therefore, management of resources for future needs is ought to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which are related to zero hunger, no poverty, good health and well being. This review describes agronomical transformation through organic manure, biofertilizer, vermicomposting and mycoremediation. These techniques are essential for maintaining the soil quality as well as can act to approach sustainability in agriculture. The ecological engineering using earthworms for enhancing and restoring soil fertility is discussed in detail along with Mycoremediation of toxins and salt by utilizing macro and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi.

Earthworms are essential components in temperate forest ecosystems, yet the patterns of change in earthworm-associated microbial communities across different temperate forests remain unclear. This study employed high-throughput sequencing technology to compare bacterial community composition and structure in three earthworm-associated microhabitats (skin, gut, and habitat soil) across three typical temperate forests in China, and investigated the influence of environmental factors on these differential patterns. The results indicate that: (1) From warm temperate forests to cold temperate forests, the soil pH of the habitat decreased significantly. In contrast, the physicochemical properties of earthworm skin mucus exhibited different trends compared to those of the habitat soil. (2) Alpha diversity analysis revealed a declining trend in Shannon indices across all three microhabitats. (3) Beta diversity analysis revealed that the transition from warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest to cold temperate coniferous forest exerted the most significant impact on the gut bacterial communities of earthworms, while its influence on the skin bacterial communities was comparatively less pronounced. (4) Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla in earthworm skin, gut, and habitat soil, but the trends in bacterial community composition differed among the three microhabitats. (5) Mantel tests revealed significant correlations between bacterial community structures and climatic factors, physicochemical properties of earthworm habitat soil, and physicochemical properties of earthworm skin mucus. The findings of this study offer novel perspectives on the interplay between earthworms, microorganisms, and the environment within forest ecosystems.

Purpose A suitable strategy for bioconversion of agricultural waste into quality organic manure and its efficient utilization was assessed in the hilly ecosystem of Northeast India. Method Pits were dug in terrace lands and filled with chopped plant biomass (rice straw, maize stover and mixed weed biomass) with alternate layers of cow dung at 3:2 ratio. The treatment consisting of control (plant biomass+cow dung), plant biomass+cow dung+earthworm (Eisenia fetida) (with or without poly lining in the pit) and plant biomass +cow dung+earthworm+cellulose-degrading microorganism (Pseudomonas sp.) (with or without poly lining in the pit) was used for the bioconversion process. Results Combined inoculation of E. fetida and Pseudomonas sp. with poly lining in the pit significantly enhanced compost recovery (29.8%), cellulase activity (55.2%) and the C:N ratio (1.9%) as compared to control. Significant achievement in yield components and nutrient status in soil was observed after combined application of compost with 50% recommended dose of fertilizer. Conclusion The current investigation established dual inoculation effect of E. fetida and Pseudomonas sp. with poly lining in the pit as a suitable technology for faster decomposition and effective bioconversion of agricultural waste into quality organic manure. A treatment imposed with such organic manure will be supportive in enhancing crop production as well as improving soil health.

Background: Forest soils in tropical and subtropical areas store a significant amount of carbon. Recent frameworks to assess soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics under evolving global conditions suggest that dividing bulk SOM into particulate and mineral-associated organic matter (POM vs. MAOM) is a promising method for identifying how SOM contributes to reducing global warming. Soil macrofauna, earthworms, and millipedes have been found to play an important role in facilitating SOM processes. However, how these two co-existing macrofaunae impact the litter decomposition process and directly impact the formation of POM and MAOM remains unclear. Methods: Here, we set up a microcosm experiment, which consisted of 20 microcosms with four treatments: earthworm and litter addition (E), millipedes and litter addition (M), earthworm, millipedes, and litter addition (E+M), and control (only litter addition) in five replicates. The soil and litter were sterilized prior to beginning the incubation experiment to remove any existing microbes. After incubating the samples for 42 days, the litter properties (mass, C, and N contents), soil physicochemical properties, as well as the C and N contents, and POM and MAOM 13C abundance in the 0–5 and 5–10 ​cm soil layers were measured. Finally, the relative influences of soil physicochemical and microbial properties on the distribution of C and N in the soil fractions were analyzed. Results: The litter mass, C, and N associated with all four treatments significantly decreased after incubation, especially under treatment E+M (litter mass: −58.8%, litter C: −57.0%, litter N: −75.1%, respectively), while earthworm biomass significantly decreased under treatment E. Earthworm or millipede addition alone showed no significant effects on the organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) content in the POM fraction, but joint addition of both significantly increased OC and TN regardless of soil depth. Importantly, all three macrofauna treatments increased the OC and TN content and decreased the 13C abundance in the MAOM fraction. More than 65% of the total variations in the distribution of OC and TN throughout the two fractions can be explained by a combination of soil physicochemical and microbial properties. Changes in the OC distribution in the 0–5 ​cm soil layer are likely due to a decrease in soil pH and an increase in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), while those in the 5–10 ​cm layer are probably caused by increases in soil exchangeable Ca and Mg, in addition to fungi and gram-negative (GN) bacteria. The observed TN distribution changes in the 0–5 ​cm soil likely resulted from a decrease in soil pH and increases in AMF, GN, and gram-negative (GP) bacteria, while TN distribution changes in the 5–10 ​cm soil could be explained by increases in exchangeable Mg and GN bacteria. Conclusions: The results indicate that the coexistence of earthworms and millipedes can accelerate the litter decomposition process and store more C in the MAOM fractions. This novel finding helps to unlock the processes by which complex SOM systems serve as C sinks in tropical forests and addresses the importance of soil macrofauna in maintaining C-neutral atmospheric conditions under global climate change.

Ivermectin (IVM) is a dewormer commonly utilized in animal farming. Nevertheless, there is a deficiency of research on the bioecotoxicity of IVM in soil. In this study, earthworms were utilized as test animals to investigate the ecotoxicological impacts of IVM. The experiment lasted 28 days and involved adding varied doses of IVM to a culture substrate of soil mixed with cow dung and feeding it to earthworms. The experiment entailed recording earthworm weight, number of earthworm cocoons, histological damage, oxidative stress indicators, and gene expression levels. The analysis results showed that earthworm growth and reproduction were hampered by IVM. Moreover, pathological damage to the earthworms increased with increasing IVM concentration, which caused increased oxidative damage to the earthworms. These findings offer a summary of the impact of IVM on earthworms and a reference point for future research examining the ecological implications of IVM.

Background & Objective: Vermicomposting is a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technology in organic waste management. In this study, the production of vermicompost by Eisenia Foetida earthworm from agricultural residues and sheep manure has been discussed. Materials and methods: In this study, sheep manure, straw and grape leaves wastes were used in different proportions to produce vermicompost. Perforated plastic boxes were used to support the growth of earthworms. After adjusted different proportions of these residues, their humidity was controlled and a number of earthworms of Eisenia Foetida species were introduced to each box. The pH and EC parameters were measured every two weeks and C/N ratio three times during the experiment. The duration of experiment was 120 days. The ANOVA test was used to compare the averages and Tukey and Kruskal-Wallis post-tests were also used to identify the source of differences in the mentioned variables. Findings: The results showed that the pH increased during vermicomposting process and was acidic again at the end of the process. The highest C/N decrease ratio and the highest EC increase were observed in the 100% sheep manure bed (b1) and the lowest C/N decrease was observed in the 100% straw bed (b6). Conclusion: Using vermicomposting is effective in waste management. It is recommended to use sheep manure in combination with other wastes to produce high quality fertilizer as well as increase the rate of vermicomposting process.

The use of vermiliquers obtained from earthworm in hydroponic crops is well received as alternative for fertilization of leafy vegetables. The vermiliquer boosts growth, defense compounds and increases the uptake of nutrients and minerals by plants. The growth and enzymatic activities related to stress and phenolic compounds were explored in hydroponic lettuce crops treated with different concentrations of vermiliquer. The treatments consisted in three different vermiliquer, a Mesh Vermiwash, a Direct Vermiwash, and the Vermileachate, and its combinations as a complement for complete fertilization. The addition of vermiliquer to hydroponic lettuce affected the leaf and root fresh weight, and reactive oxygen species like superoxide dismutase (SOD) or phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Vermileachate (Vl) plus Direct Vermiwash treatment was higher in the first week in leaf and root lettuce, indicating an effect biostimulant. Vl gave the highest enzymatic activity in SOD and PAL, indicating an effect elicitor. In summary, vermiwash proved to improve hydroponic lettuce crop and enzymatic activities related to stress.

Abstract Metazoans have several mechanisms of internal defense for their survival. The internal defense system evolved alongside the organisms. Annelidae have circulating coelomocytes that perform functions comparable to the phagocytic immune cells of vertebrates. Several studies have shown that these cells are involved in phagocytosis, opsonization, and pathogen recognition processes. Like vertebrate macrophages, these circulating cells that permeate organs from the coelomic cavity capture or encapsulate pathogens, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore, they produce a range of bioactive proteins involved in immune response and perform detoxification functions through their lysosomal system. Coelomocytes can also participate in lithic reactions against target cells and the release of antimicrobial peptides. Our study immunohistochemically identify coelomocytes of Lumbricus terrestris scattered in the epidermal and the connective layer below, both in the longitudinal and in the smooth muscle layer, immunoreactive for TLR2, CD14 and α-Tubulin for the first time. TLR2 and CD14 are not fully colocalized with each other, suggesting that these coelomocytes may belong to two distinct families. The expression of these immune molecules on Annelidae coelomocytes confirms their crucial role in the internal defense system of these Oligochaeta protostomes, suggesting a phylogenetic conservation of these receptors. These data could provide further insights into the understanding of the internal defense system of the Annelida and of the complex mechanisms of the immune system in vertebrates.

The earthworm, as a soil engineer, plays highly important roles in the soil ecosystem for shaping soil structure, promoting soil fertility, regulating microbial community composition and activities and decomposing soil pollutants. However, the research progresses on this important soil fauna have rarely been reviewed so far. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the literature published during 1900–2022, which was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS). The results showed that three periods (1900–1990, 1991–2005 and 2006–2022) could be identified in terms of the intensity of publications on the topic, and the number of publications kept increasing since 2006. The United States produced the highest publication record at the country scale, whereas Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institution. Chinese institutions and authors played an active and prominent role during 2018–2022. Soil Biology & Biochemistry was the most popular journal for the topic-related research. In these publications, Professor Lavelle P was the most influential author. Based on a citation network of the top 50 cited papers, four hotspots were identified, i.e., the ecological effects of earthworms, the impact of agricultural activities on earthworms, earthworm ecotoxicology and earthworm invasion. Moreover, “impact”, “biodiversity”, “oxidative stress”, “diversity”, “response”, “Eisenia fetida” and “exposure” were the emerging and active topics in recent years. This study can help us to better understand the relevant subject categories, journals, countries, institutions, authors and articles and identify the research hotspots and emerging trends in the field of soil earthworm research.

Earthworms can increase the solubility of phosphorus (P) in soil, an effect which to a large extent is controlled by mineralisation of organic P. Phosphatases, a class of hydrolytic enzymes, catalyse this mineralisation process. However, a consistent comparison of their activity among earthworm species and for different soil spheres is still missing. Here we aim to better understand the activity of phosphatases in relation to earthworm-enhanced P-availability, and specifically that of phosphomonoesterases (PME) which directly liberate orthophosphate. We conducted a greenhouse pot experiment with five different earthworm species. The PME activity was assessed in earthworm casts, burrows and bulk soil for both single species and mixed communities. Analyses were performed at both the pH-H2O of the bulk soil (6.5) and of the casts (7.5). The PME activity measured at both pH values was highly correlated (R2 = 0.98; p = 2.2x10-16) and was strongly elevated by earthworm activity in the order cast > burrows > bulk soil. The PME activity was particularly high in the casts of A. longa relative to casts of other species. Large variation in PME activity in the drilosphere was observed among earthworm species, but this variation was not related to earthworm ecological categories. Our data also indicate that an elevated P concentration in grass shoots could result from increased PME activity via greater hydrolysis of organic P.

The substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers is a viable strategy to enhance crop yield and soil quality. In this study, the aim was to investigate the changes in soil microorganisms, soil chemical properties, and growth of Chinese flowering cabbage under different fertilization treatments involving earthworms and cow manure. Compared with the control (100% chemical fertilizer), CE (30% reduction in chemical fertilizer + earthworms) and CFE (30% reduction in chemical fertilizer + cow dung + earthworms) treatments at soil pH 8.14 and 8.07, respectively, and CFC (30% reduction in chemical fertilizer + cow manure) and CFE treatments increased soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), and available potassium (AK) contents. Earthworms and cow manure promoted the abundance of Bacillus and reduced that of the pathogens Plectosphaerella and Gibberella. The mantle test revealed that pH was not correlated with the microbial community. Random forest analysis verified that AN, SOM, and TN were important factors that jointly influenced bacterial and fungal diversity. Overall, the synergistic effect of earthworms and cow manure increased soil fertility and microbial diversity, thereby promoting the growth and development of Chinese flowering cabbage. This study enhanced the understanding of how bioregulation affects the growth and soil quality of Chinese flowering cabbage, and thus provided a guidance for the optimization of fertilization strategies to maximize the yield and quality of Chinese flowering cabbage while reducing environmental risks.

Food chain contamination by soil lead (Pb), beginning with Pb uptake by leafy vegetables, is a threat to food safety and poses a potential risk to human health. This study highlights the importance of two ecologically different earthworm species (the anecic species Amynthas aspergillum and the epigeic species Eisenia fetida) as the driving force of microbial hotspots to enhance Pb accumulation in the leafy vegetable Brassica campestris at different Pb contamination levels (0, 100, 500, and 1,000 mg·kg−1). The fingerprints of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were employed to reveal the microbial mechanism of Pb accumulation involving earthworm–plant interaction, as PLFAs provide a general profile of soil microbial biomass and community structure. The results showed that Gram-positive (G+) bacteria dominated the microbial community. At 0 mg·kg−1 Pb, the presence of earthworms significantly reduced the total PLFAs. The maximum total of PLFAs was found at 100 mg·kg−1 Pb with E. fetida inoculation. A significant shift in the bacterial community was observed in the treatments with E. fetida inoculation at 500 and 1,000 mg·kg−1 Pb, where the G+/G− bacteria ratio was significantly decreased compared to no earthworm inoculation. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that E. fetida had a greater effect on soil microbial hotspots than A. aspergillum, thus having a greater effect on the Pb uptake by B. campestris. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil microbial biomass and structure explained 43.0% (R2 = 0.53) of the total variation in Pb uptake by B. campestris, compared to 9.51% of microbial activity. G− bacteria explained 23.2% of the total variation in the Pb uptake by B. campestris, significantly higher than the other microbes. The Mantel test showed that microbial properties significantly influenced Pb uptake by B. campestris under the driving force of earthworms. E. fetida inoculation was favorable for the G− bacterial community, whereas A. aspergillum inoculation was favorable for the fungal community. Both microbial communities facilitated the entry of Pb into the vegetable food chain system. This study delivers novel evidence and meaningful insights into how earthworms prime the microbial mechanism of Pb uptake by leafy vegetables by influencing soil microbial biomass and community composition. Comprehensive metagenomics analysis can be employed in future studies to identify the microbial strains promoting Pb migration and develop effective strategies to mitigate Pb contamination in food chains.

Mango tree pruning results in high biomass output, which is a serious agricultural and environmental problem. Vermicomposting is a potential, fast and sustainable tool to address these challenges. For sixty days, the experiment was carried out in six vermireactors containing five earthworm species by Eudrilus eugeniae, Eisenia fetida, Aporrectodea rosea, Lumbricus rubellus, and Lampito mauritii, as well as composting (without earthworm) using mango tree pruning waste biomass along with cattle dung as an instant preferred feeding material for earthworms. The pH, TOC, C/N and C/P ratios of the waste were substantially reduced by the earthworm activity. However, after vermicomposting, the levels of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) and microbial count substantially increased. The TOC content of waste was reduced by 42–55%, and the C/N of vermicompost ranged from 5.58 to 11.38. The results showed that earthworm fecundity was highest in vermireactors containing Eudrilus eugeniae and Eisenia fetida. The current study was ultimately determine that vermicomposting using Eudrilus eugeniae or Eisenia fetida is an effective strategy for utilising mango tree pruning waste, ensuring environmental sustainability and improving farmer revenue.

Extreme high temperature (EHT) events are becoming more frequent and prolonged due to global climate change. Predicting the effects of EHT events on agricultural soil fauna remains a major challenge. In order to assess the response of community composition and vertical distribution of soil fauna to EHT events, this study investigated the soil macrofauna communities in facility agricultural farmlands at the end of an EHT event in East China in 2022 and eighteen days after. The results showed that the taxonomic richness and abundances of the soil macrofauna community were reduced eighteen days after the EHT event. However, changes in abundance were taxonomically dependent: individuals of ants (Pheidole indica), centipedes (Himantariidae) and crickets decreased significantly, while Enchytraeidae and earthworms increased. Soil water content was an important factor determining taxonomic richness at the end of the EHT event and the abundance of earthworms eighteen days after the EHT event. The maximum values of taxonomic richness and abundance of the soil macrofauna community were observed in the surface layer (0–10 cm) at the end of the EHT event and eighteen days after. Earthworms burrowed into the deeper layer at the end of the EHT event, but moved to the surface layer eighteen days after the EHT event. These results showed that most soil fauna taxa experienced adverse effects posed by EHT events, while the earthworm and Enchytraeidae had abilities to increase their abundances rapidly by EHT events. This study suggests that soil water content and vertical distribution should be considered when assessing the impact of an EHT event on soil biodiversity.

Butachlor as a selective pre-emergent herbicide, is mainly used to control the growth and productivity of certain annual grass and broad-leaf weeds. As non-target soil creatures, earthworms are affected detrimentally due to direct contact with pesticides. Our purpose was to compare the changes in the oxidative stress biomarkers in earthworms Eisenia fetida under the exposure of fresh and expired butachlor in the natural soil. LC50 of the fresh/unexpired and expired butachlor were determined by probit analysis amounting ≤440 and ≤ 471 mg/kg dry soil, respectively. Earthworms were then exposed to three sublethal concentrations (1/5th, 1/10th, and 1/20th of LC50) of both fresh and expired butachlor for 4 and 8 days. The level of oxidative stress biomarkers namely lipid peroxidation, glutathione S-transferase, and carbonylated proteins were increased. Besides, the catalase activity and value of total antioxidant capacity in earthworm's caulomic fluid were found to be decreased. In addition, it was clearly showed that butachlor can cause tissue damages in earthworms. The fresh and expired butachlor trigger the onset of oxidative damages as illustrated by altered oxidative stress biomarkers and tissue damages, particularly at the end of 8 days and high concentrations. Contrary to expiration, we found evidence that expired BUC is acutely toxic to earthworms. The fresh BUC was more deleterious than expired one to earthworms. Meanwhile, it must be considered that the regulations towards disposal of expired toxicants must be strictly followed without impairing the soil ecosystem.

Highlights Cattle dung can be effectively managed through vermicomposting Biochar showed both positive and negative effects on earthworms’ performance 5% biochar addition promoted compost quality by stimulating earthworms’ activity Higher doses of biochar were not suitable for vermicomposting Available N and functional genes drove compost quality and N2O emissions Biochar increased AOB but decreased nirS gene numbers in fresh cast of earthworms

Strain E4, an unrecorded species of dimorphic fungi, was isolated from the gut of earthworms collected in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that this species is a member of the genus Blastobotrys, Blastobotrys illinoisensis. Strain E4 differed from its closest known species, B. mokoenaii and B. malaysiensis, by harboring 3-5 and 12-14 nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 and ITS regions, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated sequences of the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene and the ITS region also indicated that strain E4 belongs to the Blastobotrys clade and is distinct from other related species in the clade. The previously unreported isolate could be distinguished from closely related species by its inability to ferment carbon sources. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation of Blastobotrys species from the gut of earthworms in Korea. The strain used was E4 (=KCTC 27831=JCM 33428).

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group consisting of 209 congeners, differing in the number and site of substitution of chlorine atoms to the biphenyl molecule. Due to their physicochemical properties, they have found wide industry use. As a result of many years of large-scale use of PCBs, their toxic properties began to be noticed as they manifested in poisoning among humans. After thorough testing of PCBs, they were classified in the group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and their production was banned and they were withdrawn from use. Although PCBs are no longer produced in factories, they can still be formed. In this article, will be presented and explained methods of accidental formation of PCBs. Based on data from the literature, we performed an environmental risk assessment for PCB-contaminated soils.

We report the first isolation of a widely distributed free-living soil amoeba Leptomyxa (Amoebozoa, Leptomyxida) from endozoic conditions. The amoebae were detected after 14 days following inoculation of the intestine of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris on an agar plate with Escherichia coli. The earthworm was collected from Calcaric Fluvisol (pH 7) in the Upper Váh region, north-west Slovakia. Observed amoebae were uninucleate, polypodial with typically branched pseudopodia, and morphologically resembled Leptomyxa australiensis. This study enlarges the range of amphizoic tendency in leptomyxid amoebae and indicates their interactions with Oligochaeta.

The nematode Pearsonema plica is a parasite infecting the urinary bladder of carnivores, with a described prevalence ranging from 1 to 90%. This parasite needs earthworms as intermediate host to complete its life cycle, being the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) a definitive host. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence and intensity of P. plica in the red fox population from the Region of Murcia (SE Spain), an area with semi-arid Mediterranean climate. The urinary bladder, kidneys and ureters of 167 red foxes were collected at necropsy, opened and observed to detect adult parasites. The influence of host variables (sex, age and body condition using Kidney Fat Index) and environmental variables (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Moisture Index, Bare Soil Index, temperature, radiation, evapotranspiration, precipitation, Corine Land Cover categories and distance to urban areas) were evaluated using a Generalised Linear Model. Moran index was used to evaluate the parasite spatial aggregation. The prevalence found was very low (2.4%; median abundance 0 nematodes per fox; median intensity 7.5 nematodes per parasitized fox), which contrast with those described in other red fox populations in Europe. Environmental variables had a significant influence on the occurrence of P. plica, being NDMI, mean summer precipitation, percentage of forest and agricultural areas positively associated with P. plica abundance. The south-eastern Iberian Peninsula has a semi-arid climate that hinders the development of the life cycle of this nematode, which justifies its occurrence in specific areas where there are the suitable environmental conditions for the presence of earthworms. However, although semi-arid Mediterranean areas do not seem to be favourable carnivores to be parasitized by P. plica, we cannot underestimate the risk that exists in those areas where, either naturally or by human activity, there are environmental factors that favor the presence of this nematode.

Solid waste management continue to be a major challenge and permanent problem of urban as well as semi-urban areas of the country. A number of initiatives have been taken by several public and private sector organizations to overcome this serious problem. One such initiative taken at the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV), Haridwar has successfully turned the bio-degradable part of the solid waste into a thriving and profitable enterprise. DSVV has transferred this technology to a number of entrepreneurs through their on-going capacity development programmes for rural development and organic farming. The paper describes how DSVV continue to manage its solid waste of over 5 MT generated daily in the Campus as well as that of Shantikunj by converting it into valuable vermicompost and handmade paper, after segregation, and thus helping DSVV as well as Shantikunj to become completely organic in managing their total area of over 200 acres lush green campus. The paper also describes how rural entrepreneurship training on vermicomposting at DSVV has helped three entrepreneurs, besides many, to develop large commercial vermicompost units with attractive returns. The paper also highlight potential of vermicomposting in solid waste management, employment generation and organic farming with least damage to environment.

IntroductionConservation agriculture (CA) is gaining attention in the South Asia as an environmentally benign and sustainable food production system. The knowledge of the soil bacterial community composition along with other soil properties is essential for evaluating the CA-based management practices for achieving the soil environment sustainability and climate resilience in the rice-wheat-greengram system. The long-term effects of CA-based tillage-cum-crop establishment (TCE) methods on earthworm population, soil parameters as well as microbial diversity have not been well studied.MethodsSeven treatments (or scenarios) were laid down with the various tillage (wet, dry, or zero-tillage), establishment method (direct-or drill-seeding or transplantation) and residue management practices (mixed with the soil or kept on the soil surface). The soil samples were collected after 7 years of experimentation and analyzed for the soil quality and bacterial diversity to examine the effect of tillage-cum-crop establishment methods.Results and DiscussionEarthworm population (3.6 times), soil organic carbon (11.94%), macro (NPK) (14.50–23.57%) and micronutrients (Mn, and Cu) (13.25 and 29.57%) contents were appreciably higher under CA-based TCE methods than tillage-intensive farming practices. Significantly higher number of OTUs (1,192 ± 50) and Chao1 (1415.65 ± 14.34) values were observed in partial CA-based production system (p ≤ 0.05). Forty-two (42) bacterial phyla were identified across the scenarios, and Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the most dominant in all the scenarios. The CA-based scenarios harbor a high abundance of Proteobacteria (2–13%), whereas the conventional tillage-based scenarios were dominated by the bacterial phyla Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi and found statistically differed among the scenarios (p ≤ 0.05). Composition of the major phyla, i.e., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were associated differently with either CA or farmers-based tillage management practices. Overall, the present study indicates the importance of CA-based tillage-cum-crop establishment methods in shaping the bacterial diversity, earthworms population, soil organic carbon, and plant nutrient availability, which are crucial for sustainable agricultural production and resilience in agro-ecosystem.

Pesticides and heavy metals commonly coexist in soil. In this study, the influence of Cd and Cu on the toxicity of rac-dinotefuran and the enantioselective behavior of dinotefuran enantiomers in soil-earthworm microcosms were investigated. The acute toxic tests showed that S-dinotefuran has higher toxic than that of R-dinotefuran. The rac-dinotefuran and Cd has an antagonistic effect on earthworms, and the Cu and rac-dinotefuran has a synergistic effect. Earthworms maybe promoted the enantioselective behavior of dinotefuran in soil. Co-exposure to Cd or Cu inhibited the dissipation of dinotefuran enantiomers (S-dinotefuran and R-enantiomers), and slightly reduced the enantioselectivity in soil. The earthworms were found to be preferentially enriched with S-dinotefuran. However, Cd or Cu attenuated the accumulation of dinotefuran enantiomers in earthworms and decreased the enantioselectivity. The effect of Cd and Cu on the environmental behaviors of dinotefuran enantiomers were correlated positively with the dose of Cd/Cu. These results showed that Cd and Cu alter the environmental behaviors and the toxicity of dinotefuran enantiomers in soil-earthworm microcosms. Thus, the influence of coexistent heavy metals on the ecological risk assessment of chiral pesticides should be considered.

Composting is the oldest and most natural form of organic material recycling. Technological parameters are very important because when the process is unbalanced, other gases are produced, some of which have objectionable odours (NH3). Sewage sludge is a valuable material that has accumulated large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can contribute to improving soil quality. Optimal composting and vermicomposting conditions (C/N ratio, pH, and moisture) can reduce the emissions of gaseous pollutants in the environment. Experimental studies have shown that the volume of ammonia emitted into the environment during vermicomposting of sewage sludge is significantly lower (3 mg/m3 concentration was reached on the 28th day) than that resulting from traditional composting (3 mg/m3 concentration was reached on the 56th day). Vermicomposting of sewage sludge preserves higher amounts of total nitrogen (12.52 mg/kg) compared to traditional composting (10.35 mg/kg).