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Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is used as a major supplement in culturing animal cells under in vitro conditions. Due to ethical concern, high cost, biosafety, and geographical as well as batchwise result variations, it is important to reduce or replace the use of FBS in animal cell culture. The major objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of heat-inactivated coelomic fluid (HI-CF) of the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus as a possible alternative for FBS in animal cell culture experiments. The coelomic fluid (CF) was extruded from the earthworm using electric shock method and used for the experiments. Electric shock method is a simple non-invasive technique, which has no harmful effect on earthworms. Mouse primary fibroblast and HeLa cell lines were used in this study. Among HI-CF, autoclaved CF and crude CF, the supplement of medium with HI-CF shows positive results. The processed HI-CF (90°C for 5 min) at 10% supplement in cell culture medium promote maximum cell growth but cells need the initial support of FBS for the attachment to the culture flask. Microscopic observation and immunofluorescence assay with actin and lamin A confirm that the cellular and molecular morphology of the cells is maintained intact. The HI-CF of earthworm, P. excavatus has shown better cellular viability when compared with FBS and making it possible as an alternative supplement to minimize the use of FBS., (© 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.)

Summary: Coffee pulp is the main solid residue from the wet processing of coffee berries. Recent stringent measures by Pollution Control authorities, made it mandatory to treat all the solid and liquid waste emanating from the coffee farms. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of an exotic ( Eudrilus eugeniae) and a native earthworm ( Perionyx ceylanesis) from coffee farm for decomposition of coffee pulp into valuable vermicompost. Exotic earthworms were found to degrade the coffee pulp faster (112 days) as compared to the native worms (165 days) and the vermicomposting efficiency (77.9%) and vermicompost yield (389 kg) were found to significantly higher with native worms. The multiplication rate of earthworms (280%) and worm yield (3.78 kg) recorded significantly higher with the exotic earthworms. The percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium in vermicompost was found to increase while C:N ratio, pH and total organic carbon declined as a function of the vermicomposting. Vermicompost and vermicasts from native earthworms recorded significantly higher functional microbial group's population as compared to the exotic worms. The study reveals that coffee pulp can be very well used as substrate for vermicomposting using exotic ( Eudrilus eugeniae) and native earthworm ( Perionyx ceylanesis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is an important part of the economy of the undivided Midnapore district. Agricultural land is its asset and most importantly its means of sustenance as well as survival. Earthworms are invertebrates that play a key role in recycling organic matters in soils. Since the intestines of earthworms harbor wide ranges of microorganisms, enzymes, hormones etc., these half digested materials decompose rapidly and are transformed into a stabilized material called vermicompost which is very useful for increasing the soil fertility. One has to look for these characters before recommending any species for vermiculture. In the present study, Perionyx excavatus specimens were collected from the undivided Midnapore district and from the Earthworms gut, bacteria, fungus, actinobacteria, and yeast were isolated and identified using various morphological and biochemical tests. All the bacterial isolates were identified using morphological study, staining techniques, and different biochemical tests such as catalase test, KOH test, H2SO4 test, Starch hydrolysis test, oxidase test, and sucrose hydrolysis test. All the fungal, actinobacteria, and yeast isolates were subjected to staining and morphological characterization (color and texture of fungal colony). Bacterial isolates of genus Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Enterococci, Micrococcus sp., Enterobacter sp., and Citrobacter sp. were identified. Among the fungal isolates Aspergilus sp., and P. boydii were identified. Streptomyces sp., Nocardia sp. among the actinobacteria and Candida sp. among yeast were also found to be present in earthworm gut and these might play an important role along with the earthworm to increase the quality and fertility of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthworms are extensively referred as farmer's friends, play a vital role in maintaining soil fertility and promoting agricultural sustainability. Based on the ecological distribution of numerous species in soil the epigeic earthworms were taken into consideration as they have an excellent source for vermicomposting. In addition to this, earthworms also have a tremendous regeneration ability varies depending on the species. Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyx excavatus are the two epigeic earthworm species were taken for the study. Species identification of newly hatched and juvenile earthworms are very difficult, due to its smaller size, immature body segments, and absence of clitellum. Here, we used foldscope (a paper‐microscope) as an ideal tool for species identification by live examining the morphological characteristics, internal organs, and regeneration ability of newly hatched and juvenile earthworms, precisely. Notably, clear differentiation in the arrangement of setae and numbers of hearts present in both species were observed using a foldscope microscope. Regeneration studies reveals that both the species have prodigious regeneration potential at their newly hatched and juvenile stages which is identified and documented with foldscope. However, both species are environmentally and economically important, and their precise identification is very vital for environmental restoration, research, and agriculture practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eisenia foetida and Perionyx excavatus are potent vermicomposting earthworms having immense importance in organic matter recycling under tropical conditions, particularly in India. Comparative assessment of the cultivable gut microbiome of these two epigeic earthworms after growth on lignocellulosic biomass, revealed populations of 3.2-8.3 × 109 CFU. Diversity analyses using 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the major dominating classes were Firmicutes (50-60%), followed by Actinobacteria (26.7-33%), and Alphaproteobacteria (5.6-6.7%). Despite exhibiting similar diversity indices and species richness, Betaproteobacteria (6.7%) and Gammaproteobacteria (11.1%) were solely present in E. foetida and P. excavatus, respectively. A set of 33 distinct morphotypes, including 18 from E. foetida and 15 from P. excavatus were selected. Carbohydrate utilization profiles generated using Hi-Carbo™ kits revealed that the isolates from the gut of P. excavatus - Arthrobacter pascens IARI-L13 and Bacillus subtilis IARIC were able to utilize 54 and 51.4% of the carbohydrates tested. Sorbose was not utilized, while unusual carbohydrates - adonitol and methyl- d-mannoside were utilized only by members from the gut of P. excavatus, while melizitose was utilized by those uniquely by E. foetida microbiome. Functional characterization revealed that β-glucosidase activity was most prevalent in the culturable microbial community. Alkaline and acid phosphatase activity was more widespread in the E. foetida gut microbiome. All the culturable gut bacterial isolates produced ammonia, but IAA was detected only in five cultures. The unique functional attributes of the two culturable microbiomes, grown on a similar diet, reveals the significance of proper selection of earthworm substrate combinations for effective vermicomposting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of phosphorus to water body eutrophication is a global environmental problem, and rapid increases in aquaculture are considered a significant source of phosphorus discharged into the environment. The current review focuses on the source of aquaculture waste phosphorus and measures to decrease phosphorus release into the environment. Because diets are a significant source of phosphorus in fed aquaculture systems, improving the utilization efficiency of dietary phosphorus can reduce the amount of waste phosphorus at the source. A wide range of removal and recovery technologies has been identified, including adsorption, crystallization, enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR), denitrifying phosphorus removal, heterotrophic nitrification aerobic denitrification (HAND) and photosynthetic organism removal. Recovery technologies were also reviewed, particularly sludge phosphorus from recirculating aquaculture systems. A new method using bacteria to immobilize waste nitrogen and phosphorus into bioflocs has been proposed as a better solution. However, most of these technologies have only been implemented at the lab scale to pilot scale. Further studies are necessary to determine the working conditions and removal capacities of related technologies on a commercial scale. Moreover, phosphorus removal methods must be selected based on a consideration of recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee industry is one of the most important commercial value chains worldwide. Nonetheless, it is also associated to several social, economic, and environmental concerns that impair its sustainability. The present review is focused on these main sustainability concerns from the field to the coffee cup, as well as on the strategies that are being developed and/or implemented to attain sustainability and circular economy principles in the different chain segments. In this context, distinct approaches have been applied, such as sustainable certifications (e.g., voluntary sustainability standards), corporate sustainability initiatives, direct trade, relationship coffee concepts, geographical indication, legislations, waste management, and byproducts valorization, among others. These strategies are addressed and discussed throughout this review, as well as their recognized advantages and limitations. Overall, there is still a long way to go to attain the much‐desired sustainability in the coffee chain, being essential to join the efforts of all actors and entities directly or indirectly involved, namely, producers, retailers, roasters, governments, educational institutions (such as universities and scientific research institutes), and organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries are facing high generation of fecal sludge without adequate systems for proper treatment, leading to detrimental effects on the environment from its disposal. An emerging and innovative option in curbing this problem is the use of epigeic earthworm species to stabilize the waste into vermicompost, a value‐added resource. Substrate enrichment techniques can be applied to promote the sustainability and effectiveness of the vermicomposting process. This study was therefore carried out to determine the potential of two epigeic earthworm species (Eisenia foetida and Eudrilus eugeniae) to transform and stabilize fecal sludge into vermicompost using organic enriched substrates. Enriched substrates were prepared with 160 g of coconut coir, 120 g of fecal matter (65–70% dry matter) and 80 g of organic black soil. Three treatments of the vermibed substrates were prepared which were labelled T1, T2 and T3, with T1 containing Eisenia foetida, T2 containing Eudrilus eugeniae and T3, the control treatment, containing no earthworm. Treatments were triplicated and about 3‐week‐old 20 clitellated, E. fetida (live weight ∼255–275 mg) were introduced into the vermibeds for vermicomposting over a duration of 12 weeks. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Ntot), available phosphorus (Pavail), exchangeable calcium (Caexch), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and aluminium (Al) changes in the setups at the beginning and end of the vermicomposting period were evaluated. Eisenia foetida demonstrated a higher Corg mineralization (67.59%) compared to Eudrilus eugeniae, which attained 67.22%. Eisenia foetida also showed 5% more mortality than Eudrilus eugeniae. The study revealed that the two epigeic earthworm species for the vermicomposting of fecal waste in the enriched substrates played significant role in stabilizing the waste into vermicompost that was rich in nutrients, with lower levels of metals, higher levels of microbial biomass and higher levels of enzyme concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of the huge amount of solid waste around the globe is a major ecological and technical problem. Vermicomposting may be the viable option to handle solid waste in an environmentally friendly way. This review provides a general overview of viability of vermicomposting processes as an ecofriendly approach. The integrated approach of composting and vermicomposting processes provides better results. Further, to optimize the process of vermicomposting, codigestion of organic wastes provides better opportunity for both microorganisms and earthworms to convert the organic fraction of solid waste under controlled environmental conditions. Feeding, stocking density, pH, C/N ratio, temperature, and moisture, by inference, seem to be the critical factors that influence the vermicomposting process. Furthermore, the end product of vermicomposting, the nutrient-rich compost, could be used for biogas production. Hence, the management of solid waste and energy production can be achieved at the same time with no further costs. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1050-1062, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before the start of vermicomposting, the large quantity of organic waste generated in the zoo was sold to the public at the rate of Rs. 500 per truck amount Rs. 9500 annually. However, the large profusion of waste was frequently left within the zoo premises imparting an ugly and unhygienic environment for the zoo. To make the park more attractive, self‐sustained (sold high‐quality vermicompost) and keep premises clean, a vermicomposting process was set up on a pilot basis. Vermicomposting of organic waste could have dual beneficial effects by generating an economically viable animal feed protein in the form of worm biomass while alleviating the negative effects of poor organic waste management. The aim of the study was the management of different organic wastes generated in the zoo by using exotic worms and makes the premises financially‐self dependent. The most dung‐producing animals in the zoo are herbivores and droppings of exotic birds are also included, on average below 200 kg or more waste is collected every week in the zoo. Analysis of different physico‐chemical properties of zoo vermicompost showed vermidegraded organic waste is a nutrient rich and eco‐friendly approach. Data were analyzed by using mean ± error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a retrospective study of the agents, clinical aspects, sources of infection and therapy of onychomycosis in children. In the period 1989–2000, we observed 46 consecutive children, until 16 years of age with onychomycosis (29 boys, 17 girls, mean age 10.8 years). Dermatophytes were isolated in 30 cases ( Trichophyton rubrum in 22 cases, Trichophyton mentagrophytes in five, Epidermophyton floccosum in two and Trichophyton violaceum in one) and Candida spp. in 16, associated with Trichophyton rubrum in two. Moulds were isolated in three children ( Fusarium oxysporum in one, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in another and Aspergillus fumigatus associated with Trichophyton rubrum in a third). The commonest features were distal and distolateral subungual hyperkeratosis in dermatophyte infections (93%) and onychodystrophy and paronychia in Candida infections (56% and 50% respectively). Forty patients achieved clinical and mycological recovery. It is appropriate to suspect onychomycosis in children, perform microbiological diagnosis and undertake early treatment. An approach of this kind may help to prevent nail dystrophy and the spread of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytotoxicity of soils under Wedelia trilobata has been described, but the dynamic between phytotoxic and metabolites in W. trilobata soil and the restriction posed by soil properties have been poorly addressed. In this study, the phytotoxic variation of W. trilobata soil in response to the changes in soil properties and soil metabolomics was determined at monthly intervals for 11 months using bioassays and metabolomic approaches. Strong variability in soil properties and obvious temporal variations in the soil phytotoxicity were observed over the 11‐month period. Among the soil properties that were analyzed, soil organic matter, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and soil nutrients presented the most contribution in differentiating soils according to time of sampling and strength of phytotoxicity. Nonsterilized soil exerted stronger percentage inhibition of seed germination (IG) of lettuce, whereas the percentage inhibition of shoot height (SH) and root length (RL) of lettuce was higher in sterilized soil. Decline in the overall phytotoxicity was clearly observed in nonsterilized soil, suggesting the role of soil microbes in mediating the soil phytotoxic effect of W. trilobata, albeit the negative correlation. Putative metabolites contributing to the discrimination of soils according to time of sampling and strong correlation with percentage inhibition (%) of IG, SH, and RL were identified and discussed. Overall, the results showed that the phytotoxicity of soils under W. trilobata varied throughout the 11 months of study and can be restricted by the changes in soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ingestion of organic and mineral materials by earthworms is a prominent functional role that has profound consequences for the decomposition and stabilization of soil organic matter. To investigate the litter consumption of the African nightcrawler earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae under different tropical conditions, we used DNA barcoding to identify specimens of E. eugeniae collected from sites across the Adamawa region in Cameroon, and studied the influence of habitat suitability (soil properties), soil moisture, litter type, and population density on litter consumption. A total of four litter consumption experiments were carried out using soils collected from refuse disposal sites, agricultural lands, and savannahs dominated by the Mexican sunflower Tithonia diversifolia. The results revealed that litter consumption significantly increased in the refuse disposal and agricultural soils as opposed to the Mexican sunflower (T. diversifolia) soil, a cow dung enriched substrate, and a sterile soil horizon from the savannah (P < 0.05). The optimum moistures for litter consumption were between 24% and 50%. Litter type did not affect the consumption rate of the earthworms (P > 0.05). We observed a general positive density‐dependent consumption with litter mass loss increasing with increasing density. Our results suggest that E. eugeniae has a strong direct effect on the decomposition of plant materials than expected from previous estimations, and that litter consumption rates are determined by several habitat components and population density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many industries including distilleries continue to contribute to environmental pollution due to significant release of organic and inorganic pollutants as wastewater. This wastewater contains heavy metals and other toxic chemicals that lead to health‐related problems. Despite the advancement in treatment technologies, major treatment methods such as conventional treatment methods are still battering with the many challenges including high treatment and operational cost, and extensive use of chemicals that may lead to ecological imbalance. In this study, various treatment methods and pollutants removal capabilities were comprehensively discussed. This article also takes a comprehensive look at the alcohol production process and its wastewater generation, chemical characteristics and the health dangers posed by the distillery wastewater (DW). The article also looked at the various available treatment methods, emerging treatment methods, microalgae treatment method as well as challenges associated with microalgae wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cases of onychomycosis diagnosed by mycological examination in three mycology units (Florence, Siena and Milan) of central and northern Italy over the 15-year period, 1985–2000, were studied retrospectively. The number of cases was 4046 (1952 women, 2094 men). Dermatophytes were isolated in 2859, yeasts in 655 and moulds in 532 cases. The most frequent dermatophyte wasTrichophyton rubrum(87%), followed byT. mentagrophytesvar.interdigitale(10%).Candida albicans(93.2%) was the prevalent yeast. Moulds were mainlyScopulariopsis brevicaulis(48.6%) andAspergillusspp. (25.2%). Dermatophytes and moulds most commonly infected the toenails, yeasts the fingernails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No‐tillage (NT) agriculture represents a great advance in soil conservation in tropical and subtropical zones, occupying more than 32 million ha in Brazil in 2017. No‐tillage systems can promote earthworm populations, which can improve soil physical and chemical properties, thus enhancing the benefits of NT for soil conservation and ecosystem services. Furthermore, earthworms can be used as indicators of the quality of NT systems. Here, we summarize the studies that evaluated earthworm populations in NT systems between 1986 and 2016 in Brazil, highlighting important gaps in knowledge. The studies were highly skewed geographically, with most data from southern and south‐eastern Brazil, and had very little information from the two states with the greatest NT area (Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul) which together represent 43% of Brazilʼs NT area. Abundance values ranged from 0 to 660 ind. m−2, with a mean of 91 ± 129 ind. m−2 (±SD), and at least 33 species were identified in NT systems. However, 73% of sites were considered to have poor and moderate soil quality based on their earthworm populations, raising concern regarding soil quality levels in Brazilian NT systems. Climate, soil and management conditions are important drivers of earthworm populations in Brazilian NT systems and future earthworm surveys in NT systems should provide ample data on these attributes, as well as on earthworm species, in order to improve their use as soil quality bioindicators. Highlights: Mean earthworm abundance in Brazilian NT is 91 ± 129 ind. m−2 (range 0–660 ind. m−2)33 species were identified in NT, most endogeic and epi‐endogeic (0 anecics, 1 epigeic)Around 75% of NT sites sampled in Brazil had moderate to poor earthworm populationsSoil management practices need improvement in many NT systems to increase earthworm populations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, Fusarium root rot, which is caused by Fusarium graminearum, reduces wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality up to 20%. Colonization of roots by F. graminearum has been recognized, but controlling Fusarium root rot using worm extracts (mucus, vermicompost tea, and vermiwash) has received little attention. We report the antagonistic properties of redworm (Eisenia fetida) extracts against F. graminearum and their effects on wheat seedling growth. Mycelial growth inhibition against the fungus was conducted in quintuplicate using the extracts in vitro. The extracts significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the fungus under in vitro conditions, and there was significant interaction between the infections and extracts for all the parameters measured (root and shoot lengths, root biomass, and disease index). Redworm mucus and 14-d vermiwash produced moderately (26%) to relatively less (16%) antifungal activity, respectively. Vermiwash and augmented vermicompost tea were able to inhibit Fusarium root rot and improve (>58%) the growth of the inoculated seedlings under laboratory conditions. Vermiwash also acted as nutritional supplement, enhancing plant growth. The extracts suppressed F. graminearum and could serve as a potential bio-fungicide in the integrated management of Fusarium root rot in wheat. Longer term experiments under field conditions are needed to validate the findings from the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that earthworm coelomic fluid (CF) can affect not only cancer but also normal cells. The study demonstrated that the CF of the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta exhibited cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells but did not toward the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS‐2B. The selective effect on the tumor cells was achieved after a short‐term CF heat pre‐treatment at 70 °C. The cytotoxic effect of the CF was time‐ and concentration‐dependent. The CF noticeably decreased the viability and affected the morphology of the A549 cells. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a different degree of destruction of the nucleus and cytoplasm of A549 cells. As determined by atomic force microscopy, the cell surface roughness increased while the cell stiffness was reduced upon the CF treatment. A twofold increase in the caspase 3, 4, 5, and 10 levels was observed in the A549 cells after the incubation with the CF. The results obtained by flow cytometry using Annexin V confirmed the proapoptotic effect of the earthworm CF on A549 lung cancer cells. The D. veneta CF and active fraction obtained with cytotoxicity toward A549 lung cancer is an interesting and promising preparation for further biological, chemical, and biomedical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human‐induced climate change, mainly through greenhouse gases emission (GGE), is attracting attention worldwide and has become one of the major threats to the environmental sustainability. Utmost is the need to understand the impact of waste management practices on GGE, or countries could incorporate alternative waste management strategies for various organic wastes. Strict regulatory controls limiting waste disposal in landfills and the consequent diversion of biodegradables have resulted in the adoption of sustainable waste management techniques like composting and vermicomposting. However, composting and vermicomposting systems for waste management, especially at large scale have the capacity to emit high levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs). This paper reviews the current available literature pertaining to GGE during composting and vermicomposting of various organic wastes, linking with the fate of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) during stabilization. Further, the current study provides a comprehensive summary of the emissions and plausible mechanisms and factors responsible for the GGE during both processes. The article also highlights likely mitigation actions relating to process parameters effective in minimizing GGE during composting and vermicomposting of organic wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Currently, industrial sludge is generated in large amounts. Industrial sludge is a solid or semi‐solid material consisting of all compounds removed from wastewater, as well as any substances added to the biological and chemical operation units during the treatment process. The composition of sludge may vary considerably. Furthermore, distinctive treatment and disposal methods are necessary as sludge produced from different industries has different characteristics. Therefore, processing and disposing of industrial sludge is a challenging and complex environmental problem. Landfilling, incineration and agricultural land application are the three most commonly employed methods for the disposal of industrial sludge. Among the three methods, the agricultural land application is a convenient and economical disposal alternative for industrial sludge. However, industrial sludge could have high putrescible content and pathogenic hazards. One possible way to ensure that the industrial sludge could be reused on agricultural land is by conditioning and stabilizing the sludge using a pretreatment process. One of the pretreatment processes which could be employed in this context is vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is an alternative for biological stabilization of organic wastes, with the addition of earthworms. Through vermicomposting, industrial sludge could be transformed into matured organic fertilizer or vermicompost in a shorter period. Thus, this work reviewed the recent literature on utilizing the vermicomposting process to manage industrial sludge in order to assess the feasibility of this technology. The present review also provides a brief overview of the production and treatment methods of industrial sludge. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to elucidate the synergistic antimicrobial activity of chitosan hydrolysates derived from hydrolysis of high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC) with various kinds of divalent metal ions-EDTA compounds against Penicillium italicum. Amongst hydrolysates, active molecular chitosan (AMC) ranging of molecular weight approximately from 0.8 to 3.0 kDa has been newly researched and demonstrated that it has great antimicrobial activity. Copper, manganese, magnesium, cobalt and zinc ions were used to manufacture chelates with EDTA using a microwave apparatus. Inhibitory effect of AMC or chelates on growth of P. italicum was investigated for up to 72 hr. As the results, AMC showed the highest growth inhibitory activity in the presence of Zn-EDTA compound compared to the other ion chelates. According to these results, we demonstrated that although Zn-EDTA-chelating ligand alone does seem to have a little antimicrobial activity against P. italicum, however, it has synergistic effect against the fungal species when it combined with AMC. Taken together, we suggest that AMC-EDTA-Zinc combination (AEM-Zn) can be a great candidate as natural pesticide for defending postharvest decay of citrus fruits by the fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils from some Latin American countries support the highest biodiversity levels on the planet and simultaneously have some of the most serious environmental impacts attributed to both historical and current agricultural practices and industrial activities. Soil contamination has resulted from intensive use of pesticides, extensive mining and other industrial activities, and uncontrolled management of waste within inappropriate regulatory frameworks. The present study presents an overview of the scientific research on soil ecotoxicology conducted in Latin America, summarizing the recent advances and highlighting the needs for further refinements in this research field. Most of the contributions to the scientific literature have been from Brazil. The most investigated issue is the ecotoxicity of pesticides and earthworms, which were the organisms most frequently used as test species. Needs identified by Latin American researchers include methods and procedures for: 1) identifying and collecting natural soils to be used as reference test-substrates in tests, 2) identifying and discerning the range of sensitivities of native test species to soil contaminants, 3) developing environmental guidelines applicable to tropical/subtropical conditions, and 4) developing methods and procedures for higher tier testing for full development and implementation of environmental risk assessment schemes. The protection of Latin American soils, including provision of goods and services, is currently framed in legislation and other regulations, but implementation requires significant improvement and additional training programs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1795-1810. © 2017 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many blood substitutes are based on mammalian hemoglobins (e.g., human hemoglobin, HbA), the naturally extracellular hemoglobins of invertebrates (a.k.a. erythrocruorins, Ecs) are intriguing alternative oxygen carriers. Specifically, the erythrocruorin of Lumbricus terrestris has been shown to effectively deliver oxygen in mice and rats without the negative side effects observed with HbA. In this study, the properties of six oligochaete Ecs ( Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia hortensis, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia veneta, Eudrilus eugeniae, and Amynthas gracilis) were compared in vitro to identify the most promising blood substitute candidate(s). Several metrics were used to compare the Ecs, including their oxidation rates, dissociation at physiological pH, thermal stability, and oxygen transport characteristics. Overall, the Ecs of Lumbricus terrestris (LtEc) and Eisenia fetida (EfEc) were identified as promising candidates, since they demonstrated high thermal and oligomeric stability, while also exhibiting relatively low oxidation rates. Interestingly, the O2 affinity of LtEc ( P50 = 26.25 mmHg at 37 °C) was also observed to be uniquely lower than EfEc and all of the other Ecs ( P50 = 9.29-13.62 mmHg). Subsequent alignment of the primary sequences of LtEc and EfEc revealed several significant amino acid substitutions within the D subunit interfaces that may be responsible for this significant change in O2 affinity. Nonetheless, these results show that LtEc and EfEc are promising potential blood substitutes that are resistant to oxidation and denaturation, but additional experiments will need to be conducted to determine their safety, efficacy, and the effects of their disparate oxygen affinities in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthworms were shown to significantly avoid soils spiked with Pb at concentrations lower than or comparable to concentrations that demonstrate significant effects for other endpoints. It was also shown that inclusion of a microorganism-produced volatile compound that attracts earthworms, ethyl valerate, decreased avoidance of spiked soils. These findings suggest that care should be taken when analyzing earthworm avoidance of soils in which microorganism communities are not controlled. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:999-1004. © 2016 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan) leaves are a good source of nutrition and health benefitting phenolic compounds. However, its importance has not yet been effectively addressed. Recently, a 2-year field experiment was attempted in an alluvial soil to understand the role of various organic and inorganic fertilisers and their combinations not only on soil quality, but also on production of foremost phenolic compounds and imparting antioxidant and antibacterial properties in C. cajan under vermicompost treatments. RESULTS Notable enhancements in crude protein, soluble carbohydrate, ash content and total flavonoid content were recorded in Cajanus leaves under vermicompost treatments. We detected a significant rise in carlinoside content in C. cajan leaves, which is known to reduce bilirubin concentration in hepatitis affected human blood. Farmyard manure treatments resulted in a high crude fibre content coupled with a substantially high concentration of total phenols, and chlorophyll. In addition, incorporation of vermicompost with or without inorganic fertiliser in the soil had a significant impact on antioxidant and antibacterial properties of C. cajan leaves. Above and beyond, farmyard manure and vermicompost positively influenced the physico-chemical health of the soil. CONCLUSION The present nutrient management scheme based on organic input not only induced a higher yield of C. cajan endowed with improved antioxidant and antibacterial properties, but also enhanced the production of various phenolic compounds. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A chronic toxicity study was conducted in earthworms ( Pheretima peguana) exposed to soil spiked with chlorpyrifos at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg soil dry matter for 7, 14, and 28 days. The integrity of the coelomocyte lysosomal membrane, nervous system, and male reproductive tissue was monitored using, respectively, the neutral-red retention assay, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme assay, and histomorphology of spermatogenic cells in the seminal vesicles and cocoon production (at 28 days after 28 days' exposure). Chlorpyrifos decreased the coelomocyte neutral-red retention time (NRRT) significantly ( p < 0.05) at concentrations > 0.1 mg/kg soil as early as day 7 of exposure and was dose- and time-dependent. Chlorpyrifos inhibition of AChE activity was greater at day 7 than at day14 ( p < 0.05) indicating possibly nerve recovery. Chlorpyrifos induced concentration-dependent damage to spermatogenic cells and cytophores in premature stages. The number and size of premature, maturing, and fully mature spermatogenic stages were increased at low concentrations (<1 mg/kg) but a number of these maturation stages declined at higher concentrations (10 and100 mg/kg) on day 28. The most severe effects were observed in the maturing and fully mature stages at the highest chlorpyrifos concentration, and this had an adverse impact on cocoon production and cocoon viability. Collectively, the results suggest induction of widespread effects on multiple organ systems in P. peguana exposed to chlorpyrifos. Although NRRT and AChE activity were the most sensitive of the biomarkers, cocoon production and cocoon viability could still be considered as diagnostic tools for monitoring effects from low-dose long-term chlorpyrifos toxicity and for evaluating population effects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1450-1459, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylum Chaetognatha (arrow worms) comprises a group of small marine predators that constitute a critical component of the zooplankton community throughout the world's oceans. Various phylogenetic affiliations have been proposed for the Chaetognatha, for which there are at least nine possible phylogenetic positions. Resolving the phylogenetic position of the chaetognaths is a key in understanding the fundamental developmental features of bilaterians. In comparison with the typical gene content of metazoan mitogenomes, two protein-coding genes ( atp6 and atp8) are absent from all chaetognaths. The two mitogenomes sequenced from Sagitta crassa and Zonosagitta nagae in this study nevertheless contain two and four tRNA genes, respectively, in contrast to those of the other five chaetognaths reported where only one tRNA gene ( trnMet) is present, thus invalidating the view that all chaetognath mitogenomes have a single tRNA gene. A conserved major gene order shared by all chaetognaths could be partially identified in many protostome mitogenomes, but not in any ancestral mitogenome gene arrangement of the four deuterostome groups. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of protein-coding genes from 85 mitogenomes of 19 groups suggests the Chaetognatha to be a sister group to the protostomes, a result consistent with evidences from the developmental pattern and other molecular analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash is a by‐product of coal combustion in thermal power plants. Its generation poses several environmental problems, the most important ones being its capacity for causing pollution and the need for large storage areas to keep it out of the environment. Fly ash management remains a major concern in the 21st century; however, despite these challenges, the material has great potential for beneficial use in agriculture due to its efficacy in modifying and improving soil health and improving crop performance. Vermicomposting is an excellent technique for reducing the toxic heavy metals in fly ash through the introduction of earthworms. The activities of several earthworm species minimize the solubility of heavy metals and increase the bioavailability of major nutrient elements such as phosphorous (P) and nitrogen (N). This article provides a comprehensive review of the scope and benefits of vermiremediating fly ash, demonstrating the abilities of different species of earthworms to accumulate heavy metals and increase the availability of plant nutrients. On the basis of a literature survey, the authors have concluded that adopting vermicomposting technology promises increased, effective fly ash utilization for agricultural benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used worldwide in agriculture, home pest control, disease vector control, and food safety. It accumulates in soil. Therefore, traces of cypermethrin may frequently appear in vegetables grown in contaminated soil. There is a push now to develop biomarkers as early warning indicators of environmental pollution. In this study, DNA damage (tail DNA%, tail length, and olive tail moment), the micronucleus, neutral red retention (NRR) time, and pinocytic adherence ability of coelomocytes were investigated in Pheretima peguana earthworms exposed to cypermethrin in filter paper tests. The NRR time of earthworm coelomocytes decreased significantly at a concentration of 3.5 × 10−3 µg · cm−2 (1/100 LC50) after 48 h exposure, with a highly negative correlation with cypermethrin concentration. Pinocytic adherence ability of coelomocytes also declined significantly at a cypermethrin concentration of 3.5 × 10−2 µg · cm−2 (1/10 LC50). The DNA damage to earthworm coelomocytes (tail DNA%, tail length, and olive tail moment) increased considerably at the highest concentration (3.5 × 10−1 µg · cm−2) although the correlation between tail DNA% and cypermethrin concentration was low. Thus, physiological biomarkers were more sensitive than the genotoxic effects in earthworms exposed to commercial cypermethrin. Although a suite of earthworm biomarkers could be used to evaluate cypermethrin terrestrial pollution, the NRR test is easier to conduct and a more sensitive indicator. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 597-606, 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vermicomposting is a process in which earthworms are used to convert organic materials into humus-like material known as vermicompost. A number of researchers throughout the world have found that the nutrient profile in vermicompost is generally higher than traditional compost. In fact, vermicompost can enhance soil fertility physically, chemically and biologically. Physically, vermicompost-treated soil has better aeration, porosity, bulk density and water retention. Chemical properties such as pH, electrical conductivity and organic matter content are also improved for better crop yield. Nevertheless, enhanced plant growth could not be satisfactorily explained by improvements in the nutrient content of the soil, which means that other plant growth-influencing materials are available in vermicomposts. Although vermicomposts have been shown to improve plant growth significantly, the application of vermicomposts at high concentrations could impede growth due to the high concentrations of soluble salts available in vermicomposts. Therefore, vermicomposts should be applied at moderate concentrations in order to obtain maximum plant yield. This review paper discusses in detail the effects of vermicompost on soil fertility physically, chemically and biologically. Future prospects and economy on the use of organic fertilizers in the agricultural sector are also examined. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance risk assessments require estimation of predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) in soil and sediment. The present study applies the target lipid model (TLM) and equilibrium partitioning (EqP) model to toxicity data to evaluate the extrapolation of the TLM-derived aquatic PNECs to these compartments. This extrapolation assumes that the sensitivity of aquatic species is similar to that of terrestrial and benthic species. The acute species sensitivity distribution, expressed in terms of species-specific critical target lipid body burdens, was computed using the TLM-EqP framework and found to span a similar range as the aquatic organism species sensitivity distribution but with a slightly lower median value (less than 2 times). The species sensitivity distribution for acute-to-chronic ratios also exhibited a similar range and distribution across species, suggesting similar mechanisms of action. This hypothesis was further tested by comparing empirical soil/sediment chronic effect levels to the calculated PNEC derived using TLM-EqP. The results showed that 95% of the compiled chronic effects data fell above the PNEC, confirming an adequate protection level. These findings support the conclusion that TLM-derived aquatic PNECs can be successfully extrapolated to derive credible PNECs for soil and sediment compartments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2679-2687. © 2014 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) are designed to describe linkages of key events within a biological pathway that result in an adverse outcome associated with chemical perturbation of a well-defined molecular initiating event. Risk assessors have traditionally relied on data from apical endpoints (e.g., mortality, growth, reproduction) to derive benchmark values for use in determining the potential adverse impacts of chemicals. One goal in building reliable and well-characterized AOPs is to identify relevant in vitro assays and/or in vivo biomarkers that could be used in screening the potential hazard of substances, thereby reducing costs and increasing the number of chemicals that can be evaluated in a timely fashion. The purpose of this review article is to build an AOP for substances with a molecular initiating event of acetylcholinesterase inhibition leading to acute mortality following guidance developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In contrast to most other AOPs developed to date, in which coverage is for a relatively limited taxonomic group or life stage, this AOP is applicable to a wide range of species at multiple life stages. Furthermore, while development of most AOPs has relied on data for a few model chemicals, the AOP described in the present review captures information from a large number of studies with a diversity of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2157-2169. Published 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How a symbiosis originates and is maintained are important evolutionary questions. Symbioses in myrmecophytes (plants providing nesting for ants) are believed to be maintained by protection and nutrients provided by specialist plant-ants in exchange for nesting spaces (called domatia) and nourishment offered by ant-plants. However, besides the benefits accrued from housing protective ants, the mechanisms contributing to the fitness advantages of bearing domatia have rarely been examined, especially because the domatia trait is usually constitutively expressed, and many myrmecophytes have obligate mutualisms with single ant species resulting in invariant conditions., In the unspecialized ant-plant Humboldtia brunonis (Fabaceae) that offers extrafloral nectar to ants, only some plants produce domatia in the form of hollow internodes. These domatia have a self-opening slit making them more prone to interlopers and are occupied mostly by non-protective ants and other invertebrates, especially arboreal earthworms. The protection mutualism with ants is restricted in geographical extent, occurring only at a few sites in the southernmost part of this plant's range in the Western Ghats of India., We examined nutrient flux from domatia residents to the plant using stable isotopes. We found that between 9% (earthworms) and 17% (protective or non-protective ants) of nitrogen of plant tissues nearest the domatium came from domatia inhabitants. Therefore, interlopers such as earthworms and non-protective ants contributed positively to the nitrogen budget of localized plant modules of this understorey tree. 15N-enriched feeding experiments with protective ants demonstrated that nutrients flowed from domatia inhabitants to nearby plant modules. Fruit set did not differ between paired hand-pollinated inflorescences on domatia and non-domatia bearing branches. This was possibly due to the nutrient flux from domatia to adjacent branches without domatia within localized modules., This study has demonstrated the nutritive role of non-protective ants and non-ant invertebrates, hitherto referred to as interlopers, in an unspecialized myrmecophyte. Our study suggests that even before the establishment of a specialized ant-plant protection mutualism, nutritional benefits conferred by domatia inhabitants can explain the fitness benefits of bearing domatia, and thus the maintenance of a trait that facilitates the establishment of a specialized ant-plant symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a review of literature published in 2012 related to the presence of pesticides and herbicides in the environment. The review, divided into four sections, includes ecology, risk assessment, toxicology, and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for species detection, identification and discovery. Metazoan DNA barcoding is primarily based upon a specific region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene that is PCR amplified by primers HCO2198 and LCO1490 ('Folmer primers') designed by Folmer et al. ( Molecular Marine Biology and Biotechnology, 3, 1994, 294). Analysis of sequences published since 1994 has revealed mismatches in the Folmer primers to many metazoans. These sequences also show that an extremely high level of degeneracy would be necessary in updated Folmer primers to maintain broad taxonomic utility. In primers jg HCO2198 and jg LCO1490, we replaced most fully degenerated sites with inosine nucleotides that complement all four natural nucleotides and modified other sites to better match major marine invertebrate groups. The modified primers were used to amplify and sequence cytochrome c oxidase subunit I from 9105 specimens from Moorea, French Polynesia and San Francisco Bay, California, USA representing 23 phyla, 42 classes and 121 orders. The new primers, jg HCO2198 and jg LCO1490, are well suited for routine DNA barcoding, all-taxon surveys and metazoan metagenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present phylogenomic analyses of the most comprehensive molecular character set compiled for Annelida and its constituent taxa, including over 347 000 aligned nucleotide sites for 39 taxa. The nucleotide data set was recovered using a pre-existing amino acid data set of almost 48 000 aligned sites as a backbone for tBLASTn searches against NCBI. In addition, orthology determinations of the loci in the original amino acid data set were scrutinized using an All vs All Reciprocal Best Hit approach, employing BLASTp, and examining for statistical interdependency among the loci. This approach revealed considerable sequence redundancy among the loci in the original data set and a new data set was compiled, with the redundancy removed. The newly compiled nucleotide data set, the original amino acid data set, and the new reduced amino acid data set were subjected to parsimony analyses and two forms of bootstrap resampling. The last-named data set also was analysed using a maximum-likelihood approach. There were two main objectives to these analyses: (i) to examine the general topology, including support, resulting from the analyses of the new data sets and (ii) to assess the consistency of the branching patterns across optimality criteria by comparison with previous probabilistic approaches. The phylogenetic hypotheses resulting from analyses of the three data sets are largely unsupported, reflecting the continued difficulty of finding numerous, reliable, and suitable loci for a group as ancient as Annelida. Resulting parsimonious hypotheses disagree, in some respects, with the previous probabilistic approaches; Sedentaria and, in most cases, Errantia are not supported as monophyletic groups but Pleistoannelida is recovered as a (unsupported) monophyletic group in one of the three parsimony analyses as well as the likelihood analysis. In addition, we performed missing data titration studies to estimate the impact of missing data on overall support and support for specific clades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serine proteases, ubiquitous enzymes known to function in digestion and immune protection in both vertebrates and invertebrates and implicated in regeneration in some species, were investigated in the California blackworm, Lumbriculus variegatus. Several serine proteases, rather than a single enzyme with broad specificity, were present in tissue extracts from the worms. Extracts were treated with a fluorescein-labeled peptide chloromethyl ketone that specifically binds to trypsin/thrombin-like proteases. Denaturing gel electrophoresis of labeled extracts showed several serine proteases with their molecular weight ranging 28,000-38,000 daltons. The trypsin/thrombin-like activity was localized, using the fluorescein-conjugated reagent, to the pharynx and digestive tract of L. variegatus. Movement of cells labeled by the reagent into regenerating tissues suggests that some differentiated endodermal tissues were used for reformation of digestive structures during regeneration in L. variegatus. The types of serine proteases in the extracts were further characterized by inhibitor studies. Presence of plasmin-like activity was indicated by degradation of fibrin by tissue homogenates from the worms and the inhibitory effect of aprotinin on enzymes in these extracts. The ability of L. variegatus extracts to generate clots when incubated with rabbit plasma and partial inhibition of extract activity by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and hirudin indicated presence of thrombin-like activity. Consistent with the detection of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and plasmin-like enzymes in the extracts was partial inhibition of L. variegatus serine protease activity by aminoethyl benzenesulfonyl fluoride and soybean trypsin inhibitor. Selective inhibition of chymotrypsin-like activity by N-tosyl- l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone and chymostatin as well as trypsin-like activity by N-tosyl- l-lysine chloromethyl ketone was observed. A potential role during regeneration for serine proteases is suggested by blockage of formation of head and tail structures by aminoethyl benzenesulfonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of these proteases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]