BACKGROUND The potential benefits of earthworm (Pheretima aspergillum) for healing have received considerable attention recently. Osteoblast and osteoclast activities are very important in bone remodeling, which is crucial to repair bone injuries. This study investigated the effects of earthworm extract on bone cell activities. METHODS Osteoblast-like MG-63 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophage cell...

abstract earthworms are an important component of soil fauna, and play a crucial role in the improvement of soil properties. however, very little is known of the interactive influence of earthworms and organic materials on soil enzyme activities, particularly in arid and semi-arid soils. the low organic matter content and the significant role of earthworms in stimulating microbiological and bio...

In soils, organic matter decomposition and stabilization largely occur as a result of microbial activity, although when present, earthworms are important drivers of the processes through their interactions with microflora which begin during organic matter digestion by earthworms. Here, we studied the effects of gut transit on the number of bacteria and the microbial activity in pig slurry, usin...

Earthworm activity is known to increase emissions of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) from arable soils. Earthworm gut, casts, and burrows have exhibited higher denitrification activities than the bulk soil, implicating priming of denitrifying organisms as a possible mechanism for this effect. Furthermore, the earthworm feeding strategy may drive N(2)O emissions, as it determines access to fresh organic m...

17 To assess the risks that contaminated soils pose to the environment properly a greater 18 understanding of how soil biota influence the mobility of metal(loid)s in soils is 19 required. Lumbricus terrestris L. were incubated in three soils contaminated with As, 20 Cu, Pb and Zn. The concentration and speciation of metal(loid)s in pore waters and the 21 mobility and partitioning in casts were...

In the gut tissues and contents of the earthworm Pheretima (Metaphire) hilgendorfi, cellulase activity which contributes to the terrestrial ecosystem nutrient cycling has been detected. The origin of the cellulase production, whether it is the earthworm itself or the microorganisms, has not been established at the molecular level. In our study, a cellulase [endo-β-1,4glucanase (EGase), EC3.2.1....

BACKGROUND Earthworms are key organisms in organic matter decomposition because of the interactions they establish with soil microorganisms. They enhance decomposition rates through the joint action of direct effects (i.e. effects due to direct earthworm activity such as digestion, burrowing, etc) and indirect effects (i.e. effects derived from earthworm activities such as cast ageing). Here we...

The current study is aimed to investigate and evaluate the therapeutic potential of the dialysed protein extract of the Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The antioxidant activity was assessed by calculating Total Phenolic Content, Reducing power and Nitric Oxide Radical Inhibition capacity of the prepared autolysed earthworm extract. The anti-...

BACKGROUND The interplay between diet, gut bacteria and health still remain enigmatic. Here, we addressed this issue through the investigation of the effect of crystalline cellulose on the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris gut microbiota composition and survival. METHODS Earthworm gut contents were analyzed after 14 days of feeding using a mixed 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach, in addition to ...

[1] To investigate the control of earthworm populations on leaf litter biopolymer decay dynamics, we analyzed the residues of Liriodendron tulipifera L. (tulip poplar) leaves after six months of decay, comparing open surface litter and litter bag experiments among forests with different native and invasive earthworm abundances. Six plots were established in successional tulip poplar forests whe...