Correlation between the activity of digestive enzymes and nonself recognition in the gut of Eisenia andrei earthworms

The gut barrier and the fate of engineered nanomaterials: a view from comparative physiology

“…The enzymes therefore typically might include proteinases, trypsin, carboxypeptidases, etc., to break down proteins and peptides, lipases for fats, and amylases for starch, and so on. Such enzymes are secreted into the gut lumens of most organisms, for example in daphnids, 70 isopods, 46 earthworms, [71][72][73] marine polychaete worms, 74 fish, 75,76 rats 77 and other small mammals. 78 These enzymes, proteins and other macromolecules might be considered as colloids that will be involved in agglomeration or hetero-aggregation of ENMs.…”

Microbial Environment Affects Innate Immunity in Two Closely Related Earthworm Species Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida

“…Similarly, we did not observe any significant differences in the proteolytic activity of the coelomic fluid of E. andrei and E. fetida that could affect a proper prophenoloxidase cascade activation [25] or other immunodefense pathways [26]. It should be noted that microorganisms form a considerable part of the earthworm diet [27] and thus, proteases and lysozyme play an important role as digestive/nutritional enzymes in the gut [28]. However, we follow protease and lysozyme activities in the coelomic fluid suggesting rather their defense function.…”

Mucosal Immunity in Invertebrates

“…For example, mollusks and crustaceans are known as filter feeders that digest bacteria trapped on the mucus of the gills, from where they are passed into the gastrointestinal tract (Xue et al, 2007). Worms and flies often feed on decomposing organic matter including the large biomass of microorganisms causing the decomposition (Lemos and Terra, 1991;Procházková et al, 2013).…”