Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth, recognized as the major component of plant biomass. The cellulolytic microorganisms were isolated from gut of earthworm (Eisenia foetida). Using Glycerol asparagine agar media, the organisms were identified as Actinomycetes sps.. The endoglucanase activity of the culture broth was determined during actinomycetes growth by measuring the release...

Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) produce humic substances that can influence plant growth by mechanisms that are not yet clear. In this work, we investigated the effects of humic acids (HAs) isolated from cattle manure earthworm compost on the earliest stages of lateral root development and on the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase activity. These HAs enhance the root growth of maize (Zea mays) seedlings ...

Lysenin is a pore-forming toxin from the coelomic fluid of earthworm Eisenia foetida. This protein specifically binds to sphingomyelin and induces erythrocyte lysis. Lysenin consists of 297 amino acids with a molecular weight of 41 kDa. We screened for cellular signal transduction inhibitors of low molecular weight from microorganisms and plants. The purpose of the screening was to study the me...

Many potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) require various physicochemical modifications prior to use, suggesting that nanotubes having varied properties may pose risks in ecosystems. A means for estimating bioaccumulation potentials of variously modified CNTs for incorporation in predictive fate models would be highly valuable. An approach commonly used for sparingly soluble organi...

Protein powders from Eisenia foetida were prepared using different drying processes and fractionation. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to show that heat denaturation occurred during the drying process above 42 ̊C. Protein solubility was also studied. The addition of dissociating reagents allowed concluding that solubility was decreased during oven drying due to thermo denaturation inc...