Annelida: Environmental interactions and ecotoxicity in relation to the earthworm immune system

Abstract

Earthworms live in microbial-rich habitats populated with various bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other organisms. Thus, soil represents an environment with high antigenic pressure, and earthworms have developed potent defense mechanisms. Besides the abundant microbiota, earthworms are also highly influenced by various types of organic and inorganic pollutants and by the nanoparticles that reach the soil system. These contaminants affect earthworm physiology and their ability to reproduce, grow, and survive. As a result, earthworms are well suited for the monitoring soil contamination. As earthworms are able to survive in such hostile conditions, it is interesting to follow their defense strategies. In this chapter, the interactions of immune system and soil microbiota are described. Moreover, the chapter summarizes findings on the environmental effects on both cellular and humoral earthworm immunity.