The role of the agglutinins in the coelomic fluid of the oligochaete Eisenia foetida

Abstract

Pronounced opsonic activity has been demonstrated in the coelomic fluid of the Oligochaete Eisenia foetida. This humoral factor enhances the uptake of particles by Eisenia phagocytes by 94% in the case of S. cerevisiae. 31.5% inE.coli and by 34.6% in B.megaterium.In order to determine whether agglutinin molecules are responsible for this activity, the 20,000D haemagglutinin was purified. This agglutinin was found to be heat sensitive, (15 min at 60°C destroying activity completely), partially dependent on calcium ions and with an optimal pH range of 5-8. The agglutinin was found to be active towards a range of vertebrate erythrocytes and various fungal and bacterial cells but is not responsible for opsonic activity.Polyclonal antibodies to this purified agglutinin were raised in rabbits and used in immunocytochemical studies to determine the source of this molecule.It was found that the cell membranes of Eisenia phagocytes bear agglutinin or agglutinin like molecules and their possible roles in internal defence mechanisms is discussed.Eisenia coelomocytes were found to release agglutinins in vitro though the site of synthesis of these molecules is yet to be established.