Relationship between hemolytic molecules in Eisenia fetida earthworms.

The coelomic fluid of the earthworm Eisenia fetida has been reported to contain a variety of proteins causing the lysis of red blood cells-EFAF (Eisenia fetida andrei factor), fetidin, lysenin, eiseniapore, and hemolysins isolated either from coelomic fluid (H1, H2, H3) or from cell lysate (CL(39) and CL(41)). We document the presence of two distinct genes with a high level of homology. These genes encode fetidin and lysenin but their level of expression differs in individual E. fetida andrei animals.