Antibacterial activity of Eisenia fetida andrei coelomic fluid: III--Relationship within the polymorphic hemolysins.

The antibacterial activity exhibited by 10 different hemolytic, genetic families was established by measuring the inhibition of spontaneous in vitro growth by cell-free coelomic fluid toward 2 bacteria which are pathogenic for the earthworm: Bacillus megaterium (Gram +) and Aeromonas hydrophila (Gram -). Only two families (B and K) displayed potent inhibitory activities. This finding is consistent with the fact that the B family occurs most frequently in both natural as well as in industrial breedings. Nevertheless, evidence of a poor antibacterial defense in some frequent families suggests the existence of alternative antibacterial mechanisms.