Earthworm immunity: a model of immune competence

From the 1960s, work on the immune system of earthworms was concerned with inflammatory and cellular responses after tissue transplantation. Later, interest in the humoral immune system emphasized those molecules that cause death of the targets or regulate immune-related activities. Specific interest was on cytolysins, agglutinins, proteases, protease inhibitors and phenoloxidase. Responses of the immune system were used as markers to evaluate...