A liquid-based method for the assessment of bacterial pathogenicity using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Caenorhabditis elegans has previously been used as an alternative to mammalian models of infection with bacterial pathogens. We have developed a liquid-based assay to measure the effect of bacteria on the feeding ability of C. elegans. Using this assay we have shown that Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Yersinia pestis were able to inhibit feeding of C. elegans strain N2. An increase in sensitivity of the assay was achieved by using C. elegans mutant phm-2, in place of the wild-type strain. Using this assay,P. aeruginosa PA01 inhibited the feeding of C. elegans mutant phm-2. Such liquid-based feeding assays are ideally suited to the high-throughput screening of mutants of bacterial pathogens.
Smith
Martin P
MP
Dstl, Chemical and Biological Sciences, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 OJQ, UK. mpsmith1@dstl.gov.uk
Laws
Thomas R
TR
Atkins
Timothy P
TP
Oyston
Petra C F
PC
de Pomerai
David I
DI
Titball
Richard W
RW
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C470991:phm-2 protein, C elegans