title: C. elegans behavior of preference choice on bacterial food.
abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans is a free living soil nematode and thus in its natural habitat, C. elegans encounters many different species of soil bacteria. Although some soil bacteria may be excellent sources of nutrition for the worm, others may be pathogenic. Thus, we undertook a study to understand how C. elegans can identify their preferred food using a simple behavioral assay. We found that there are various species of soil bacteria that C. elegans prefers in comparison to the standard laboratory E. coli strain OP50. In particular, two bacterial strains, Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus soli, were preferred strains. Interestingly, the sole feeding of these bacteria to wild type animals results in extended lifespan through the activation of the autophagic process. Further studies will be required to understand the precise mechanism controlling the behavior of identification and selection of food in C. elegans.
authors.affiliation: Brain Korea 21 Life Science for Global Warming Team, Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Emad Abd-elmoniem
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abada
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.forename: Byung-Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sun-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joohong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahnn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D008136:Longevity; D012988:Soil Microbiology