Worm Breeder's Gazette 13(1): 21 (October 1, 1993)
These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.
We are interested in using genetics to analyze simultaneously both organisms in a two-species interaction. Therefore, we are searching for either a symbiotic or pathogenic relationship between C. elegans and a bacterium. A commensalism, in which bacteria persist within the worm but produce no obvious effects, would also qualify, but would be technically difficult to analyze.
We ask your help in providing two things:
Bacteria. Contaminants growing on worm plates are the most obvious source. If you have a contaminant that appears to kill worms or make them sick, or which worms obviously avoid, please send an agar stab or even the original plate. It is not necessary for you to identify the bacterium or perform any experiments, but please provide a brief description of how the organism was found and what its effects appeared to be.
Soil: We are screening soil samples for bacteria that produce the kinds of effects described above. Any soil in which bacteria-eating nematodes occur is a candidate, but the best results are likely to be from rich, moist, temperate soils. It is not necessary for you to confirm the presence of nematodes. A 50 ml capped plastic tube should be ample. Please supply the location and date and a general description of the habitat (e.g. "Olympic National Forest, Hoh River valley, 9-1-93, river bank in temperate rain forest").
Please send samples to:
Creg Darby
Dept. of Genetics, SK-50
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
Comments and suggestions are also welcome:
email: cdarby@u.washington.edu phone: (206) 543-9446 fax: (206) 543-0754