Abstract
Infections with parasitic nematodes remain a significant global health problem particularly in developing nations. Despite their widespread occurrence and high rate of morbidity, few strategies have been developed to prevent and treat such infections. With the growing incidence of resistance to anthelminthic drugs, there is a dire need to develop novel approaches to preventing infection by nematodes. Recent studies confirm that engineered bacteria, designed to simultaneously attract and intoxicate the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, may be effective novel biocontrol agents. However, the efficacy of these engineered bacteria against additional nematode species remains unknown. In this study, we tested the ability of these engineered bacteria to attract and intoxicate two nematodes, Panagrellus redivivus (a common free-living model) and Pelodera strongyloides (a facultative parasite found in moist soil and leaf litter). Using standard intoxication assays, we observed that P. redivivus was significantly intoxicated by the engineered bacteria. Intoxication of P. strongyloides remains unclear likely due to interspecific differences in morphological features that are indicative of intoxication. In contrast, using standard attraction assays, we observed that P.strongyloides was attracted to the engineered bacteria but not P. redivivus. Our results indicate that individual nematode species have unique intoxication and attraction requirements, suggesting that effective biocontrol may require that bacteria be engineered to target individual nematode species.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Evan C. Haskell, Dr. Christopher A. Blanar, Dr. Robert Smith
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-8-2016 1:00 PM
End Date
4-8-2016 5:30 PM
Efficacy of Nematicidal Engineered Bacteria Against Diverse Nematode Species
Alvin Sherman Library
Infections with parasitic nematodes remain a significant global health problem particularly in developing nations. Despite their widespread occurrence and high rate of morbidity, few strategies have been developed to prevent and treat such infections. With the growing incidence of resistance to anthelminthic drugs, there is a dire need to develop novel approaches to preventing infection by nematodes. Recent studies confirm that engineered bacteria, designed to simultaneously attract and intoxicate the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, may be effective novel biocontrol agents. However, the efficacy of these engineered bacteria against additional nematode species remains unknown. In this study, we tested the ability of these engineered bacteria to attract and intoxicate two nematodes, Panagrellus redivivus (a common free-living model) and Pelodera strongyloides (a facultative parasite found in moist soil and leaf litter). Using standard intoxication assays, we observed that P. redivivus was significantly intoxicated by the engineered bacteria. Intoxication of P. strongyloides remains unclear likely due to interspecific differences in morphological features that are indicative of intoxication. In contrast, using standard attraction assays, we observed that P.strongyloides was attracted to the engineered bacteria but not P. redivivus. Our results indicate that individual nematode species have unique intoxication and attraction requirements, suggesting that effective biocontrol may require that bacteria be engineered to target individual nematode species.
