Nematodes are used as a model system for bacteria-host interactions, because of they are well characterized and easy to handle. We study how species interaction affect evolution using a system of a bacteriovorous roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and a bacteria Escherichia coli. Although bacteria are a food source to the nematode, they do also colonize the gut. This video explains the aim of this study:
Scientists involved in this project
Meike Wortel
Astrid Groot
Isabel Rathmann
Thomas Blankers
Publications
- Population bottleneck has only marginal effect on fitness evolution and its repeatability in dioecious Caenorhabditis elegans.
Bisschop K, Blankers T, Mariën J, Wortel MT, Egas M, Groot AT, Visser ME, Ellers J. Evolution. 2022 Aug;76(8):1896-1904. doi: 10.1111/evo.14556.