Caenorhabditis elegans-Aspergillus fumigatus (Nematode-mould) Model for Study of Fungal Pathogenesis

Aims: Caenorhabditis elegans nematode pathosystem has been used to study both bacterial and fungal pathogenesis. Apart from Candida and Cryptococcus, studies using this model for other fungal infections especially filamentous fungi however, are still lacking. This work aimed at developing a C. elegans-Aspergillus fumigatus (nematode-mould) killing assay model.
Study Design: Infection model of Caenorhabditis elegans with Aspergillus fumigatus.
Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United kingdom, between October 2011 and April 2012.
Methodology: Double mutant glp-4;sek-1 strain of C. elegans worms were propagated and maintained on nematode growth medium (NGM) with Escherichia coli non-pathogenic strain HB101 used as food prior to a fungal killing assay. L4 stage of the worms were infected with spores of A. fumigatus wild-type strain AF293, and incubated in 30% brain heart infusion (BHI) in M9 buffer at room temperature for 72 h. The survival of the worms was studied within this period.
Results: The scenario presented after killing of the worms by A. fumigatus appears to be the same as previously reported for Candida albicans, except for the position of the protruded filaments on the worms.
Conclusion: This model provides a platform for future studies of fungal pathogenesis, “curing” experiments, as well as for discovery of new antifungal agents.