Function of Nephridial Bacteria
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
16-4-2013 10:00 AM
End Date
16-4-2013 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Dorothy Wrigley
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
The osmoregulatory organs in earthworms, the nephridia, contain symbiotic bacteria, Verminephrobacter sp. The bacteria could be aiding the worms survive stressful environmental conditions like increased salts and nitrogen compounds. The hypothesis of the project is that the symbionts help the earthworms cope with extreme conditions. Adult earthworms were treated with antibiotics to cure them of their nephridial symbiont. The success of the treatment was assessed by staining the nephridia with a non-specific acridine orange stain and a Verminephrobacter specific fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) stain. Once the procedure for curing was found, earthworms were treated and allowed to recover from the treatment. Then, treated and untreated worms were placed in increasing concentrations of NaCl solutions or NH4Cl solutions. Antibiotic treatment for 4 hours per day for 4 days was able to cure the worms of the symbiont as determined by both the acridine orange stain and the FISH stain. Treated earthworms tried to escape the 3% NaCl solution, while the untreated worms stayed in contact with the liquid. Tests with increased NH4Cl are on-going. The few worms tested do not allow firm conclusions. But, they may indicate that earthworms find stressful conditions less difficult if the symbiont is present.
Function of Nephridial Bacteria
CSU Ballroom
The osmoregulatory organs in earthworms, the nephridia, contain symbiotic bacteria, Verminephrobacter sp. The bacteria could be aiding the worms survive stressful environmental conditions like increased salts and nitrogen compounds. The hypothesis of the project is that the symbionts help the earthworms cope with extreme conditions. Adult earthworms were treated with antibiotics to cure them of their nephridial symbiont. The success of the treatment was assessed by staining the nephridia with a non-specific acridine orange stain and a Verminephrobacter specific fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) stain. Once the procedure for curing was found, earthworms were treated and allowed to recover from the treatment. Then, treated and untreated worms were placed in increasing concentrations of NaCl solutions or NH4Cl solutions. Antibiotic treatment for 4 hours per day for 4 days was able to cure the worms of the symbiont as determined by both the acridine orange stain and the FISH stain. Treated earthworms tried to escape the 3% NaCl solution, while the untreated worms stayed in contact with the liquid. Tests with increased NH4Cl are on-going. The few worms tested do not allow firm conclusions. But, they may indicate that earthworms find stressful conditions less difficult if the symbiont is present.
Recommended Citation
Sainju, Marbin. "Function of Nephridial Bacteria." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 16, 2013.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2013/poster-session-A/22
