Caenorhabditis brenneri
Roundworm
Habitat
C. brenneri is the name recently given to the previously unnamed Caenorhabditis nematode worm called Caenorhabditis n. sp. 4. or PB2801. Like its close relatives C. elegans, C. briggsae and C. remanei it is a small, free-living, round worm found in nutrient- and microorganism-rich habitats where it feeds on bacteria and probably other microorganisms. It has been found in decaying, compost-like plant material in Sumatra, India, Trinidad, Costa Rica and Guadeloupe, suggesting it may be restricted to tropical regions around the world. Like all other Caenorhabditis species it is not parasitic, as are many other nematodes.
Biology
The biology of C. brenneri is similar to that of C. elegans, C. briggsae and C. remanei, in that it has a short generation time and goes through four larval stages before becoming an adult. It can also adapt an alternative life-form called a the dauer larva, in response to overcrowding or the absence of an adequate food supply. The dauer larva can remain viable for long periods without feeding.
C. brenneri, like C. remanei, differs from C. elegans and C. briggsae, in one major way. Adults are either female or male, whereas C. elegans and C. briggsae adults are hermaphrodites; when they first become adults they have all the characteristics of a male but later become female.
The genome of C. brenneri is small compared to the human genome (about 30 times smaller) but is about 50% larger than the genome of either C. elegans or C. briggsae, but only slightly larger than C. remanei's genome.
Sequencing Plan
The sequencing plan for C. brenneri calls for high-quality draft sequence. This will be accomplished with 9x whole genome shotgun coverage in short insert plasmids and larger insert fosmid clones. Then there will be two rounds of primer-directed, sequence improvement targeted at closing gaps in the assembly and improving regions of low-quality sequence.
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| John Spieth | The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine |
| Paul Sternberg | California Institute of Technology |
Sequences & Maps
Assemblies
| Name | Date | Description | Blast DBs |
| Caenorhabditis_brenneri(PB2801)-4.0 | Jan 08, 2007 | 9.5X | contigs reads.unplaced |
| Caenorhabditis_brenneri(PB2801)-6.0.1 | Feb 26, 2008 | 9.5X | contigs |
Related Links
Others
