Hi all!
I’m wondering if people know about alternatives to NGM. Some bacteria don’t grow in NGM. I’m wondering about growing worms on heart infusion broth or another type.
I believe that most tests of C. elegans responses to varied bacteria first grow the bacteria in/on the appropriate media and then transfer some bacteria to NGM plates.
There are many publications on the responses of C. elegans to bacteria or other microbes or their metabolites done in this way.
I have done a bit of playing (nothing systematic) with growing C. elegans on pathogenic bacteria grown on the bacteria’s appropriate plates.
If the worms can eat the bacteria they seem to grow fine for at least a generation, but if you want to do this long-term, you will need to monitor their health and behavior.
In particular, be sure the plates contain cholesterol.
Good luck, Janet
My PI mentioned she used to grow her worms on LB plates with added P-buffer, MgSO4, CaCl2 and cholesterol (like in NGM), and that that worked fine.