Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living transparent nematode about 1 mm in length that lives in temperate soil environments. It is the type species of its genus. The name is a blend of the Greek caeno- (recent), rhabditis (rod-like) and Latin elegans (elegant). In 1900, Maupas initially named it Rhabditides elegans. Osche placed it in the subgenus Caenorhabditis in 1952, and in 1955, Dougherty raised Caenorhabditis to the status of genus.
Caenorhabditis briggsae is a small nematode, closely related to Caenorhabditis elegans. The differences between the two species are subtle. The male tail in C. briggsae has a slightly different morphology from C. elegans. Other differences include changes in vulval precursor competence and the placement of the excretory duct opening. C. briggsae is frequently used to study the differences between it and the more intimately understood C. elegans, especially at the DNA and protein sequence level. Several mutant strains of C. briggsae have also been isolated that facilitate genetic analysis of this organism. C. briggsae, like C. elegans, is a hermaphrodite. The genome sequence for C. briggsae was determined in 2003.
Caenorhabditis is a genus of nematodes which live in bacteria-rich environments like compost piles, decaying dead animals and rotting fruit. The name comes from Greek: caeno- ; rhabditis = rod-like. In 1900, Maupas initially named the species Rhabditis elegans, Osche placed it in the subgenus Caenorhabditis in 1952, and in 1955, Dougherty raised Caenorhabditis to the status of genus.
Caenorhabditis brenneri is a small nematode, closely related to the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Its genome is being sequenced by Washington University in St. Louis Genome Sequencing Center. This species has previously been referred to as C. sp 4 and Caenorhabditis sp. CB5161, but was recently formally described and given its scientific name. This name is in honor of Sydney Brenner, recognizing his pioneering role in starting active research in the field of C. elegans biology and development.
Caenorhabditis elegans- microbe interactions are defined as any interaction that encompasses the association with microbes that temporarily or permanently live in or on the nematode C. elegans. The microbes can engage in a commensal, mutualistic or pathogenic interaction with the host. These include bacterial, viral, unicellular eukaryotic, and fungal interactions. In nature C. elegans harbours a variety of different microbes. In contrast, C. elegans strains that are cultivated in laboratories for research purposes have lost the natural associated microbial communities and are commonly maintained on a single bacterial strain, Escherichia coli OP50. However, E. coli OP50 does not allow for reverse genetic screens because RNAi libraries have only been generated in strain HT115. This limits the ability to study bacterial effects on host phenotypes. The host microbe interactions of C. elegans are closely studied because of their orthologs in humans. Therefore, the better we understand the host interactions of C. elegans the better we can understand the host interactions within the human body.
Nematocida parisii is a parasitic species of Microsporidia fungi found in wild isolates of the common nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. The fungus forms spores and replicates in the intestines before leaving the host.
Caenorhabditis tropicalis - prior to 2014 referred to as C. sp. 11, is a species of Caenorhabditis nematodes.
Caenorhabditis afra is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. This gonochoristic (male-female) species was isolated by Matthias Herrmann in Begoro, Ghana, Africa in 2007. Its genome is being sequenced at Genome Institute, Washington University.
Caenorhabditis plicata is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. It was described on carrion in Germany and is phoretic on carrion visiting beetles.
Caenorhabditis monodelphis is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. It was first collected by J. Raschka in Berlin, Germany in 2001. A second isolate was collected from Norway. It is a freeliving species found in galleries inside of the fungus Ganoderma applanatum (Polyporaceae) which grew on the stump of a tree a few centimeters above ground. It is phoretic on beetles of the species Cis castaneus.
Ellsworth C. Dougherty (1921-1965) was a biologist who was first to study the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans in the laboratory, with Victor Nigon, in the 1940s.
Caenorhabditis latens is a species of nematodes. Prior to 2014, it was referred to as Caenorhabditis sp. 23. The reference strain VX88 was isolated from soil near a lotus pond and strain VX85 was isolated from soil under rotten grass in Juifeng Village, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
Caenorhabditis wallacei - prior to 2014 referred to as C. sp. 16, is a species of Caenorhabditis nematodes. The type isolate was collected in Central Bali, Indonesia.
Caenorhabditis castelli is a species of nematodes, in the same genus as the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The type isolate was collected in the Nouragues Nature Reserve, French Guiana.
Caenorhabditis imperialis is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. Prior to 2014, it was referred to as C. sp. 14. The type isolate was collected in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, and other isolates were collected in Guadeloupe.
Caenorhabditis kamaaina is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. Prior to 2014, it was referred to as C. sp. 15. The type isolate was collected in Kauai, Hawaii.
Caenorhabditis nouraguensis is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. Prior to 2014, it was referred to as C. sp. 17. The type isolate was collected in Nouragues, French Guiana.
Caenorhabditis yunquensis is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. Prior to 2014, it was referred to as C. sp. 19. The single isolate of this species is from El Yunque, Puerto Rico.
Caenorhabditis macrosperma is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. Prior to 2014, it was referred to as C. sp. 18. The type isolate was collected in Nouragues, French Guiana.
Caenorhabditis sinica, prior to 2014 described as sp. 5, is a species of nematodes in the genus Caenorhabditis. It is found in East Asia. It is found frequently in China.
