An optimized approach to germ-free rearing in the jewel wasp Nasonia
- Published
- Accepted
- Subject Areas
- Ecology, Entomology, Zoology
- Keywords
- Nasonia, Symbiosis, Microbiota, Microbiome, Axenic, Development, Speciation
- Copyright
- © 2016 Shropshire et al.
- Licence
- This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ Preprints) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Cite this article
- 2016. An optimized approach to germ-free rearing in the jewel wasp Nasonia. PeerJ Preprints 4:e2088v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.2088v1
Abstract
The initial development of the Nasonia in vitro germ-free rearing system in 2012 enabled investigations of Nasonia-microbiota interactions and real-time visualization of metamorphosis. However, the use of antibiotics, bleach, and fetal bovine serum in this in vitro rearing system introduced artifacts relative to conventional rearing of Nasonia. Here, we optimize the germ-free rearing procedure by using filter sterilization in lieu of antibiotics and by removing residual bleach and fetal bovine serum. Comparison of these methods reveals no influence on larval survival or growth, and a 52% improvement in adult production. Additionally, adult males produced in the new germ-free system are similar in size to conventionally reared males. Experimental implications of these changes are discussed.
Author Comment
This is a submission to PeerJ for review.