Fig. 1.

Sequencing bacterial 16S rRNA genes from the worm gut. Adult C. elegans showing pharyngeal structures (dark grey) and gut (light grey) containing live microorganisms. The pharyngeal grinder disrupts E. coli cells under most laboratory conditions but in natural environments many microbes survive passage through the pharynx. Total DNA is extracted and the V4 variable region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene is amplified by PCR prior to sequencing