Genetic interference following ingestion of anti-GFP dsRNA-expressing <i>B</i>. <i>subtilis</i> by <i>C</i>. <i>elegans</i>.

<p>(A) Physical map of the pBSR vector. The DNA sequence corresponding to dsRNA of interest was cloned between flanking copies of the P<i>spac</i> promoter to replace the spacer. <i>B</i>. <i>subtilis</i> strain BG322 was used as a host. GFP-expressing <i>C</i>. <i>elegans</i> strains TJ356 (B) and SD1084 (C) were fed on BG322 strains transformed with original pBSR vector and on bacteria expressing dsRNA corresponding to the <i>gfp</i> coding region. Under these conditions, 95% of the animals showed dramatic decrease in GFP expression after 24 hours of feeding. DAF-16::GFP and <i>SUR-5</i>::GFP expression is significantly decreased in the GFP (RNAi) treated animals. RNAi was induced starting at L4 larvae stage by feeding worms <i>B</i>. <i>subtilis</i> bacteria expressing dsRNA against GFP. GFP expression was measured at day 2 of adulthood. The y-axis denotes GFP expression (arbitrary units). Average expression and Standard Error from 20 animals are shown. *-p-value < 0.001 (t-test p-values). Scale bar = 100 μm.