FIG. 4.

ABL-1 knockdown nematodes are resistant to S. flexneri-mediated C. elegans killing. (A and B) Vector (panel A) or abl-1 RNAi (panel B) young adult hermaphrodite nematodes were fed on lawns of either E. coli OP50, S. flexneri 2457T, or S. enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344 at 25°C, and nematodes were scored daily for survival. The survival curve represents data from 9 independent experiments, each using 20 nematodes. (C) The time for nematodes to die (TD₅₀) was calculated from the survival data in panels A and B. Asterisks indicate significant differences, compared to results for OP50 (P < 0.05), representing data from nine independent experiments. (D) The relative mortality was calculated using the TD₅₀ values for the vector and abl-1 RNAi nematodes in order to normalize the survival rates of the nematodes grown on pathogens compared to that of nematodes fed on E. coli OP50 (2).