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Axenic Cultivation of an Enchytraeid Annelid

Nature volume 192, pages 184–185 (1961)Cite this article

Abstract

THE monoxenic cultivation of Enchytraeus fragmentosus Bell, 19591 (that is, the rearing, through successive generations in serial subculture, of this micro-annelid in the company of one2,3 other species —in this case, Escherichia coli), was reported by us here4 some months ago. At that time our next goal was its axenic cultivation (that is, growth and reproduction, generation after generation, in complete isolation from living organisms—or parts thereof—belonging to other species2,3). We can now report success over a period exceeding 2 months at this date, with indications that such cultivation can be sustained indefinitely.

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References

  1. Bell, A. W., Science, 129, 1278 (1959).

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  2. Dougherty, E. C., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 77, 27 (1959).

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  3. Dougherty, E. C., in Nematology, Fundamentals and Recent Advances with Emphasis on Plant Parasitic and Soil Forms, edit. by Sasser, J. N., and Jenkins, W. R., 297 (Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1960).

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  4. Dougherty, E. C., and Solberg, B., Nature, 186, 1067 (1960).

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Author notes

  1. ELLSWORTH C. DOUGHERTY

    Present address: Department of Nutrition, College of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley, 4, California

  2. BJØRN SOLBERG

    Present address: , 5920 College Avenue, Oakland, 18, California

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Gnotobiotic Studies, 2428 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, 4, California

    ELLSWORTH C. DOUGHERTY & BJØRN SOLBERG

Authors
  1. ELLSWORTH C. DOUGHERTY
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  2. BJØRN SOLBERG
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DOUGHERTY, E., SOLBERG, B. Axenic Cultivation of an Enchytraeid Annelid. Nature 192, 184–185 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/192184a0

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