Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is a species of entomopathogenic nematode known commonly as beneficial nematodes. They are microscopic and are used in gardening as a form of biological pest control. They are used to control ants, fleas, moths, beetles, flies, weevils, and other pests.

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes emerging from a greater wax moth.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Chromadorea
Order: Rhabditida
Family: Heterorhabditidae
Genus: Heterorhabditis
Species:
H. bacteriophora
Binomial name
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Poinar, 1976

These beneficial nematodes enter target insect larva via mouth, anus or respiratory openings and starts to feed. To reproduce the nematodes release Photorhabdus bacteria from their digestive tract. The bacteria rapidly multiply in the target insect larva and kills it. The nematodes then use the larva cadaver to grow and reproduce.[1]

Biological Systems Research

These nematodes are amenable to in vitro culture, making them of interest to evolutionary and molecular biologists who investigate parasitic and symbiotic systems.[2] Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was selected by the National Human Genome Research Institute as a sequencing target. The inbred strain H. bacteriophora TTO1 was sequenced using Roche 454 technology, and a high-quality 77 Mb draft genome assembly was produced in 2013.[3]

References
  1. "Natural pest control with beneficial nematodes". Gardeninsects.com. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  2. Gil GH, Choo HY, Gaugler R (May 2002). "Enhancement of entomopathogenic nematode production in in-vitro liquid culture of Heterorhabditis bacteriophoraby fed-batch culture with glucose supplementation". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 58 (6): 751–5. doi:10.1007/s00253-002-0956-1. PMID 12021794. S2CID 23938830.
  3. Bai X, Adams BJ, Ciche TA, Clifton S, Gaugler R, Kim KS, Spieth J, Sternberg PW, Wilson RK, Grewal PS (2013-07-18). "A lover and a fighter: the genome sequence of an entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora". PLOS ONE. 8 (7): e69618. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...869618B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069618. PMC 3715494. PMID 23874975.


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