Independent validation of transgenerational inheritance of learned pathogen avoidance in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>.

Akinosho, Aalimah; Alexander, Joseph; Floyd, Kyle; Vidal-Gadea, Andres Gabriel · Elife · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Previously, it was shown that learned avoidance of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PA14 in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> can be transmitted to untrained offspring (Kaletsky et al., 2025). Here, we show an independent validation of this phenomenon under the originally specified assay conditions. Adapting the Murphy lab protocol, worms trained on PA14 develop significant avoidance that persists in F1 and F2 generations, with reduced magnitude after P0. These results align with the Murphy group's findings and address a recent report from the Hunter group that did not detect persistence beyond F1.

Medical subject headings