Research Paper Volume 8, Issue 7 pp 1513—1539

Figure 5. B. subtilis fed worms live longer and are in a higher oxidation state than E. coli fed worms. (A) B. subtilis fed worms have higher ROS levels than E. coli fed worms. Treatment with the antioxidant NAC (10 mM) decreases ROS levels of worms in both diets. Treatment with the pro-oxidant PQ (0.1 mM) increases the ROS levels of worms in both diets. Bars indicate the relative mean fluorescent marker expression ± S.E.M difference to the E. coli fed worms control. n = 10-20 for each group (**p < 0.01, *p < 0.05, Student’s t test). Statistical significance for B. subtilis fed worms treated with NAC and for B. subtilis fed worms treated with PQ is established with respect to B. subtilis fed worms. y-axis indicates relative fluorescence from DCFDA. x-axis indicates diet and treatment of worms. (B) B. subtilis fed worms have higher MDA levels than E. coli fed worms. n = 3-4 for each group (*p < 0.05, Bonferroni). y-axis indicates μg of MDA per mg of total protein. x-axis indicates diet and treatment of worms. (C) Life span curves for adult worms maintained on E. coli or B. subtilis with or without NAC treatment. (D) Life span curves for adult worms maintained on E. coli or B. subtilis with or without PQ treatment. Worms were subjected to PQ treatment since L1, or since adulthood (a.d.). (C-D) y-axis indicates percentage of worms that are alive. x-axis indicates day of adulthood. See also Table S5.