Large scale cultivation of a free-living nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans)

A method is presented for the large scale cultivation of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, using continuous aeration and agitation in glass ware (stirrer flasks) developed for the continuous culture of suspended cells. With this technique, populations up to 10(9) nematodes may be obtained in a 10 1 culture in less than 6 weeks with an inoculum of some 50 worms. Costs can be reduced by using an inexpensive yeast extract, available from the food industry.