Modulation of sensory perception by hydrogen peroxide enables Caenorhabditis elegans to find a niche that provides both food and protection from hydrogen peroxide

• Published in: PLoS pathogens 2021-12, Vol.17 (12)
• Main Authors: Schiffer, Jodie A., Stumbur, Stephanie V., Seyedolmohadesin, Maedeh, Xu, Yuyan, Serkin, William T., McGowan, Natalie G., Banjo, Oluwatosin, Torkashvand, Mahdi, Lin, Albert, Hosea, Ciara N., Assié, Adrien, Samuel, Buck S., O’Donnell, Michael P., Venkatachalam, Vivek, Apfeld, Javier, Weaver, Benjamin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Microbiology; Parasitology; Virology
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7374

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the most common chemical threat that organisms face. Here, we show that H2O2alters the bacterial food preference ofCaenorhabditis elegans, enabling the nematodes to find a safe environment with food. H2O2induces the nematodes to leave food patches of laboratory and microbiome bacteria when those bacterial communities have insufficient H2O2-degrading capacity. The nematode’s behavior is directed by H2O2-sensing neurons that promote escape from H2O2and by bacteria-sensing neurons that promote attraction to bacteria. However, the input for H2O2-sensing neurons is removed by bacterial H2O2-degrading enzymes and the bacteria-sensing neurons’ perception of bacteria is prevented by H2O2. The resulting cross-attenuation provides a general mechanism that ensures the nematode’s behavior is faithful to the lethal threat of hydrogen peroxide, increasing the nematode’s chances of finding a niche that provides both food and protection from hydrogen peroxide.