NemaSync synchronizer CES-700 and CES-5000 product

model 5000  &  model 700

 

C. elegans Synchronizer

Healthy, Synchronized, Phenotype free worms

The C. elegans Synchronizer (CES) is a manual worm Synchronizer that allows you to achieve perfect synchronization without chemicals and with little or no training required. You get healthy worms while increasing the reproducibility of your data.

With the CES, you can:
  • harvest small and large volumes of 100% synchronized L1s from a mixed worm population without the use of chemicals.
  • get synchronized worms that do not contain phenotypes caused by bleach or food arrest.
  • eliminate the need for worm controls and variable outcomes.
  • separate Adults from offspring in Lifespan assays.

 

Key advantages: 

  • Healthy worms (Fig. B)
  • Highly reproducible data (Fig. A)
  • Perfect synchronization (Fig. C)
  • Consistent results
  • Little or no training required.
  • If you made a mistake, you can start again as the worms are not destroyed and still alive.

Below results for the CES protocol versus sedimentation and bleaching protocols are from Nagi Bioscience a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). Nagi Bioscience developed the first Organism-on-Chip technology using C. elegans, creating a technological platform that is fully automated in vitro handling, culture and analysis. If you are interested in the development by Nagi Bioscience of the the first Organism-on-Chip technology using C. elegans, you can reach them by sending an email at 

 

Results showing the reproducibility of the CES to generate synchronous L1 population across 34 replicates. Figure A. Results showing the reproducibility of the CES to generate synchronous L1 population across 34 replicates. L1 worms were injected and cultivated on chips during 5 days. Each channel (represented on the x-axis) corresponds to 3 to 8 microfluidic chambers containing 1 to 4 worms. Each dots represented on the graphic correspond to the timing (in hours) when the first egg is observed in average in the corresponding channel. The error bars represent the standard deviation.

 

  
Comparison of the percentage of fertile worms between three methods of L1 synchronization Figure B. Comparison of the percentage of fertile worms between three methods of L1 synchronization. Each bar represented on the graphic correspond to the percentage of chambers (on average) with fertile adult worms. n corresponds to the number of chambers analyzed. The error bars represent the 95% CI.

 

  
Variation of the timing to reach the adult stage across single individuals Figure C. Variation of the timing to reach the adult stage across single individuals. Each dot represented on the graphic correspond to the variation of the timing for single worms to reach the adult stage, compared to the whole population analyzed. n corresponds to the number of single worms analyzed. sd corresponds to the value of the standard deviation. All 'CES' worms reach adulthood virtually at the same time, demonstrating the superior level of synchronization of the CES versus the Sedimentation and Bleaching protocol.
 

 

FAQ

+ How does it work?

Let’s start with what it is NOT. The CES is NOT a sieve trying to separate L1’s from L2, L3 etc.  The CES is a system that with a two-step protocol will harvest L1’s at the moment they hatch from the egg’s. The main two (2) steps in the protocol are :

Step 1 Wash: Washing out all the debris and anything smaller than Adults, L1's, L2 up to L4 are removed, only adults and most eggs are kept.

Step 2 Harvest: Adults and eggs are transferred from the Stabilizing filter to the Harvest filter.  As soon as the eggs hatch, the L1's will transfer through the filter with little or no delay.   

More details can be found at:  Newsletter How does it work.

 - check the Protocol Demo in below Video section -

Technical Data

Features

 

Details

Compatibility

 

C. elegans  (incl P. pacificus)

Capability (input)

 

Amount of worms that can be run through the system:
The CES-5000 System can handle from just a small number ~10 up to ~10k-20k Gravid Nematodes  The CES-5000 has been successfully tested with up to 40k gravid adult nematodes.
The smaller CES-700 can handle from just a small number ~10 up to ~1k-2k Gravid Nematodes.
Liquid culture: typical 250mL S-medium culture with a fully grown F3 generation for the CES-5000.  Typical 20mL - 30mL for the CES-700.
Solid culture: CES-5000 up to ~50 x 90mm NGM plates, fully grown.  CES-700 typical is one up to ~7 x 90mm NGM plates

Capability (output)

 

The amount of L1's harvested will depend on the number of gravid adult worms and egg's to start with and the condition of the nematodes. The length (time) of the Harvest window will decide on the number of L1's to be harvested.  Add Serotonin at the Harvest stage to boost the egg laying, the output will be in the range of 10-15 L1's per Gravid Adult and given sufficient Harvest time even more. If very large numbers are required several Harvest filters can be used in parallel. See also CES protocol and 'How does it work' article in the documents section.

Cleaning & Sterilization

 

Preferred method is to use 0.5M NaOH and a small (2 liter) 40khz ultrasonic cleaner.   The ultra sonic cleaner will speed up the process of cleaning and also take care of any scaling.  It is not recommended to descale the filters using an acid solution as this will cause coloring/stains on the filter and repeated use may ultimately damage the filters.

Filters can be sterilized using a 70% alcohol solution.

Time to synchronize a single strain

 

Synchronization of one strain typically takes between 10 and 15 minutes. This is the time spent to pre-wash / stabilize the input.  Harvest time may be between a few minutes up to an 'over-night', however requires no user attention. 
The protocol uses one Stabilizing filter and one Harvesting filter. All filters can be used indefinitely (cleaned after your experiment). The Harvest Filter will be occupied for the duration of the harvest time. Therefor if multiple strains are to be synchronized concurrently, multiple Harvest Filters will be needed. In principle one (1) Stabilization filter will suffice, however in most cases needs to be cleaned between different strains if cross-contamination is to be avoided.