Rhizobium induces DNA damage in Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal cells

Significance An incredible diversity of microbial species inhabit the Earth. Many new interactions of bacteria with animals are only beginning to surface. We show that feeding a worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, with Rhizobium bacteria causes failed nuclear divisions in intestinal cells. C. elegans mutations compromising DNA damage repair pathways and exogenous reactive oxygen species cause similar failure in intestinal nuclear divisions, suggesting that Rhizobium may produce reactive oxygen species. In accordance, free radical scavenger chemicals suppress the response to Rhizobium . We propose that Rhizobium induces reactive oxygen species in its encounter with C. elegans . Our findings provide an insight into the interactions between microbes and animal cells.