For each survival curve, 40-50 L4 stage N2 worms* were transferred from OP50 to Db11 (closed squares) or to the selected clone (open squares). Plates were then incubated at 25 °C and scored each day for live worms. The curves show representative results of at least two trials.

°: Mean survival time (in days, +/- standard deviation) for worms infected at the L4 stage at 25 °C. The mean survival times for worms fed with Db11 or OP50 are 4.17+/-0.2 and 12.6+/-0.96 respectively. The mutants were considered weakly attenuated if their associated mean survival time was < 5, and strongly attenuated if their associated mean survival time was >5.5.

*: for 10E5, fer-15 worms were used. An attenuation was not seen with N2 worms.

The time course of survival of fer-15 worms on Db11 (circles) is essentially identical to that of wild-type N2 worms (squares).