Microinjection is the most frequently used tool for genetic manipulation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. However, transgenic C. elegans are usually generated by manual injection by a human operator under a microscope, which can be time-consuming. In Nature Communications, Pan et al. report a new automated robotic system for C. elegans microinjection, which shows great potential for high-throughput transgenic studies. The method integrates a computer-controlled microfluidic device that can rotate and immobilize the worm and a robotic system that precisely control the motions of an injection pipette, allowing precise injections into specific organs. To validate their system, the researchers injected worms with plasmid DNA solutions and ribonucleoprotein complexes to create genome-edited animals. They showed that the robotic system could perform single gonad arm injection with high-success rates at an average speed of 44.5 s/worm, which is ~2–3 times faster than manual injection. This is the first report of a reliable robotic system for high-precision injection of plasmids into a target organ inside the worm body. The method could be used for a wide range of applications.
Original reference: Pan, P. et al. Nat. Commun. 15, 8848 (2024)
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