A method for rearing Drosophila melanogaster under axenic and gnotobiotic conditions is presented. Fly embryos are dechorionated in sodium hypochlorite, transferred aseptically to sterile diet, and reared in closed containers. Inoculating diet and embryos with bacteria leads to gnotobiotic associations, and bacterial presence is confirmed by plating whole-body Drosophila homogenates.
Koyle, M. L., Veloz, M., Judd, A. M., Wong, A. C., Newell, P. D., Douglas, A. E., Chaston, J. M. Rearing the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster Under Axenic and Gnotobiotic Conditions. J. Vis. Exp. (113), e54219, doi:10.3791/54219 (2016).