Articles tagged with Worms
Researchers found that many nematodes communicate using the same types of small-molecule pheromones, revealing a universal nematode language. This discovery could lead to strategies to prevent unwanted nematode species and improve agricultural and healthcare industries.
Biologists identified Wnt signaling pathways that control nerve signal transmission, influencing synapse plasticity and adult brain function. The study found that these molecules also regulate addiction, schizophrenia, and mental disorders.
A team of scientists from Oregon State University has documented for the first time that animals can consume Archaea, a type of single-celled microorganism. This finding adds a wrinkle to scientific understanding of greenhouse gas cycles and opens up new avenues of research into the roles of Archaea in ecosystems.
A recent study reveals a direct link between the presence of invasive European earthworms and reduced numbers of ovenbirds in mixed sugar maple and basswood forests. The worm's consumption of leaf litter leads to a decline in nesting sites, increased predation, and a shift in plant species composition.
Planarian worms, a species of flatworm, have been found to maintain telomere length indefinitely, allowing them to regenerate tissues and cells without aging. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms underlying their immortality and may shed new insights into alleviating aging in human cells.
Researchers use DNA barcoding to identify parasitic worms in canned food, ruling out contamination and ensuring kosher certification. The study's findings confirm that the food remains kosher despite the presence of roundworms.
Researchers at New York University's Applied Math Lab found that obstacles can aid worm movement, contrary to common assumptions. The study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, used experiments and computer simulations to demonstrate how C. elegans worms navigate through lattice-like environments with ease.
A study published in PLoS Medicine found that individuals with access to sanitation facilities are half as likely to contract roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm infections. Regular latrine use further reduces the risk of infection by an additional 5%.
Researchers found that minuscule amounts of ethanol double the life span of a tiny worm, while higher concentrations are harmful. The discovery raises intriguing possibilities for human health benefits, but more research is needed to understand the mechanism behind this effect.
Scientists have identified the chemical signals that promote aggregation in nematodes, allowing them to come together in groups. This discovery has significant implications for understanding social behavior and communication in organisms.
Researchers have discovered that flatworms can regenerate without centrosomes, a cellular structure essential for cell division in all animals. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that centrosomes are crucial for cell division.
Researchers at the University of Delaware are studying Antarctic worms to understand how they adapt to changing environments and survive in a warming world. By analyzing epigenetic changes in DNA methylation, scientists hope to gain insight into the impact of global warming on marine ecosystems.
Researchers found that aging human oocytes have a distinctive DNA signature that is reversed in insulin and TGF-beta mutants. In contrast, somatic cells require maintaining protein and cell quality to combat aging. The study's findings could lead to ways to delay oocyte aging and reduce birth defects.
Scientists have discovered that roundworms can pass on immunity to a virus through small RNA molecules, which were not dependent on the organism's genome. This finding suggests that Lamarckian inheritance may provide adaptive advantages to an animal by allowing them to hold onto beneficial genes until needed.
Scientists use Caenorhabditis elegans to study the effects of long-duration space exploration on humans. The worms develop and reproduce in space just like on Earth, making them an ideal model for investigating the challenges of Martian habitation.
Biologists discovered genes in roundworms that signal wound presence and trigger chemical reactions to close cuts. The study also identified a protein that inhibits wound closure, raising hopes for developing treatments.
Dopamine-deficient C. elegans worms offer a promising new approach to identifying potential treatments for Parkinson's disease, with researchers able to test over 1,000 drugs per year. The 'motor switching' problem faced by people with Parkinson's can be replicated in the worms, allowing scientists to quickly identify effective therapies.
A study by San Francisco State University researchers has identified critical fertility enzymes in nematode worms, shedding light on sperm development and mobility. These PP1 phosphatases play a key role in separating chromosomes during division and propelling the sperm with a unique treadmilling motion.
Researchers have identified five high-priority drug targets for the parasitic disease ascariasis, caused by the giant intestinal roundworm Ascaris suum. The discovery provides new insights into treating the condition, which affects millions of people in developing countries and causes chronic effects in young children.
Biologists at Florida State University devise novel method to replicate cell motility in vitro using worm sperm, revealing unprecedented insight into cell crawling mechanisms. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding human health and developing therapies to combat cancer.
Researchers at UT Austin develop automated system to test millions of drugs on C. elegans worm, which develops Alzheimer's disease similar to humans. The goal is to speed up drug discovery and development for neurodegenerative diseases.
A CU-led study reveals worm burrows less than three inches above the K-T boundary layer, indicating they likely emerged shortly after the asteroid impact. The findings provide direct evidence of animal activity in a peat-producing environment that was buried by sediment.
Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have identified a 'programmed cell death' pathway in parasitic worms that could one day lead to new treatments for schistosomiasis. The discovery was made by studying programmed cell death in human cells, where the team found similarities with the process in fluke worms.
A study published in Nature found that sirtuin genes do not affect animal longevity, contrary to previous claims. Instead, dietary restriction was shown to increase lifespan independently of sirtuins.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that organisms quickly evolve ways to compensate for genetic and genomic disruptions in sex determination. The study used an experimental evolution approach to study adaptations in nematodes and showed that the mechanisms themselves are flexible and adaptable from an evolutionary viewpoint.
Researchers found that increased autophagy in germline-less worms led to higher activity of a fat-digesting enzyme, extending their lifespan. The study suggests that recycling fat is beneficial for worms, and may have implications for human diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.
Research finds that animal species large and small are governed by the same rule for how common they are in an ecosystem. Body size and food chain position determine abundance and biomass production.
Researchers at Duke University found that tropical anoles can solve novel problems and remember solutions, demonstrating advanced cognitive abilities. The study's results challenge the notion that reptiles have limited cognitive capabilities and highlight the complexity of animal cognition.
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) has launched a new research project to develop a macrofilaricidal drug candidate, flubendazole, to treat co-infection of filarial diseases. The project aims to assess the safety profile and reformulate the drug to reduce treatment cycles from 12 years to 2-3 years.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center identified a collagen-binding protein allowing Streptococcus mutans to invade heart tissue, causing endocarditis. The discovery may lead to a screening tool to gauge dental patients' vulnerability.
A team of McMaster researchers is using tiny worms and microtechnology to search for effective new drugs to treat Parkinson's disease. They hope to accelerate the process of drug discovery, which could have direct application to human health.
A team of scientists flew microscopic worms into space to test the effectiveness of RNA interference (RNAi) as a treatment for muscle degradation caused by space travel. The experiment showed promising results, suggesting that RNAi could be used to prevent muscle loss in astronauts and help people suffering from similar conditions.
Researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences have shown that the Mta1 gene is essential for Schistosoma haematobium to establish a productive infection and survival in the host. The study found that mice lacking the Mta1 gene were unable to support worm growth and egg production, highlighting the c...
A study in C. elegans reveals that the tiny protein HRG-3 plays a crucial role in transporting heme to developing embryos and other parts of the worm's body. This finding holds promise for developing effective treatments against parasitic worms, which affect over a quarter of the world's population.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have identified a protein called HRG-3 that transports heme from the mother's intestine to her developing embryos in C. elegans. This finding could lead to new treatments for parasitic worm infections and iron deficiency, affecting over two billion people worldwide.
A team of NIH scientists has identified the most proteins produced by Brugia malayi, a parasitic worm that causes lymphatic filariasis. The findings may lead to the development of new vaccines and treatments for the disease, which can cause severely disabling swelling in the lower limbs.
A study found that biopsies and patient-provided specimens revealed dermatitis, excoriation, and ulceration but not objective evidence of skin infestation in patients with delusional infestation. Skin inflammation may trigger delusional symptoms in susceptible individuals.
A new study at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging identifies N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) as a novel metabolic signaling pathway that coordinates the aging response to nutrient availability. This discovery suggests a link between endocannabinoids, dietary restriction, and aging that may be conserved across species.
A Scripps Research Institute scientist has identified a new role for a biological pathway that affects lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. The study reveals that N-acylethanolamine signaling molecules play a key role in mediating the effect of diet on lifespan.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified a key component of human and animal gut mucus that is toxic to parasitic worms, which cause up to 1 billion deaths and illnesses globally. The discovery may lead to new treatments for chronic worm infections and help identify who is susceptible to parasitic worms.
Researchers at Brown University have found that the Notch signaling pathway regulates sleep in nematode worms, and similar genes are expressed in human brains. The study suggests that targeting this pathway could lead to more precise and safer sleep aids.
Researchers discovered a worm protein controlling growth factor secretion, which is linked to human cancers. The study proposes that abnormal growth factor secretion may stimulate cancer formation and offers a potential targeted treatment approach.
Researchers discovered Osedax living on tuna and wahoo bones, contradicting earlier assumptions. The study confirms Osedax as generalists that exploit various vertebrate bones, shedding light on their evolution.
Researchers found that viewers were heavily influenced by a continuous response tracking measure called the 'worm', which can compromise democratic decision-making. The study suggests that biased worms in live debates could determine election outcomes.
A study published in PLoS One found that viewers were heavily influenced by the 'worm', a continuous response tracking measure used in live debates. The researchers concluded that the worm's small sample size makes it vulnerable to manipulation and compromises the public's ability to form independent opinions.
A study published in Nature reveals that Basic Yellow 1, a neurodegenerative marker, also has anti-aging properties in nematode worms. The compound extends lifespan by more than 50% and slows disease-like pathology in healthy worms.
The UCSF team identified a few dozen chemical compounds that alter fat storage in worms, which may be useful for understanding metabolism in other organisms. The discovery demonstrates the value of worm screening as a way to find new targets for human diseases.
Researchers found that natural variations in several genes affect how quickly worms leave a lawn of bacteria. The tyra-3 gene is involved, producing a receptor activated by adrenaline-like hormones derived from the amino acid tyrosine.
Researchers found that C. elegans worms gain resistance to one microbe at the cost of becoming more vulnerable to another, highlighting a see-saw balance between immunity to different diseases across the animal kingdom.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have decoded the genome of Trichinella spiralis, a parasite that causes trichinosis, identifying unique features and novel genes that could lead to effective treatments. The study has implications for understanding parasitic diseases worldwide.
International team of scientists has discovered a new phylum, Xenacoelomorpha, which rewrites the evolutionary history of animals. The discovery shows that simple marine worms like Xenoturbellida and Acoelomorpha are more closely related to complex organisms like humans and sea urchins than previously thought.
A molecular analysis of Acoelomorphs, flatworm-like organisms, provides insights into brain development and human diseases. The study sheds light on the independent evolution of complex brains in humans versus invertebrates.
Research published in Nature reveals that simple marine worms Xenoturbella and Acoelomorpha are distantly related to humans and other complex species. The findings suggest that these organisms have evolved backwards into simpler forms, shedding light on the early stages of animal evolution.
A large trial in Uganda found that treating pregnant women for worm infections increased their child's chances of developing eczema. The study supports the 'hygiene hypothesis', which proposes that exposure to infections can modify the immune system and protect against allergies.
Researchers found that the nematode C. elegans, a millimeter-long worm used extensively for decades to study biology, gets naturally occurring viral infections. The discovery means C. elegans is likely to help scientists study the way viruses and their hosts interact.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have used DNA technology to describe and register a new species of ribbon worm. The development of this method could lead to faster and more efficient species registration, with potential benefits for understanding biological diversity.
Researchers discover naturally occurring viral infections in C. elegans, a millimeter-long worm used extensively for decades to study many aspects of biology. The findings provide insights into the way viruses and their hosts interact, shedding light on fundamental phenomena such as RNA interference and cell self-destruction.
Researchers developed an optogenetic device to control the behavior of Caenorhabditis elegans worms using pulses of blue and green light. They successfully activated or inactivated specific neurons or muscle cells, turning the worm into a virtual biorobot.
A new technique uses inexpensive components from LCD projectors to activate specific neurons and muscles in freely moving worms, allowing for precise control over brain circuits. This advancement in optogenetics enables researchers to explore complex behaviors and functions of these tiny organisms.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that slowing mitochondrial function in specific cells can extend the lifespan of an entire organism. The key finding is that a unique signal emanating from damaged mitochondria in nerve or gut cells extends lifespan, while disrupting this signal has no effect.