Articles tagged with Worms
Researchers use transgenic worms to study whole-body regeneration and identify critical genes involved. They also gain insights into muscle cell connections and communication during regeneration.
Researchers have successfully created transgenic three-banded panther worms to study regeneration, revealing detailed insights into the cellular anatomy of these animals. By manipulating specific genes, scientists can now investigate the role of muscle cells in holding the worm's body together and storing information for regeneration.
Researchers at Durham University and Yunnan University discovered that ancient penis worms took shelter in empty shells, adopting the 'hermit crab' lifestyle. This adaptation allowed them to survive in environments with high predator pressure, highlighting the key role of predation in shaping early animal evolution.
Researchers study entangled blackworm blobs that show 'intelligent' collective movement when conditions are just right. The model suggests a fine balance between individual movement and clinginess is needed for sustained collective movement.
Researchers at University College London discovered that worm mothers secrete a milk-like fluid to support their offspring's growth. This unique selfless act helps explain mysteries about the biology of ageing in nematode worms, which could have far-reaching implications for understanding human ageing.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified 14 genes that can cause and three that can prevent weight gain, offering a promising lead in developing new treatments for obesity. The findings were made using a worm model of obesity and automation to test hundreds of genes.
Researchers found that vitamin B12 supplementation improved movement in worms with Alzheimer's-like symptoms, suggesting a potential link between diet and disease progression. The team also discovered that vitamin B12 relies on an enzyme called methionine synthase to work, and its effects are limited to those with dietary deficiencies.
Researchers find hookworms resistant to multiple drugs used to treat them, with high prevalence in racing greyhounds. The study's results highlight the importance of regular deworming and caution against dog parks as potential breeding grounds for drug-resistant parasites.
Researchers developed a computer model revealing how single brain cells in nematode worms sense and process environmental information to drive decision-making. The study found that sensory cells use salt cues as 'navigation beacons' to direct foraging behavior, controlling the animal's search strategy.
Researchers uncover a 500-million-year-old 'worm-like' fossil, expanding the number of worm-like species known from this time period in North America. The discovery provides new clues about prehistoric environments and ecologies, helping scientists better understand the diversity of ancient animals during the Cambrian explosion.
Researchers at Princeton University have identified a crucial part of the mechanism by which C. elegans worms can help others avoid a pathogenic bacterium through a process involving a retrotransposon called Cer1. This finding suggests that Cer1 may give worms an advantage in their battle with pathogens.
A recent study reveals that ants, worms, spiders, and other tiny creatures have a built-in set of tools that maximize cutting efficiency thanks to the arrangement of individual atoms of zinc. This biomaterial allows animals to use less force, making their smaller muscles spend less energy.
A University of Surrey AI model predicts compound properties that promote healthy ageing, identifying flavonoids, fatty acids, and organooxygens as promising candidates. The discovery paves the way for pharmaceutical innovations targeting age-related diseases.
Researchers at UMD found that a specific combination of parents can cause epigenetic changes to last for hundreds of generations. The study used nematode worms and found that when the mother carried a gene, it was always turned on, while when the father carried the gene, the silencing signal often won.
Researchers found that Caenorhabditis elegans worms learn to optimise their foraging activity by switching their response to pheromones in the environment. The worms adapt to sensory cues to maximize food intake during foraging, associating pheromones with food availability and changing their movements accordingly.
Researchers at UNIGE found that chromosomal site location is transmitted through an epigenetic process, allowing offspring to inherit correct positions even without gene information. This epigenetic memory only lasts for one generation and affects the survival of mutant worms.
Researchers have identified cyclic peptides from the butterfly pea plant as potential therapeutic solutions for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. The peptides protected neurons against β-amyloid toxicity and oxidative stress in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans.
Researchers have discovered a new marine scale worm species exhibiting male dwarfism, which is rare in the animal kingdom. The discovery sheds light on extreme sexual size dimorphism and highlights the unique environmental factors that may lead to such phenomena.
Researchers used a 'robot microscope' to track chemical signals in worms, revealing the role of interneurons in food-seeking behavior. The study found that glutamate signaling between sensory and interneurons plays a key role in experience-dependent plasticity.
Researchers found a link between specific gut bacteria species and physical manifestations of neurodegenerative diseases. The study showed that introducing certain bacteria into worms caused protein aggregation, a common symptom of these conditions. This finding may help explain the connection between gut bacteria and neurodegeneration.
Researchers discovered a unique UV-A-light-sensing system in flatworms, allowing them to coordinate movement and arousal. This finding may help illuminate the development and evolution of distinct light-sensing systems in single organisms.
Researchers discovered the complex body of Ramisyllis multicaudata spreads extensively in its host sponge's canals. The worm's stolons form a new brain and have their own eyes, allowing them to navigate when detached for fertilization.
A study by Universities of Cape Town and Bonn found that helminth-infected mice developed severe symptoms after infection with a genital herpes virus. This remote effect is thought to be caused by misdirected immune response, where eosinophil granulocytes accumulate in the vagina and secrete cell-damaging enzymes.
A new study reveals that intestinal worm infections can change vaginal immunity and increase the likelihood of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. The research found that targeting eosinophils can prevent this pathology, suggesting a potential solution to reduce STI severity.
Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce thousands of mutations into C. elegans worms, then analyze the effects on physical traits and functions. They discover a surprise finding that mutations in specific microRNA binding sites can affect gene expression.
Researchers discovered that cone snails produce small chemicals mimicking worm pheromones to trigger sexual activity in marine worms. In laboratory experiments, these compounds sparked mating behavior in female and male fire worms, making it easier to lure them out of hiding.
Researchers found that SKN-1B controls behaviors like foraging, eating and resting in nematode worms, which may regulate food-sensing and fullness in humans. The study proposes a similar transcription factor, Nrfs, as a potential target for developing drugs controlling overeating.
Researchers at Yale University have devised a strategy to study the intricate choreography of brain development in a living animal, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. They used high-resolution light sheet microscopy and network algorithms to track single cells and understand how they organize into functional circuits.
Researchers created a detailed brain map of C. elegans, uncovering modular structure and variation in neural circuits that complement core circuitry found across animals. The study's findings suggest the worm's brain processes information through layers, with convergence of different neural circuits enabling integration and coordination.
Researchers from Aalto University designed a video player that saki monkeys can activate on demand, promoting animal welfare and reducing stress. The study found that the animals spent more time watching certain types of videos, such as underwater scenes and worms, and exhibited less scratching behavior when presented with video content.
An international study has identified a new fossil record of giant predatory worms in marine sediments from Taiwan, revealing they inhabited the seafloor until 5.3 million years ago. The worms, similar to today's Bobbit worm, lived in burrows and had strong jaws to capture prey.
Researchers discovered how collective worm behavior helps blobs survive longer against desiccation and respond to temperature gradients and intense light. By studying the worms' movements and interactions, scientists gained insights into the principles of living systems that can be applied to human-designed swarm robots.
Scientists at KAUST developed rules to protect inserted genes from nematode natural defenses, allowing for multiple generations of gene expression. A web application helps analyze DNA sequences for PATC watermarks, facilitating research on transgene silencing resistance.
Fossil burrows from northeast Taiwan reveal that giant ambush-predator worms, possibly ancestors of the 'bobbit worm', colonized the seafloor around 20 million years ago. The L-shaped burrows, reconstructed by Ludvig Löwemark and colleagues, provide a rare glimpse into these creatures' behavior beneath the seafloor.
Researchers have discovered a 2-meter-long burrow attributed to ancient giant worms, providing insights into their behavior and habitat.
Research reveals that UVA light intensity affects seasonal responses in marine animals, altering behavior and hormone production. The study found a key light receptor involved in responding to UVA light, which was absent in worms lacking this receptor.
Researchers develop coloring technique to 'paint' neurons with fluorescent colors, enabling identification of each neuron in an animal's nervous system. The NeuroPAL method allows scientists to record a whole nervous system in action and decode brainwide activity patterns.
Global campaigns to eliminate tropical parasitic worm infections require better diagnostic tools. Researchers at WashU Medicine are developing improved diagnostics with a $2.95 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Researchers at Rice University developed an optogenetic control system to turn on and off genes in gut bacteria, extending the lifespan of transparent worms by up to 50% by regulating mitochondrial function. The study suggests that gut bacteria directly impact health and disease, and that controlling metabolite production with precisio...
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered a protein called BLMP-1 that coordinates gene activity in response to environmental changes. The protein pauses development when nutrients are scarce and resumes it when conditions improve.
Researchers at Osaka City University discovered that metolazone, a drug used to treat hypertension, activates a mitochondrial stress response that prolongs lifespan in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. The study suggests that repurposing existing drugs for aging control may be possible.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have identified a new treatment approach for mitochondrial diseases, such as Leigh Syndrome, by using novel drugs that metabolically reprogram mitochondria to generate energy. The study successfully normalized or improved energy production in genetically mutated microscopic worms.
A Clemson University researcher has discovered a new parasitic worm that negatively affects reproduction in the Caribbean spiny lobster. The worm, named Carcinonemertes conanobrieni, is believed to be the first of its kind to infect this species in the Caribbean and western Atlantic Ocean.
A team of scientists discovered that natural antibiotics produced in wounds can increase sleep and raise the chances for surviving an injury. The researchers found that these antimicrobial peptides act as long-range messenger molecules, signaling the need for sleep to the nervous system.
A £1 million international project is working to create an affordable insect-based porridge using mopane worms, a traditional delicacy in Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to improve the health and nutritional status of primary school children in some of the country's poorest communities.
Researchers found subtle changes in about 1,000 genes and stronger effects in some genes, particularly among neurons, after exposing worms to low gravity. The study aims to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of spaceflight-induced health decline in humans and identify potential therapy targets.
A study published in Science Immunology reveals that the activity of IL-33, an immune signaling molecule, depends on which cell type releases it. This discovery opens up a new direction for understanding its involvement in various health conditions such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma.
Researchers identified melatonin's role in promoting sleep by activating the BK channel in the brain, a process that limits neurotransmitter release. This finding has implications for understanding melatonin's effects and potential treatment of diseases related to the BK channel.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University discovered that parasitic nematodes can consume and break down oil products. The team adapted nematodes to eat Alcanivorax borkumensis bacteria, which breaks down oil into fatty acids. Enhanced digestion of oil was observed in worms, with undigested bacteria changing their gut microflora.
A new genus of chimaerid fish has been classified with the help of a Kazan University expert. The research provides significant insights into the late Paleogene chimaerid fauna in the Pacific Ocean.
A new species of small pterosaur with a long, skinny beak like that of a Kiwi has been discovered. The fossilized piece of beak revealed an incredible network of internal canals for nerves that helped detect prey underground.
Researchers propose a framework for capturing mathematical structure underlying moving animals, finding unexpected connections to energy-conserving phenomena. Chaos theory suggests that animal behavior becomes increasingly unpredictable over time, with divergence occurring within a single second.
A new species of nemertean was discovered in Panama by Natsumi Hookabe during a Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute workshop. The species, Euborlasia maycoli sp. nov., is the first of its genus to be found in the Caribbean region.
A recent study published in eLife reveals that cheater mitochondria can thrive in simple worms by exploiting cellular stress coping mechanisms. This finding sheds light on the evolution of cheating and cooperative behaviors within organisms, suggesting that competing selection pressures may promote group-level tolerance to cheating.
Researchers found that worms can 'read' the small RNA of a pathogen and evolve a response to stay healthier, creating a nascent adaptive immune system. The small RNA, P11, is absorbed by the worm intestine and then passed on to subsequent generations.
Researchers from Osaka City University developed a microscope-based thermometer that uses quantum technology to detect temperature changes in live, microscopic animals. The thermometry algorithm successfully tracked temperature fluctuations in C. elegans nematode worms after inducing a fever by stimulating their mitochondria.
A double-blind study found that middle-aged mice treated with alpha-ketaglutarate had a significantly improved healthspan, experiencing fewer diseases and disabilities before death. The study suggests that AKG may suppress chronic inflammation, which is a major driver of aging.
Researchers discovered a single gene family controlling neuron type and function, with each type containing a unique set of homeobox proteins. This finding could provide insights into the evolution of nervous systems in animals, including humans.
A team of Japanese researchers has discovered a new species of sea worm in the Southern Ocean, expanding our understanding of the region's biodiversity. The newly identified species, Flabelligena hakuhoae, is one of six described species within the genus Flabelligena.
Researchers developed a model of metabolic pathways in parasitic worms and their bacterial endosymbionts, identifying critical reactions that slow growth and reproduction. The study suggests three potential drugs that can block these reactions, reducing worm numbers and reproductive ability.