Articles tagged with Worms
A team at Princeton's Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics has produced new resources for studying the biology of multicellular organisms. The researchers analyzed gene activity patterns in four major tissues and developed a tool to predict gene expression across cell types.
A recent study published in Nature found that stress caused by starvation before sexual maturation can prevent normal changes in the wiring patterns of key neuronal circuits in male worms. As a result, adult male worms act immaturely during behaviors controlled by these circuits. The study suggests that environmental stress can permane...
A study led by Paul Brindley is examining the cellular link between liver fluke and cholangiocarcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer. The research aims to understand why worm infections cause liver cells to transform into cancer.
Scientists at Scripps Research have developed a non-invasive urine test to detect the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, causing river blindness. The new lateral flow assay uses a biomarker in human urine to identify active infections, offering a crucial tool for tracking outbreaks and treating current infections.
A new study reveals that E. coli produces a compound called enterobactin, which helps cells absorb iron, benefiting the host in the process. This discovery could lead to more effective therapies for iron deficiency anemia, impacting over 1 billion people worldwide.
A research team led by Nicholas V. DiPatrizio and Meera G. Nair found that parasitic worms produce cannabis-like molecules during infection, reducing pain and inflammation in the host. This discovery could lead to therapeutic treatments for worm infections and improve outcomes.
Researchers found that genes driving biological processes in worms can also lead to age-related diseases in humans. The study reveals how autophagy, a process used for energy extraction, causes severe deterioration of the intestine and promotes tumour growth when overactive.
Scientists have discovered a new species of lobopodian, an ancient relative of modern-day velvet worms, in 430 million-year-old Silurian rocks. The creature was fully three-dimensionally preserved and reconstructed using digital technology.
Researchers have discovered a nematode worm that develops similar nerve damage to humans when exposed to mutated TTR proteins. The C. elegans model allows scientists to study the molecular mechanisms of TTR-linked diseases and potentially develop new treatments.
Worms use two neural cells to perform critical calculations for finding food, employing a 'Hot or Cold' computation and constant follow-up checks. This system teaches us the importance of having a backup solution to ensure we're moving in the right direction.
New studies track transshipment of fish catch worldwide, revealing key findings on vessel types, fisheries involved and seafood supply chains. The research provides a complete, global view of transshipment and demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to address critical challenges.
Researchers identified a new compound called MPS that is over 100 times more potent than the existing drug ethosuximide in reducing neurodegeneration in nematode worms. This discovery may enable novel treatments for human neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study published in eLife reveals that roundworms, specifically Caenorhabditis elegans, use nitric oxide gas as a sensory cue to avoid the pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The protein thioredoxin plays a crucial role in regulating the temporal dynamics of the worm's response to the gas.
Researchers discovered that worms' behavior at the time of experiencing stimuli influenced how their brains interpreted information, leading to a more sophisticated understanding of mechanosensory circuitry. The study paves the way for further investigations into how simple brains interpret sensory signals and turn them into actions.
Researchers at Rockefeller University discovered that glial cells play a crucial role in regulating sleep and movement in worms, offering new insights into the neuroscience of sleep. The study found that glial cells help counteract the inhibitory effect of a specific neuron on movement.
Researchers at Kyoto University used machine learning to study the behavior of worms searching for food on surfaces with different temperature zones. The findings showed that the worms combined sensory information from environmental temperature and change in temperature to make decisions, similar to rational decision-making in humans. ...
A new pilot study suggests that treating adults as well as children can significantly reduce soil-transmitted helminth infections, which affect 1.5 billion people worldwide. The study found that community-wide interventions were more effective in reducing STH infections than school-based programs.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new drug, JVW-1034, that targets the sigma 2 receptor to block alcohol withdrawal symptoms and cravings. In animal models, the drug has shown no obvious side effects and has been shown to reduce alcohol consumption in rats.
A study on genetically diverse worms reveals that a small protein called FLP-18 controls the length of their backward movement, which increases the likelihood of changing direction to navigate towards food. This mechanism may help the worm explore a larger area during periods of extreme hunger.
Researchers from Aarhus University found a significant decrease in calcium levels when nerve cells are affected by Parkinson's disease. Treating calcium disturbances may inhibit symptoms, particularly sleep disorders and anxiety.
A recent study found no correlation between nematode species and their microbial profiles, contradicting previous findings in other organisms. The researchers discovered a diverse range of microbial associations with nematodes, including parasites and bacteria involved in nutrient cycling.
Researchers discovered a 500-million-year-old coprolite in the Ravens Throat River Lagerstätte, providing insight into the Cambrian food web. The fossilized feces of a primordial sea worm reveal its feeding strategy and predator-prey interactions.
A new study reveals that hybrid chickadees have marked deficiencies in learning and memory compared to their pure species parents. This discovery provides a new mechanism by which hybrids can have low fitness, potentially leading to cascading effects on species apart.
Researchers at Uppsala University discovered a peptide toxin in the bootlace worm that can paralyze and kill crustaceans and cockroaches, with potential applications in agricultural insecticides. The toxin affects sodium channels, causing electric signalling in nerves and muscles, leading to paralysis.
Researchers discover an unusual cell-death process in microscopic worms, where the dying cell breaks apart and is gradually removed by other cells. The study sheds new light on how phagocytes, the body's vacuum cleaners, work.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that nematode worms exhibit a rudimentary fear-like response when exposed to chemicals from their predator, which has parallels to human anxiety. This discovery may lead to refined prescriptions for current anti-anxiety drugs and enable new treatments for PTSD and panic disorder.
Researchers found that whipworms have their own distinct gut flora, which helps them survive by reducing new egg hatching. This discovery could lead to more effective drug treatments for whipworm infections, which cause debilitating symptoms and are difficult to treat.
A study found that gut microbes influence parasitic worm infection severity and recurrence in developing countries. The researchers identified specific gut bacteria associated with increased inflammation, which may make it harder for worms to establish themselves.
A study found that laboratory mice exposed to the outdoors developed a greater number and size of parasitic whipworms than those in the lab. The longer they lived outside, the more susceptible they became to infection. The researchers suggest that the environment's microbiota may contribute to this increased susceptibility.
A study using worms has discovered the mechanisms involved when multicellular organisms die, particularly as a result of old age. The research found that death spreads through the organism via cellular necrosis, triggered by calcium release, leading to muscle hypercontraction and rigor mortis.
Researchers at Princeton University have identified a drug that can extend egg viability in worms, which could theoretically increase women's reproductive lifespan. The study suggests that the drug could help slow age-related decline in egg quality and potentially extend fertility by three to six years.
Researchers discovered patterns of behavior across different stages of life in C. elegans worms, showing that genetic differences and neuromodulators contribute to individuality. The team found that removing serotonin reduced unique foraging behaviors, highlighting the importance of diversity in species survival.
A new study reveals that North Americans may be more susceptible to eye worm parasitic infections due to the presence of fruit flies carrying a third species of eye worms. The Oregon woman's case marks the first known human infection with Thelazia gulosa, previously seen only in cattle.
A 26-year-old Oregon woman became the first known human to be infected with Thelazia gulosa, a type of cattle eyeworm, after possibly being bitten by an infected fly while fishing in Alaska. She underwent treatment at OHSU and removed all 14 worms from her eye over the course of a month.
Researchers found that removing worms allows malaria to grow denser, while worm presence reduces malaria density. Ecological thinking revealed the key to understanding co-infections, offering insights into treating malaria and worm infections.
Researchers discover piRNAs, small RNA molecules that identify and silence foreign genetic sequences in cells. The study sheds light on a basic mechanism affecting fertility in animals.
New Caledonian crows manufacture hooked stick tools to outsmart hidden food, extracting it 2-10 times faster with improved efficiency. The study reveals that even small tool design changes can significantly boost foraging performance.
A new 508-million-year-old bristle worm species from the Burgess Shale has provided key insights into the origin of the head in annelids. The fossil discovery reveals that the annelid head evolved from posterior body segments with pair bundles of hair-sized bristles, a hypothesis supported by developmental biology.
A study found that worms that can self-fertilize have lost approximately one-fourth of their genes, including those giving male sperm competitive edge. This shift may be driven by reduced competition among male worms, allowing populations to grow faster.
Hermaphrodite worms live up to two weeks longer on dietary restriction, while males show no change despite genetic mutations in a key sex-determination pathway. The study suggests hermaphrodites have evolved to conserve energy until favorable conditions return.
Researchers found that the FDA-approved drug hydralazine extended the life span of roundworms by 25% by activating the NRF2/SKN-1 signaling pathway, which may mimic caloric restriction. The treatment also showed neuroprotection and reduced tau toxicity in a model of Alzheimer's disease.
A new species of marine worm Xenoturbella has been discovered, providing insights into the early evolution of complex animals. The discovery sheds light on the origins of structures such as kidneys and a centralized nervous system.
A new study found that a bioluminescent worm's ferritin is nearly eight times faster at storing and releasing iron than human capabilities, with potential applications in biomedical research and medical treatments.
Kansas State University researcher Anna Zinovyeva is studying microRNAs to understand their role in regulating gene expression, with potential breakthroughs for human health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The $1.8 million grant will support her lab's exploration of new leads in microRNA regulatory activity.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have uncovered the physiochemical 'fingerprint' profile of Necator americanus, a parasitic worm infecting hundreds of millions worldwide. This discovery enables the development of more effective treatments and earlier interventions.
Researchers discovered that enhancing mitochondrial defenses can reduce amyloid plaque formation and improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease. The approach targets the mitochondrial unfolded protein response and mitophagy mechanisms to restore cellular energy production and protect against neurodegeneration.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified a chemical that suppresses the lethal form of a parasitic infection caused by roundworms. The study developed a mouse model susceptible to the full range of infection and found that a synthetic steroid called Δ7-dafachronic acid significantly reduced worm burden.
Researchers decoded two worm genomes and found genetic similarities with vertebrates, including humans. They share genes involved in multicellularity and head development with deuterostomes, despite being distantly related. This discovery highlights the dynamic nature of animal genome evolution and our connection to ancient ancestors.
Scientists found that parasitic nematodes use odors from host mice as cues to position themselves where they have a higher chance of being eaten. The worms are attracted to fresh mouse feces and can migrate towards new hosts based on odorants produced by mammalian skin, feces, or urine.
A team of scientists discovered that a major cause of variation between genetically identical C. elegans worms is their mother's age, particularly in younger mothers. The study found that the youngest mothers produce offspring with impaired characteristics such as size, growth rate, and starvation resistance.
A UCL-led study found that inhibiting RNA polymerase III, a common enzyme in all animals, extends the lifespans of yeast cells and animals by an average of 10%. This discovery may lead to targeted anti-aging therapies, similar to the effects of rapamycin.
A UC Riverside-led research team has identified the human protein resistin as a potential treatment for sepsis, boosting survival rates to 100% in a mouse model. By binding to TLR4, resistin blocks inflammatory responses and minimizes immune system overdrive.
Researchers from NIAID and University of California, Berkeley develop a cell phone-based videomicroscope that provides fast and effective testing for L. loa parasites in blood samples, allowing dually-infected patients to be protected from ivermectin complications.
Researchers found a previously dismissed genetic mechanism that contributes to nicotine dependence and withdrawal effects. The study identified specific genes and microRNA that play an essential role in how the roundworms develop nicotine dependence and withdrawal responses.
Researchers found signals in a tiny worm that control the mechanism of severed nerves self-healing. The discovery enables genetic control over this process, raising hopes for treating nerve injuries in humans. The study used laser beams to sever neurons and observed how they regenerated, finding full function restored within 48 hours.
The TUM Nano-CT system produces images with resolutions up to 100 nanometers, allowing investigation of individual muscle strands in velvet worm legs. The device has potential applications in biomedical research and medicine, enabling non-destructive examination of tissue samples and clarification of tumor malignancy.
Researchers at Northeastern University's Center for Complex Network Research have identified fundamental rules for how the brain controls movement in nematode worms. The study provides unprecedented detail on how individual neurons control specific types of locomotion, paving the way for future research into human brain function and ne...
Researchers use active nematic composed of flexible filaments with microscopic engines to study defects on toroidal droplets, confirming predictions about liquid crystals at equilibrium. They also find that constant motion of defects causes topological charge to become continuous.
Scientists discover that velvet worm slime consists of a mix of proteins and fatty acids, forming nanoglobules that harden into stiff filaments when exposed to shear forces. These fibers have tensile stiffness similar to Nylon and can be dissolved in water again within hours.
Researchers found that roundworms can prime a defense mechanism when exposed to the scent of a lethal bacterium, increasing cell survival. This discovery could lead to a non-pharmaceutical treatment for neurodegenerative diseases by stimulating the same sensory trigger in humans.