Articles tagged with Worms
A Northwestern University research team found a conserved mechanism for nociception in planarian flatworms, fruit flies, and humans. The discovery could lead to new strategies for treating acute pain in humans by designing analgesic drugs targeting the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) receptor.
A new study by Cardiff University and Stockholm University found that ocean clams and worms produce large amounts of methane and nitrous oxides, contributing to global warming. The findings suggest that farming shellfish could be an effective solution to mitigate environmental pressures.
A new molecular pathway controlling lifespan and healthspan has been identified in worms and mammals. Excess levels of proteins called Kruppel-like transcription factors (KLFs) can extend lifespan and improve blood vessel function, highlighting a potential target for age-related diseases.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified an enzyme that disrupts vital cell processes in intestinal worms, potentially leading to new vaccine or drug development. The discovery could also help combat emerging drug-resistant worm infections.
Researchers used flat worms to study the role of migrating stem cells in cancer. They found that regulatory genes controlling cell migration are also essential for planarian stem cells, providing a promising model for understanding human cancers.
Researchers have discovered that planarian fission occurs in three stages: waist formation, pulsation, and rupture. This process is crucial for the regeneration of missing structures, allowing flatworms to reproduce asexually and potentially giving rise to diversity in populations.
A team of scientists has sequenced the genome of an asexual tiny worm, Diploscapter pachys, which originated 18 million years ago. The study reveals how it maintains genetic variation and overcomes the disadvantages of asexual reproduction by skipping recombination.
A new hermit crab species, Diogenes heteropsammicola, has been discovered that adopts a walking coral as its home instead of a seashell. The crab transports the coral and prevents it from being buried by sediment, offering an advantage over traditional shell homes.
Researchers describe three cases of eyeworm infection in UK dogs with recent travel to mainland Europe. The parasite, Thelazia callipaeda, is found in fruit flies and can infect dogs, cats, and humans, posing a significant threat to the UK canine population.
Researchers have identified genes promoting health and fitness in young worms but driving aging later in life. This discovery may have implications for treating neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
DNA damage accelerates aging in nematode worms, showing surprising similarities with aged humans. The study reveals comprehensive connections between metabolism, DNA preservation, and signaling pathways.
Researchers at EPFL discovered key molecules driving lymphangiogenesis in response to worm infections, revealing a complex cross-talk between B cells and fibroblastic reticular cells.
Research finds that indoles produced by intestinal bacteria enhance mobility, resistance to stress, and reproductive span in worms, flies, and mice. Indoles may help maintain the intestinal barrier and limit systemic inflammatory effects, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue for improving healthspan.
Researchers have created a comprehensive atlas of gene activity in every cell type of an animal, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. The study reveals selective activation of genetic code in different cell types, accounting for the formation of specialized cells and body parts.
Fan worms have developed unusual compound eyes on their tentacles to detect motion and predators, alerting them to danger. The eyes' unique genetic makeup reveals an independent evolutionary history from other visual systems.
Scientists identified bacterial genes and compounds that extend lifespan, slow tumor growth, and reduce amyloid-beta accumulation in laboratory worms. These findings suggest potential for designing supplements to slow down aging process.
Researchers studying space-traveling flatworms found that microgravity affects their regeneration, behavior and microbiome. The worms' bodies underwent permanent changes after exposure to space, including spontaneous fission and altered biological states.
The study reveals that bioelectric patterns can override the default body shape called for by a genome, allowing researchers to edit the target morphology of an animal with a wild-type genomic sequence. This work provides clues about why certain individuals have different biological outcomes when exposed to the same treatment as others.
A team of researchers discovered that C. elegans makes decisions by calculating mathematical integration of environmental information via calcium ion concentration changes in nerve cells. This process is similar to the human brain's integration of information for decision-making, suggesting a possible genetic link between the two.
Researchers used C. elegans to identify a genetic signature of mesodermal-epithelial communication involved in human cancer cell proliferation. The study uncovered 33 genes conserved between worms and humans that control this network, providing a roadmap for new cancer therapies.
Scientists developed an automated approach to track neurons in the brain of freely crawling worms, enabling researchers to correlate neural activity with specific movements and behaviors. The new algorithm, dubbed Neuron Registration Vector Encoding, improves upon previous methods by assigning a unique identity to each neuron it detects.
Researchers at WPI will explore neural activity in Caenorhabditis elegans using the small worm's unique biology. The goal is to identify molecular mechanisms that contribute to gender-specific neuronal bias in neurological disorders.
A compound called interleukin 4 helps macrophages kill parasites and promote healing in lung tissue by binding to a receptor called myosin 18A. This discovery could lead to better treatments for common infections, including those caused by parasitic worms that infect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
A UCLA study has discovered a pair of genes in Caenorhabditis elegans that encode both a poison and its antidote, representing a clear example of 'selfish genetic elements'. The research suggests that these elements could be used to stop the spread of diseases like malaria.
Researchers found that activating or deactivating a hormone in roundworms stimulates or stunts growth, mirroring human TRH regulation. This discovery offers new possibilities for research into human growth mechanisms.
Researchers at MIT developed a new material inspired by the gelatinous jaw of a sea worm, which can adapt to changing environments. The material exhibits great mechanical resistance and consistency, making it suitable for soft robotics and sensor applications.
Researchers at Brown University have identified genes with epigenetic tags associated with shorter sleep in young adults. The study used a combination of human and worm experiments to discover the connection, finding that knocking out analogous genes in worms affected sleep patterns.
A research scientist at CSIC has discovered that wax worms can quickly biodegrade polyethylene, a material difficult to break down. The worm's ability is attributed to its similarity in composition to beeswax and may involve an enzyme-based mechanism.
Researchers have found a way for a caterpillar to break down polyethylene, a common type of plastic. The larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth can digest and chemically transform polyethylene into ethylene glycol, offering a potential solution to managing plastic waste.
A UMass Medical School study found that the bacteria in the gut microbiome can affect how sensitive worms are to chemotherapy drugs. The researchers used Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm, and fed them different types of bacteria to see which ones made them more or less sensitive to the drug floxuridine, used to treat colorectal cancer.
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism by which E. coli bacteria regulate lipid storage in C. elegans, leading to increased fat accumulation and mitochondrial fragmentation. This discovery reveals unsuspected connections between bacteria and mitochondria, suggesting a new language for communication between the two.
Scientists discovered a caterpillar can break down polyethylene, a tough plastic found in shopping bags. The wax worm's saliva contains an enzyme that degrades the chemical bonds in the plastic, reducing its mass by 92mg after 12 hours.
Researchers discovered that fats can tip the scales of fertility in roundworms by monitoring fatty acid levels using an enzyme called acyl-CoA synthase 4 (ACS-4). This phenomenon has implications for future studies into human fertility and reproductive development.
Scientists discovered that environmental changes can be passed on in the genes of tiny nematode worms for at least 14 generations. This phenomenon was observed in worms carrying a transgene array, which showed increased activity after exposure to warmer temperatures.
Rice University scientists created nano-SPEARs to study synaptic behavior and degenerative diseases without harming small animals. The technique allows for high-throughput data gathering, making it possible to test multiple animals per hour.
Stanford researchers discovered that accumulating monounsaturated fatty acids can extend the life span of roundworms. The finding suggests that this type of fat may be beneficial for life span, contrary to previous studies on caloric restriction which often show thinner animals to live longer.
A collaborative study reveals the molecular details of the relationship between Brugia malayi and its endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia. The researchers found that Wolbachia plays a critical role in worm reproduction and survival, making it an essential target for novel drug development.
Researchers have discovered a unique protein in the Orsay virus, a nematode worm virus, that plays a crucial role in binding to cells and infecting them. The protein's molecular structure has potential antiviral applications, and its study could guide bioengineers in developing synthetic variations of the virus to target parasitic worms.
A new study found that chance encounters contribute to variations in human gut microbiome populations, which can influence health and disease outcomes. The researchers used genetically identical worms to model the gut's microbe communities, showing that initial colonization events can lead to dominant populations of bacteria.
The Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program (CITP) identified Thioflavin T as the most robust pro-longevity chemical, extending lifespan in all strains tested. Six out of ten compounds significantly extended lifespan in at least one strain, with three dietary restriction mimetics showing variable responses across species.
Researchers identify a new species of ancient bristle worm, the largest fossil jaws ever recorded, suggesting the creature achieved a body length over a metre. The discovery sheds light on the phenomenon of gigantism in marine worms and its evolution in different species.
Researchers identify leiomodin-1 as a key protein in Nodding syndrome, an autoimmune disease linked to Onchocerca volvulus. The study suggests that the immune system mistakenly attacks brain cells containing this protein, leading to symptoms of the disorder.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identified autophagy as a key process linking mild stress to improved survival and reduced protein aggregation. The study provides new avenues for treatments of neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease.
A study reveals that parasitic infections, particularly with Onchocerca volvulus, may trigger the onset of Nodding Syndrome by triggering an inappropriate immune response against brain cells. This could lead to devastating epilepsy in children, with no clear cause or remedy yet discovered.
A team of researchers has discovered a molecular mechanism that explains why allergies are less common in developing countries. They found that antibodies produced in response to a parasitic worm infection can prevent an allergic reaction when faced with novel substances like peanut protein.
Researchers have discovered a worm gene that triggers feelings of fullness and the need to sleep after eating, opening up potential for an obesity drug. The ETS-5 gene controls signals from the brain to the intestines, influencing food intake and activity.
A team of Japanese scientists has discovered a new species of polychaete worm, revealing its gel-like coat and long notochaeta. The discovery provides insight into marine life's adaptation to extreme Antarctic conditions.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new method to separate synthetic nanoparticles from living organisms, improving experiments on environmental and health impacts of manufactured entities. The sucrose density gradient centrifugation technique yields more accurate counts of ingested nanoparticles.
Researchers found that squalamine inhibits the early formation of toxic alpha-synuclein aggregates and suppresses their toxicity. The compound was tested in cell cultures, animal models, and human neuronal cells, showing promising results.
A study by Salk Institute scientists reveals that adolescent roundworms exhibit erratic behavior when seeking food, unlike adult worms which show efficient behavior. This discovery provides insight into the drivers of neurological development and may shed light on human brain function and diseases.
Scientists compiled data on original Hydroides names and published a checklist paper revealing the genus is feminine, leading to re-examination of 107 species. The study provides insight into the origin of species names, including those based on descriptive characteristics or people/places.
Scientists used worms to decipher how bacterial signals from the microbiome influence the host, shedding light on diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. The study found that specific bacterial genes modify worm physiology, serving as a model to study the gut microbiome in mammals.
A landmark study shows treating adults alongside children with intestinal worms can improve health outcomes for millions of kids worldwide. The research suggests a community-wide deworming approach is more effective than targeting only children.
Researchers at Stanford University studied a rare marine worm species, discovering that its larvae undergo a prolonged phase with little more than a head. This indicates that many animals in the ocean likely share this trunk-less stage, shedding light on animal development and evolution.
A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reveals a causal link between RNA splicing and aging in roundworms, shedding light on the biological role of splicing in lifespan. The finding suggests that manipulating specific splicing factors in humans might help promote healthy aging.
A new study reveals that acorn worms can regrow every major body part, including the head, nervous system, and internal organs, from nothing after being sliced in half. The researchers hope to unlock the genetic network responsible for this feat and apply it to humans.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed an algorithm that reveals micron-sized bumps and grooves in lab worms, exposing potential subtle genetic connections to diseases. The technique uses digital optics and computational genetics to analyze intricate web of gene mutations.
Researchers have sequenced the genome of Onchocerca volvulus, the parasite responsible for river blindness, identifying proteins that could be targeted with existing drugs or developed into new treatments. The study also reveals promising areas for developing a preventive vaccine against the disease.
Scientists at Oregon State University have discovered a bacterium that can help control a plant-parasitic roundworm, potentially providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pesticides. The worm, Pratylenchus penetrans, uses more than 150 species as hosts, and the newly discovered bacterium is a strain of Wolbachia.
A study led by NYU Langone researchers found that cellular 'cannibalism' is a common mechanism in embryonic development, where cells sacrifice unwanted contents to reproduce. This process may be vital for many cell types across evolution and has implications for understanding brain disorders and reproductive issues.