Roundworm News and Research

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Roundworm infection, or toxocariasis, is a zoonotic disease — a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Dogs and cats are the definitive hosts for the roundworm species that commonly cause human disease.

Open-Access Atlas Maps Roundworm Aging at Single-Cell Resolution

A new aging atlas provides scientists with a detailed view of how individual cells and tissues in worms age, and how various lifespan-extending strategies might halt the aging process.

18 Jun 2024

Research Uncovers Individuality in Roundworm Neural Circuits

Joint research led by Yu Toyoshima and Yuichi Iino of the University of Tokyo has demonstrated individual differences in and successfully extracted commonalities from the whole-brain activity of roundworms.

18 Mar 2024

B12-Producing Gut Bacteria Modulate Neurotransmitter Levels and Reduce Seizures in C. elegans

A new study published in Nature Cell Biology by Mark Alkema, PhD, professor of neurobiology, establishes an important molecular link between specific B12-producing bacteria in the gut of the roundworm C. elegans and the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important to memory and cognitive function.

5 Jan 2024

A Rapid Method for the Quantitative Detection of miRNA

Researchers investigating the growth of a roundworm discovered a tiny RNA molecule that controlled the expression of specific genes in the early 1990s. This resulted in the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are now known to exist in all forms of life. These molecules, it turns out, play vital functions in a variety of biological processes.

26 Apr 2023

The Function of ANKLE1 in the Prevention of DNA Damage and Autoimmunity

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) School of Biological Sciences research team led by Dr. Gary Ying Wai Chan has uncovered the function of a unique enzyme called ANKLE1.

19 Apr 2023

The Modified Development Potential of Worm Embryonic Cells

A startling discovery that challenges the conventional wisdom that the majority of the hereditary information for cell differentiation is encoded within DNA and other genetic factors has been made regarding how specific proteins within the chromosomes of roundworms facilitate their offspring to develop specialized cells generations later.

10 Apr 2023

First wiring map of neurons in insect brain complete

Researchers have built the first ever map showing every single neuron and how they’re wired together in the brain of the fruit fly larva.

6 Mar 2023

The primary functions of innate immune cells

An inflammation and a rise in mucus production are typical signs of allergies and worm infections. The innate immune cells are involved in this immunological response, although it is still unclear exactly what they do.

4 Nov 2022

Novel technique expedites research into the genetics of aging

A novel technique for identifying the genes that are important for aging has been discovered by scientists at North Carolina State University.

3 Nov 2022

Unraveling sex determination in Bursaphelenchus nematodes: A path towards pest-control

The mechanisms underlying sex determination in nematodes, commonly known as roundworms, have not been fully understood.

23 Jun 2022

Research may lead to new therapies for metabolic disorders and other diseases

Researchers at UT Southwestern have uncovered a molecular path that allows cells to detect when their lipid supplies are running low, triggering a flurry of activity that avoids starvation.

23 May 2022

Genetic variations in key mitochondrial enzyme associated with age-related mobility changes

Age-related changes in strength and mobility may depend on genetic variations in a critical mitochondrial enzyme, suggests a study published today in eLife.

27 Apr 2022

Researchers identify a sound-sensitive mammalian protein

Salk researchers have programmed mammalian cells to be stimulated with ultrasound.

14 Feb 2022

Regulating the activity of a protein enhances health span, says research

Scientists from KAIST put forth novel insights for enhancing the health span by controlling a protein’s activity.

25 Nov 2021

Enteric glial cells play a major role in gut immunity, says new study

Scientists from the Francis Crick Institute unraveled a basic role of glial cells in the nervous system of the gut in retaining a healthy intestine.

22 Oct 2021

Researchers discover the role of a retrotransposon in horizontal memory transfer in roundworms

When an organism encounters a threat in its environment, it is to the species' advantage to warn others of the peril.

6 Sep 2021

Researchers discover new genes and functionalities in bovine genome

Modern genetic research often works with what are known as reference genomes. Such a genome comprises data from DNA sequences that scientists have assembled as a representative example of the genetic makeup of a species.

27 May 2021

Scientists find master switch that adjusts gene activity to match nutrient levels in roundworms

Transforming a fertilized egg into a fully functional adult is a complicated task. Cells must divide, move, and mature at specific times. Developmental genes control that process, turning on and off in a choreographed way.

23 Dec 2020

Study sheds light on the evolution of cheating and cooperative behaviors within different organisms

Cheating mitochondria can exploit cellular mechanisms for dealing with the scarcity of food in a worm, although this can decrease its wellbeing

24 Sep 2020

A genetic switch in brain cells can toggle between sex-specific states when necessary

Biological sex is typically understood in binary terms: male and female. However, there are many examples of animals that are able to modify sex-typical biological and behavioral features and even change sex.

11 Aug 2020