"Nematodes, especially Caenorhabditis elegans have been used as a model for research in molecular biology since the 1960's. This is a much-needed update on research on fundamental processes in areas such as genetics, developmental biology, nutrition, toxicology, ecology, pharmacology and medicine"--.

• Cover
• Nematodes as Model Organisms
• Copyright
• Contents
• 1 The Genus Pristionchus: a Model for Phenotypic Plasticity, Predatory Behavior, Self-Recognition and Other Complex Traits
  • Introduction
  • Evo-devo Beginnings and Developmental Systems Drift
  • Rapid Genome Evolution and Taxonomically Restricted Genes
  • The Phylogeny of the Genus Pristionchus
  • The Life History and Ecology of P. pacificus
  • Developmental Plasticity and Predatory Feeding
    • Mouth-form plasticity in P. pacificus
    • Genetic basis and environmental influence
    • eud-1 and the gene regulatory network
    • Mouth-form plasticity and evolutionary novelty
    • Convergent evolution of predation in nematodes and organismal consequences
  • From Behavior to Neuroscience
    • Predatory behaviors
    • Environmental sensing and its associated behaviors
  • Self-recognition and Cannibalism
  • Complex Small Molecule Chemistry
  • Conclusions and Outlook
  • References
• 2 Aging
  • Introduction
  • Advantages of Worms for Aging Studies
  • Aging and Lifespan
  • Healthspan
  • History of C. elegans for Aging Research
  • The Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling Pathway
  • Dauer Formation and Longevity
  • Why IIS?
  • Tissues Changing with Age
  • Caloric Restriction (CR)
  • Additional Inputs to the IIS
    • C. elegans SIRT1/sir-2.1
    • Adenosine 5’monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
  • Target of Rapamycin (TOR)
  • Cellular Processes That Modulate Longevity
    • Autophagy
    • Protein translation
    • Mitophagy
  • Reproductive System
  • Summary/Future Studies
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
• 3 Entomopathogenic Nematodes as a Model for Probing the Insect Immune System
  • Introduction
  • Entomopathogenic Nematode Life Cycle
    • Mutualism regulators
  • Insect Innate Immune Signaling and Function
    • Insect humoral immunity
      • Imd and Toll pathways
      • Other immune pathways
      • Insect cellular immunity
      • Coagulation
  • Nematode Immunomodulatory Strategies
    • Nematode immunomodulation in insects
  • Insect Immune Response to Entomopathogenic Nematodes
  • Conclusions and Perspectives
  • References
• 4 The Use of the Root-knot Nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., for Studying Biotrophic Parasitic Interactions
  • Introduction: Root-knot Nematode, Meloidogyne spp., a Global Pest
  • Giant Cells, the Unique Feeding Structures of the Root-knot Nematodes
  • The Emergence of Plant Parasitism in Nematodes
  • Suppression, Manipulation and Induction of Host Defenses
    • Nematode NAMPS induce PTI in host plants
    • RKN effectors involvement in suppressing plant immunity system
  • Peptides Mimicking Plant Hormones – a Special Class of Effector
    • CLE-like peptide
    • C-terminally encoded peptides
    • IDA-like peptides
  • The Trend Toward Genome Reduction in Plant Parasites
  • Horizontal Acquisition of Parasitism Genes
  • The Repertoire of Plant Cell Wall- degrading Enzymes in Root-knot Nematode Genomes
  • References
• 5 Nematodes as Models for Symbiosis
  • Introduction to Symbiosis
  • Diverse Nematode Models of Symbiosis
  • Entomopathogenic Nematodes: a Versatile Platform for Symbiosis Research
    • Discovery of entomopathogenic nematodes
    • Advancement of EPNs as a model for host–microbe interaction
    • EPNs as a model for host–microbe interaction
      • Bacterial surface proteins mediating host interactions
      • Nutrition and secondary metabolism
    • EPN–symbiont pairs as models of symbiont specificity and host switching
    • Role of non-obligate symbionts in EPN life cycles
    • Advantages of EPNs as a model system for symbiosis research
    • Nematode–microbiome models of insect and gastropod pathogenesis
  • C. elegans as a Model for Symbiosis
    • History of microbial community research in C. elegans
    • C. elegans as a model for host–microbe interaction
      • Characterization of native microbiome of Caenorhabditis
      • Tools for microbiome research
    • Responding to bacteria: C. elegans innate immunity
    • Advantages of C. elegans as a model system for symbiosis research
  • Nematode Models of Intracellular Endosymbiosis
    • The intracellular endosymbionts of an insect-parasitic nematode
    • Filarial parasitic nematodes
      • Transmission mechanisms of Wolbachia in Brugia malayi
      • Brugia malayi and wBm Wolbachia genomes
      • Wolbachia endosymbionts as a therapeutic target
    • Advantages of filarial nematodes as a model system for symbiosis research
  • Plant-parasitic Nematodes (PPNs)
    • Cardinium and Wolbachia endosymbionts of PPNs
    • Xiphinematobacter endosymbionts
    • Advantages of PPNs as a model system for symbiosis research
  • Chemosynthetic Intracellular Endosymbionts and Ectosymbionts of Marine Nematodes
    • Marine nematodes with intracellular endosymbionts
    • Stilbonematine nematodes with ectosymbionts
    • The molecular and cellular basis of ectosymbiosis
    • Advantages and future directions of marine nematode–thiosymbiont interactions as a model system for symbiosis research
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
• 6 Nematode Pharmacology: Neurotransmitters, Receptors, and Experimental Approaches
  • Introduction
  • Main Pharmacological Models: Advantages and Limitations
  • Overview of Neurotransmitter Receptor Systems and Intracellular Signaling Cascades
    • Acetylcholine (ACh)
    • 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin)
    • Dopamine (DA)
    • Tyramine (TYR)
    • Octopamine (OA)
    • Glutamate
    • GABA
    • Nitric oxide (NO)
    • Neuropeptides
  • C. elegans and Drug Discovery
  • Outlook
  • References
• 7 Nematodes as Ecological and Environmental Indicators
  • Introduction
  • Toxicity Testing
    • Single-species toxicity testing
      • Chemical and material testing
      • Standardization
      • Testing of environmental samples
      • Eco(toxico)logical modeling
      • Toxicokinetic modeling
    • Multi-species toxicity testing (model ecosystems)
    • In situ bioindication
      • The NemaSPEAR[%]-index for freshwater systems
      • Trait-based indices for soil systems
  • Nematodes in Ecological Metacommunity Models
    • Model of metacommunity structure
    • Models of biodiversity
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 8 Use in Soil Agro-Ecology
  • Introduction: Soil as Live Resource
  • Nematodes as Soil Organisms
  • Evaluation of the Nematodes in the Soil for Ecological Studies
    • Isolation of nematodes
    • Method for identification and quantification: from visual to molecular approaches
    • Functional diversity and the employment of indexes for ecological approaches
  • Examples of Use of Nematodes as Model System in Soil Ecology Approaches
    • Use of nematodes as model system in plant protection
    • Use of nematodes as model system in community changes due to disturbance
  • Conclusions and Future Directions
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
• 9 Stress and Survival Mechanisms
  • Introduction
  • Nematode Life Cycle in Relation to Survival
  • The Nematode Species Used for Survival Studies
  • How Nematodes Encounter Extreme Conditions
    • Desiccation tolerance
    • Osmotic stress
    • Extreme temperatures
      • Cold tolerance
      • Heat tolerance
    • Oxidative stress
  • Conclusions and Future Directions
  • References
• 10 Molecular Toxicology in Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Introduction
  • Oxidative Stress-related Molecular Signals
    • Roles of mitochondrial complex signals
      • Complex I (NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase)
      • Complex II (succinate ubiquinone oxidoreductase)
      • Complex III
      • Complex IV
      • Coenzyme Q (ubiquinone, CoQ) synthesis
    • Roles of superoxide dismutases (SODs)
    • Roles of catalase (CTL-1-3) proteins
    • Roles of glutathione-requiring prostaglandin D synthases (GSTs)
  • MAPK Signaling Pathways
    • p38 MAPK signaling pathway
      • Duox1/BLI-3
      • TIR-1 and VHP-1
      • MEK-1
      • Mitochondrial complex I
    • JNK signaling pathway
    • ERK signaling pathway
      • SOD-3
      • Antimicrobial proteins
      • MTL-1 and MTL-2
      • NATC-1
      • HSF-1
      • GPD-2
      • SMK-1
      • AAK-2
      • HCF-1
      • SIR-2.1/SIRT1
      • PRDX-2
  • Insulin and the Related Signaling Pathways
  • Development-related Signaling Pathways
    • Wnt signaling pathway
      • POP-1
      • DAF-16
      • UNC-62
      • EGL-5
      • PRX-5
    • TGF-β signaling pathway
      • DBL-1-mediated TGF-β signaling pathway
      • DAF-7-mediated TGF-β signaling pathway
    • Notch signaling pathway
    • Developmental timing control-related signals
      • HBL-1 and LIN-41
      • SDZ-24
  • Cell Death and DNA Damage-related Signaling Pathways
    • Apoptosis signaling pathway
    • DNA damage signaling pathway
      • mir-360
      • ABL-1
      • NOL-6
  • Metabolism-related Signaling Pathways
    • Functions of fat metabolic sensors
      • SBP-1
      • NHR-49
      • MDT-15
      • NHR-80
    • AMPK signaling pathway
    • ACC and FAS
    • FAT-6 and FAT-7
    • ELO proteins
    • Fatty acid transport protein ACS-22
  • Protective Response-related Signaling Pathways
    • Antimicrobial proteins
    • Mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mt UPR)
    • Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) UPR
      • HSP-4
      • ABU (activated in blocked UPR) proteins
      • p38 MAPK signaling cascade (PMK-1-SKN-1/ATF-7)
      • MDT-15 and SBP-1
      • CDC-48-RUVB-2 signaling cascade
      • CED-1
    • Autophagy
    • Mitophagy
  • G-Protein Coupled Receptors and Ion Channels and Downstream Cytoplasmic Signals
    • GPCRs
      • Epidermal DCAR-1
      • Intestinal FSHR-1
      • Neuropeptide receptors
      • Neuronal SRH-220
    • Ion channels
      • Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels
      • Voltage-gated calcium ion channel UNC-2
      • Potassium ion channel KVS-1
      • Chloride intracellular channel EXL-1
    • ARR-1/arrestin
    • G proteins
      • Gqα signaling
      • Goα signaling
    • PLC-DAG-PKD signaling
      • PLC-PKD-TFEB signaling cascade
      • DKF-2
    • Ca2+ signaling
      • UNC-31
      • CRT-1
  • Epigenetic Regulation of Toxicity of Environmental Toxicants or Stresses
    • Methylation regulation
      • Methylation of histone H3K4
      • Methylation of histone H3K9
      • Methylation of HIS-24K14
      • Methylated glycans
    • Histone acetylation regulation
      • MYST family histone acetyltransferase complex
      • N-terminal acetyltransferase C (NAT) complex
      • CBP-1
    • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulation
    • LncRNAs regulation
    • Circular RNAs (circRNAs)
  • Perspectives
  • References
• 11 Nematode Use for Testing Theoretical Models of Behavioral Ecology
  • Introduction: Models of Behavioral Ecology
  • Resource Acquisition
    • Foraging
    • Recognition
    • Exploitation
    • Optimal strategies above and beyond resource acquisition: bet hedging and the preference–performance hypothesis
  • Competition
  • Communication and Dispersal
  • Aging and Behavior
    • Aging of free-living nematodes
    • Impact of aging on mobility and locomotion
    • Aging of parasitic nematodes
    • Impact of aging on infectivity in parasitic nematodes
    • Strategies to delay the effects of aging
  • Learning
  • Conclusions
  • References
• 12 Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Models for Inundative Biological Control
  • Introduction
    • Basic biology and life cycle
    • Foraging behavior
    • Biocontrol production and application technology
    • Justification of EPNs as a model system for inundative biocontrol
  • Factors Affecting Efficacy
    • Abiotic factors
    • Biotic factors
  • Approaches to Improve Efficacy
    • Improving production technology
    • Improving formulation and application technology
  • Biocontrol in Practice: Successes and Failures
  • Conclusion
  • References
• 13 Parasitic Nematodes: Model Systems for Studying Parasitism and Pathogenesis
  • Introduction: Origin of Parasitism in Nematoda
    • Fossil records and phylogenetic hypotheses
    • Evolutionary trajectories of nematode parasites and bacteria symbioses
      • Animal and human parasites: filarial nematodes
      • Insect parasites: entomopathogenic nematodes
      • Plant parasites
  • Parasitic Nematode Models
    • Animal and human parasites: filarial nematodes
      • Life cycle
      • Microfilariae–vector host interactions
      • Regulation of host’s immune response
      • Experimental models
    • Insect parasites: entomopathogenic nematodes
      • Life cycle
      • Role of the infective juvenile stage
      • Experimental models
    • Plant parasites
      • Life cycle
      • Experimental models
  • Role of Symbionts in Disease Control
    • Filarial symbionts
    • Entomopathogenic nematode symbionts
    • Plant parasite symbionts
  • Emerging Tools for the Study of Parasitism and Pathogenesis of Nematode–Bacteria Partnerships
  • References
• 14 Genetic Improvement of Beneficial Organisms
  • Introduction
  • Approaches to Genetic Improvement
    • Discovery
    • Selection
    • Hybridization
    • Mutagenesis and genetic engineering approaches
  • Case Studies: Improvement of Nematode Efficacy
  • Case Study: Improvement of Survival and Persistence
  • Trait Stability
  • Future Prospects of Genetic Improvement in EPNs
  • References
• Index
• Back Cover