Nematodes as Model Organisms (eBook)

Itamar Glazer (Edited By) Itamar Glazer is Researcher at the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Center, Israel.David I Shapiro-llan (Edited By) David Shapiro-Ilan is a Supervisory Research Entomologist at USDA-ARS, Georgia, USA. Dr. Shapiro-Ilan's research focuses on invertebrate pathology/microbial control. Areas of interest emphasize the study of entomopathogenic nematodes and include biological control applications, production and formulation technology, and studies on nematode behavior (especially foraging dynamics). Dr. Shapiro-Ilan has published 180 peer-reviewed journal articles plus 24 book chapters and > 40 trade journal/extension articles; he has co-edited 3 books and is inventor on 7 patents. Selected awards include Fellow of the Society of Nematologists, EEO/Civil Rights, Excellence in IPM (SEB-ESA, 2012), and > $7 million as PI/co-PI on competitive grants. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Nematology, and Editor for the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.Paul W. Sternberg (Edited By) Paul Sternberg is Professor of Biology at Caltech, USA.

These studies take advantage of molecular genetics and genomics work on the symbiotic bacteria; e.g., bacterial mutants affecting colonization of the infective-stage nematode inform us about the genes responsible for colonization. This chapter also reviews how C. elegans serves a model to study gutmicrobiome regulation and other cases in which endosymbionts (e.g., Wolbachia bacteria) significantly impact nematode fitness and are thus potential targets for therapeutics against parasitic nematodes. Other chapters explore equally fascinating as well as practically important topics such as interactions between nematodes and plants and animals, roles of nematodes in ecological systems (e.g. soil), the use of nematodes as indicators of ecosystem state, pharmacology and toxicology in nematodes, and stress and survival mechanisms such as cryptobiosis.

In summary, this very readable book will be of interest not only to nematologists and C. elegans specialists who want to broaden their perspectives on how nematodes have impacted various fields, but also to other biologists, medical scientists, pharmacologists, educators, naturalists, and citizen scientists who want to feed their curiosity about many of life's mysteries and how they are being addressed through the vast and growing toolkit provided by nematodes.