We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question?
Summary
This review evaluates the potential of marine nematodes as model organisms for studying biological questions related to ecosystem functioning, climate change, ecotoxicology, and biotechnology. Researchers identified several promising species with manageable life cycles and available genomic resources that could be used in laboratory settings. The study highlights their value for investigating environmental stress responses, including exposure to pollutants like microplastics in marine habitats.
Marine nematodes possess all the prerequisites to serve as “simpler models” for investigating biological phenomena and are gaining attention as emerging model organisms. This review evaluates their potential to address diverse biological questions regarding ecosystem functioning, climate change adaptation, host–microbe interactions, ecotoxicology, and biotechnological applications. Among the reviewed taxa, Litoditis marina and select Monhysteridae species, such as Diplolaimella dievengatensis, Halomonhystera disjuncta, and Diplolaimelloides spp., emerge as leading candidates due to their manageable life cycles, adaptability to laboratory conditions, and available genomic resources. These tiny organisms provide valuable insights into phenomena such as developmental plasticity, epigenetic regulation, and adaptive responses to environmental stress. Symbiotic relationships in Stilbonematinae and Astomonematinae, alongside the antimicrobial properties of the Oncholaimidae species, offer unique opportunities to explore mutualistic evolution and resilience in extreme environments. Despite challenges in culturing these species, recent advances in culturing other meiofaunal organisms with chemosynthetic symbionts have opened up promising opportunities. The roles of marine nematodes as ethical and versatile models position them to address pressing challenges in biological and biomedical research, highlighting their significant potential for future studies.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Suitability of Free-Living Marine Nematodes as Bioindicators: Status and Future Considerations
This review examines how free-living marine nematodes have been used for over 40 years as biological indicators of ocean pollution, particularly for heavy metals and hydrocarbons. Researchers highlight their potential as bioindicators for microplastic contamination, an understudied class of pollutants threatening global biodiversity. The study calls for improved international collaboration and standardized methods to expand the use of these organisms in monitoring marine environmental health.
Ecotoxicity Testing with Nematodes
This review summarized the use of nematodes—particularly Caenorhabditis elegans—as model organisms for ecotoxicity testing of chemicals in water, sediment, and soil. The authors found that C. elegans offers a well-validated, rapid, and cost-effective platform for evaluating microplastic toxicity across multiple endpoints and can be extended to multi-species test systems that better reflect ecological complexity.
Aquatic worms: relevant model organisms to investigate pollution of microplastics throughout the freshwater-marine continuum
This review examined the use of aquatic worms (oligochaetes and polychaetes) as model organisms for studying the environmental fate and biological impacts of micro- and nanoplastics throughout their life cycles in freshwater and marine environments.
Species-specific effects of long-term microplastic exposure on the population growth of nematodes, with a focus on microplastic ingestion
Scientists conducted long-term microplastic exposure experiments on freshwater nematode species and found species-specific effects on population growth, with ingestion rates and harm varying substantially across species despite identical exposure conditions.
The soil nematode exposome: Unraveling the impacts of particulate plastics from agroecosystems to one health
Researchers propose using soil nematodes — tiny worms that are sensitive indicators of soil health — as biological sentinels for microplastic pollution, arguing that their conserved molecular pathways and ecological roles make them ideal for an integrated risk framework that connects plastic contamination in soil to broader human health outcomes.