Can a normally bacteria-feeding nematode become a blood-feeder? In this episode, we dive into the surprising world of haematophagic Caenorhabditis elegans — worms that can consume human blood. This research explores how feeding C. elegans a diet of erythrocytes (red blood cells) could help accelerate vaccine development for parasitic infections like hookworm disease.

By studying the enzymes used by these worms to digest haemoglobin and detoxify haem, scientists are unlocking new ways to test anti-parasite vaccines — all without needing live hookworms.

🔍 Key Topics Covered: • How C. elegans can ingest and survive on a diet of human blood • Using fluorescently labelled red blood cells to track feeding behaviour • Comparing digestive enzymes of C. elegans to those of Necator americanus, a major human parasite • Why this breakthrough could help identify and test new vaccine candidates

📖 Based on the research article: “Haematophagic Caenorhabditis elegans” Veeren M. Chauhan & David I. Pritchard. Published in Parasitology (2019). 🔗 Read it here: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182018001518

Join us to discover how turning a free-living nematode into a blood-feeder could reshape vaccine research for parasitic diseases!

🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more surprising stories at the intersection of parasitology, biotechnology, and innovation.

This podcast is generated with artificial intelligence and curated by Veeren. If you’d like your publication featured on the show, please get in touch.

📩 More info: 🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com 📧 [email protected]

How does a tiny hookworm outsmart the human immune system? In this episode, we explore the physicochemical fingerprint of Necator americanus, a parasite that infects millions worldwide. Using cutting-edge techniques like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), researchers reveal how the hookworm’s sheath and cuticle surfaces play a crucial role in immune evasion and infection.

🔍 Key Topics Covered: • The unique surface properties of N. americanus at the infective L3 stage • How the hookworm’s sheath diverts immune defences, aiding reinfection • The role of nano-annuli in enhancing adhesion and survival • How surface chemistry, including heparan sulphate and phosphatidylglycerol, influences parasite migration

📖 Based on the research article: “The Physicochemical Fingerprint of Necator americanus”** Veeren M. Chauhan, David J. Scurr, Thomas Christie, Gary Telford, Jonathan W. Aylott, David I. Pritchard. Published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2017). 🔗 Read it here: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005971

Join us as we discuss how surface biochemistry influences parasite survival, reinfection, and potential future treatments!

🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more deep dives into cutting-edge parasitology research!

This podcast is generated with artificial intelligence and curated by Veeren. If you’d like your publication featured on the show, please get in touch.

📩 More info: 🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com 📧 [email protected]

Did you know that digestion in C. elegans follows a rhythmic pH cycle? In this episode, we explore how magic nanosensors uncover real-time intestinal pH oscillations inside these tiny nematodes. By mapping the gut’s acidic landscape, researchers reveal how proton pumps, digestion, and metabolism work together in a synchronised chemical dance—offering new insights for biomedicine and drug discovery.

🔍 Key Topics Covered: • How pH-sensitive nanosensors track acidity in living organisms • The real-time pH oscillations inside the C. elegans gut • The role of proton pumps and metabolism in digestion • How this discovery could impact gut health and biomedical research

📖 Based on the research article: “Mapping the Pharyngeal and Intestinal pH of Caenorhabditis elegans and Real-Time Luminal pH Oscillations Using Extended Dynamic Range pH-Sensitive Nanosensors” Veeren M. Chauhan, Gianni Orsi, Alan Brown, David I. Pritchard, Jonathan W. Aylott. Published in ACS Nano (2013). 🔗 Read it here: https://doi.org/10.1021/nn401856u

Join us as we uncover how pH-shifting nanosensors are revolutionising our understanding of digestion and metabolism!

🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more deep dives into frontier science!

This podcast is generated with artificial intelligence and curated by Veeren. If you’d like your publication featured on the show, please get in touch.

📩 More info: 🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com 📧 [email protected]