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A high-throughput nematode sensory assay reveals an inhibitory effect of ivermectin on parasite gustation

Nunn, L. R.; Juang, T. D.; Beebe, D. J.; Wheeler, N. J.; Zamanian, M.

2023-04-25 molecular biology
10.1101/2023.04.25.538347 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Sensory pathways first elucidated in Caenorhabditis elegans are conserved across free-living and parasitic nematodes, even though each species responds to a diverse array of compounds. Most nematode sensory assays are performed by tallying observations of worm behavior on two-dimensional planes using agarose plates. These assays have been successful in the study of volatile sensation but are poorly suited for investigation of water-soluble gustation or parasitic nematodes without a free-living stage. In contrast, gustatory assays tend to be tedious, often limited to the manipulation of a single individual at a time. We have designed a nematode sensory assay using a microfluidics device that allows for the study of gustation in a 96-well, three-dimensional environment. This device is suited for free-living worms and parasitic worms that spend their lives in an aqueous environment, and we have used it to show that ivermectin inhibits the gustatory ability of vector-borne parasitic nematodes.

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