Abstract

Despite its apparent simplicity, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans has developed into an important model for biomedical research, particularly in the functional characterization of novel drug targets that have been identified using genomics technologies. The cellular complexity and the conservation of disease pathways between C. elegans and higher organisms, together with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of cultivation, make for an effective in vivo model that is amenable to whole-organism high-throughput compound screens and large-scale target validation. This review describes how C. elegans models can be used to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of drug action and disease pathogenesis.

Author affiliations

1. Devgen, Technologie-park 30, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.
2. Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Zurich, Winterhurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.

Correspondence to: Titus Kaletta¹ Email: titus.kaletta@devgen.com

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.