The Worm Podcast26 Mar 2025

EPISODE 6: Bloodthirsty Worms – Haematophagic Caenorhabditis elegans and Vaccine Discovery

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

📧 veeren.chauhan@nottingham.ac.uk

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