Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question?
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 adap...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Federica Semprucci Eleonora Grassi Adele Cocozza di Montanara Roberto Sandulli Elisa Baldrighi |
| author_facet | Federica Semprucci Eleonora Grassi Adele Cocozza di Montanara Roberto Sandulli Elisa Baldrighi |
| author_sort | Federica Semprucci |
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| description | 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, <i>Litoditis marina</i> and select Monhysteridae species, such as <i>Diplolaimella dievengatensis</i>, <i>Halomonhystera disjuncta</i>, and <i>Diplolaimelloides</i> 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dff4207339d64bdc9092c8e20d42d5e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dff4207339d64bdc9092c8e20d42d5e92025-01-24T13:29:31ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-01-011715910.3390/d17010059Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question?Federica Semprucci0Eleonora Grassi1Adele Cocozza di Montanara2Roberto Sandulli3Elisa Baldrighi4Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), University of Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’, Loc. Crocicchia, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences (DiSB), University of Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’, Loc. Crocicchia, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Sciences and Technologies (DiST), Parthenope University of Naples, ULR CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Sciences and Technologies (DiST), Parthenope University of Naples, ULR CoNISMa, Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Mailstop 314, Reno, NV 89557, USAMarine 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, <i>Litoditis marina</i> and select Monhysteridae species, such as <i>Diplolaimella dievengatensis</i>, <i>Halomonhystera disjuncta</i>, and <i>Diplolaimelloides</i> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/1/59Nematodamarine ecosystemseco-evo-devonon-human species |
| spellingShingle | Federica Semprucci Eleonora Grassi Adele Cocozza di Montanara Roberto Sandulli Elisa Baldrighi Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question? Diversity Nematoda marine ecosystems eco-evo-devo non-human species |
| title | Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question? |
| title_full | Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question? |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question? |
| title_short | Emerging Marine Nematodes as Model Organisms: Which Species for Which Question? |
| title_sort | emerging marine nematodes as model organisms which species for which question |
| topic | Nematoda marine ecosystems eco-evo-devo non-human species |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/1/59 |
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