Phoresy is a type of interaction in which one species, the phoront, uses another species, the
dispersal host, for transportation to new habitats or resources. Despite being a widespread …

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is perhaps the most serious threat to pine forests worldwide. The
causative agent of PWD, the pinewood nematode (PWN), engages in a symbiotic …

Morphological novelties are lineage-specific traits that serve new functions,. Developmental
polyphenisms have been proposed to be facilitators of phenotypic evolution, but little is …

How any complex trait has evolved is a fascinating question, yet the evolution of parasitism
among the nematodes is arguably one of the most arresting. How did free-living nematodes …

Sterol metabolites are critical signaling molecules that regulate metabolism, development,
and homeostasis. Oxysterols, bile acids (BAs), and steroids work primarily through cognate …

The nematode Pristionchus pacificus is an established model for integrative evolutionary
biology and comparative studies with Caenorhabditis elegans. While an existing genome …

Helminths stage a powerful infection that allows the parasite to damage host tissue through
migration and feeding while simultaneously evading the host immune system. This feat is …

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential for numerous biologic functions.
It is a highly conserved pathway found in all metazoans including the nematode …

Nematodes are presumably the most abundant Metazoa on Earth, and can even be found in
some of the most hostile environments of our planet. Various types of hypobiosis evolved to …

Background Plant–parasitic nematode interactions occur within a vast molecular plant
immunity network. Following initial contact with the host plant roots, plant-parasitic …