R. J. Sommer

Feeding-structure morphogenesis in rhabditid and diplogastrid nematodes is not controlled by a conserved genetic module

The paper investigates whether a genetic module controlling feeding-structure morphogenesis in diplogastrid nematodes is conserved in rhabditid nematodes, finding it is not.

Conserved switch genes regulate a novel cannibalistic morph after whole genome duplication

The paper shows that a whole genome duplication enabled a nematode to evolve a new cannibalistic mouth morph through co-option of conserved developmental switch genes.

Starvation resistance in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus requires a conserved supplementary nuclear receptor

This study functionally characterizes Ppa-NHR-10 in Pristionchus pacificus, showing it regulates starvation resistance through lipid catabolism rather than feeding-structure morphogenesis.

Microbiota Succession Influences Nematode Physiology in a Beetle Microcosm Ecosystem

This study shows nematodes influence microbial succession in beetle grub decay by selecting high-nutrition microbes, which in turn affects nematode metabolism and dauer larva formation.

Experimental and theoretical support for costs of plasticity and phenotype in a nematode cannibalistic trait

This study measures the costs of plasticity and phenotype in nematodes using experimental and modeling approaches, showing reduced fecundity in plastic strains and fitness trade-offs in non-plastic strains.

Tissue-specific safety mechanism results in opposite protein aggregation patterns during aging

The paper identifies a tissue-specific safety mechanism, SAPA, that suppresses age-dependent protein aggregation in C. elegans pharyngeal muscles but not body-wall muscles.

Bacterial derived vitamin B12 enhances predatory behaviors in nematodes

This study shows that bacterial vitamin B12 enhances predatory behaviors in nematodes, specifically surplus-killing, through metabolic and transcriptional changes.

Museum phylogenomics of extinct Oryctes beetles from the Mascarene Islands

This study uses museum specimens to generate whole-genome phylogenies of extinct Oryctes beetles, revealing taxonomic misclassifications and independent colonization events on the Mascarene Islands.