The paper identifies a TCER-1-siRNA regulatory axis that suppresses antibacterial innate immunity in C. elegans by targeting immune effectors like scrm-4.

PLoS Pathogens · Jul 28, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

Caffeine extends lifespan by enhancing lysosomal lipolysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Hyemin Min, Eunseok Kang, Gee‐Yoon Lee, Laura L. Bahr, Arjumand Ghazi, Seung‐Jae Lee

This study shows caffeine extends lifespan in C. elegans by enhancing lysosomal lipolysis through a dietary restriction-like transcriptional program.

Molecules and Cells · Apr 16, 2026Peer-reviewedGenetics

Evolving Threats: Leveraging C. elegans to Decode the Virulence Profiles of Highly Related Environmental Salmonella Newport Isolates

Christina M. Ferreira, Mirae Choe, Bella Wayhs, Julie Haendiges, Robert Literman, Jianghong Meng, Arjuman Ghazi, Rebecca L. Bell

This study uses C. elegans to compare the virulence of five S. Newport isolates, finding that two strains are more virulent despite being nearly genetically identical.

PLoS ONE · Mar 2, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

LIPL-1 and LIPL-2 are TCER-1-regulated Lysosomal Lipases with Distinct Roles in Immunity and Fertility

Laura L. Bahr, Francis R. G. Amrit, Paige Emily Silvia, Bella Wayhs, Guled A. Osman, Mayur Nimbadas Devare, Hannah Henry, Duc Thien Bui, Mirae Choe, Nikki Naim, Margaret Champion, Yuxuan Man, Carissa Perez Olsen, Arjumand Ghazi

This study identifies LIPL-1 and LIPL-2 as TCER-1-regulated lysosomal lipases with distinct roles in balancing immunity and fertility in C. elegans.

PLoS Genetics · Dec 12, 2025Peer-reviewedGenetics

Germline loss diminishes somatic mitochondria but confers preservation of respiratory function during aging and hypothermia

Hye Jin Hwang, Francis R. G. Amrit, Brandon J. Berry, Claudette M. St. Croix, Andrew P. Wojtovich, Sruti Shiva, Arjumand Ghazi

This study shows that germline loss reduces mitochondrial volume and respiratory function in young adulthood but preserves mitochondrial activity during aging and hypothermia, mediated by NHR-49/PPAR.

Journal of Biosciences · Apr 27, 2025Peer-reviewedGenetics

ANALYSIS OF CHD-7 DEFECTIVE DAUER NEMATODES IMPLICATES COLLAGEN MISREGULATION IN CHARGE SYNDROME FEATURES.

Diego M. Jofré, Dane K. Hoffman, Ailen Soledad Cervino, Gabriella M. Hahn, McKenzie K. Grundy, Sijung Yun, Francis R. G. Amrit, Donna Beer Stolz, Luciana F. Godoy, Esteban Salvatore, Fabiana Alejandra Rossi, Arjumand Ghazi, M. Cecilia Cirio, Judith L. Yanowitz, Daniel Hochbaum

This paper identifies chd-7's role in collagen regulation in nematodes and vertebrates, linking it to CHARGE syndrome features through extracellular matrix misregulation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Apr 8, 2022Peer-reviewedGenetics

Nuclear Hormone Receptor NHR-49 controls a HIF-1-independent hypoxia adaptation pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

Kelsie R. S. Doering, Xuanjin Cheng, Luke J. Milburn, Ramesh Ratnappan, Arjumand Ghazi, Dana L. Miller, Stefan Taubert

The paper identifies a HIF-1-independent hypoxia response pathway in C. elegans mediated by NHR-49, showing its role in hypoxia survival and gene regulation.

eLife · Mar 14, 2022Peer-reviewedGenetics

NHR-49 acts in distinct tissues to promote longevity versus innate immunity

Nikki Naim, Francis R. G. Amrit, Ramesh Ratnappan, Nicholas DelBuono, Julia A. Loose, Arjumand Ghazi

This study shows that NHR-49 promotes longevity and innate immunity in C. elegans through distinct tissue-specific mechanisms and transcriptional programs.

bioRxiv · Sep 11, 2020 · PreprintMolecular Biology

C. elegans processes sensory information to choose between freeloading and self-defense strategies

Jodie A. Schiffer, Francesco A Servello, William R. Heath, Francis R. G. Amrit, Stephanie V. Stumbur, Matthias Eder, Olivier M. F. Martin, Sean B. Johnsen, Julian A. Stanley, Hannah Tam, Sarah J Brennan, Natalie G. McGowan, Abigail L Vogelaar, Yuyan Xu, William T. Serkin, , Javier Apfeld

The paper identifies a neuronal circuit in C. elegans that modulates hydrogen peroxide defenses based on sensory input and bacterial presence.

eLife · May 4, 2020Peer-reviewedNeuroscience