Sex attractants in nematodes

Nematodes communicate with each other using pheromones - chemicals secreted by one individual that affect the behaviour of others of the same species. Chemicals secreted into the environment are known to influence host location, dormancy (dauer-larva formation), competitive interactions and mate detection; they benefit the nematode by reducing energy expenditure on less orientated movements. Of these chemicals, sex pheromones associated with mate detection and attraction are of particular interest as potential biological control agents. Here, Barbara MacKinnon discusses these developments.