Optimizing a C. elegans whole organism screen biased for chemicals that target the nematode clade specific receptor...

Pesticides are important resources in the control of pests and pathogens of plants and animals. Unfortunately, there are concerns around their broad impacts on non-target organisms and the environment. In this study we optimize a platform biased for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor EAT-2 , a physiological regulator of feeding in C. elegans . We show that by screening for chemicals that inhibit C. elegans pharyngeal pumping in lev-1 ( x427 ) , we can identify lead compounds that modulate EAT-2 function. This provides a motivation for further studies to investigate the role of EAT-2 in parasitic nematodes and their potential as a target for novel nematicides.