Unlocking the secrets of gut microbiota: The untapped potential of Caenorhabditis elegans
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: • Analyzed and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of current research models for gut microbiota. • Summarized the advantages of C. elegans as a model organism for preclinical research on gut microbiota. • Provided some problems and development directions that C. elegans will face in future research on gut microbiota. • Proposed a complete validation pathway for the efficacy and mechanism of gut microbiota from C. elegans to rodents and then to human experiments. Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely used model organism in laboratories. However, its unique advantages in gut microbiota research have not yet been effectively utilized. They feed on various microorganisms and can set specific microbial diets to meet the research needs of the connection between specific microorganisms and hosts. Moreover, it possesses the advantage of high-throughput screening of microbial gene interactions, which largely compensates for the shortcomings of existing mammalian models. This review aims to introduce the potential of Caenorhabditis elegans , a model organism, for studying intestinal microorganisms. The study aims to explore the unique advantages that have not been addressed in studies of the interaction mechanism between gut microbiota and hosts, as well as future development trends. The review also aims to provide a new research perspective for the study of gut microbiota. This review first summarizes the shortcomings of current mammalian models in studying the interaction between gut microbiota and hosts. It also introduced a model for personalized, high-throughput research on gut microbiota in Caenorhabditis elegans. This model largely compensates for the current shortcomings of mammalian models and has great potential for application in the study of gut microbiota biological activity and its interaction mechanism with hosts.
Source: Journal of Advanced Research
Authors: Jianqiang Wang, Qinlu Lin, Ying Liang
Institution: Central South University of Forestry and Technology
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,000
Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department, Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, Science and Technology Program of Hunan Province, Key Research and Development Program of Hunan Province of China, Key Technologies Research and Development Program, National Key Research and Development Program of China
OpenAlex ID: W7129556213