Phytochemistry & Biodiscovery

Caenorhabditis elegans is a 1 mm sized, plain nematode and one of the most important model organisms in biological research. This invertebrate has emerged as an in vivo model to identify novel drugs and drug targets in a phenotype-oriented way - also as an alternative to target- and mechanism-based screening strategies.

The worm models currently used in our lab focus on the discovery of natural products with the ability to modulate fat metabolism, affect life- and health span or enhance the resistance against reactive oxygen species.

Selected Papers:

Redl M, Shayegan A, Rollinger JM. Application of 3Rs in Caenorhabditis elegans Research for the Identification of Health-Promoting Natural Products. Planta Med. 2024; 90(07-08): 576-587. doi: 10.1055/a-2254-0131.

Kirchweger B, Zwirchmayr J, Grienke U, Rollinger JM. The role of Caenorhabditis elegans in the discovery of natural products for healthy aging. Nat Prod Rep. 2023 Dec 13;40(12):1849-1873. doi: 10.1039/d3np00021d.PMID: 37585263.

Zwirchmayr J, Cruz CD, Grienke U, Tammela P, Rollinger JM. Biochemometry identifies ostruthin as pluripotent antimicrobial and anthelmintic agent from masterwort. iScience. 2023 Aug 3;26(9):107523. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107523.

Kirchweger B, Klein-Junior LC, Pretsch D, Chen Y, Cretton S, de Gasper AL, Heyden YV, Christen P, Kirchmair J, Henriques AT, Rollinger JM. Azepine-indole alkaloids from Psychotria nemorosa modulate 5-HT2A receptor and prevent in vivo protein toxicity in transgenic C. elegans. Frontiers in Neuroscience 14 March 2022 Sec. Neuropharmacology, Volume 16 - 2022. 10.3389/fnins.2022.826289

Zwirchmayr J, Kirchweger B, Lehner T, Tahir A, Pretsch D, Rollinger JM. A robust and miniaturized screening platform to study natural products affecting metabolism and survival in Caenorhabditis elegans. Scientific Reports 2020; 10: 12323. 10.1038/s41598-020-69186-6