Healing with Elgans

Neurobiologists are searching for novel ways to repair nerves after injury. While our neurons often struggle to heal on their own, those in injured nematode worms (C.elegans) fuse the fragile axons back together – highlighted here in different colours. Delving inside the worm, researchers find a protein called EFF-1, a fusogen that helps cell membranes merge together. Another protein, ADM-4, supports EFF-1 when sticking together wounded neurons – even stepping in to prune away old EFF-1 to make way for new connections. Humans have a version of the ADM-4 gene, so work is underway to see if it can be coaxed to help axon fusion in a similar way, healing nerves to prevent paralysis in the future.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from work by Xue Yan Ho and Nick Valmas
• Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AU
• Image copyright held by the original authors
• Research published in Science Advances, March 2022