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Moses, Atlan et al. profile the killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) gonad using single-cell sequencing and reveal that genetic germline depletion induces sexually dimorphic phenotypes, enhancing lifespan in male fish and somatic repair in females.

Jiang et al. show that the microcephaly-associated protein ASPM and katanin form a complex that binds microtubule minus ends and can sever microtubules and block microtubule minus-end elongation to control spindle pole dynamics.

Biological sex affects all aspects of animal physiology. Using the model C. elegans, the authors show that metabolomes are highly sex-specific and include a vast space of yet unidentified metabolites that may control development and lifespan.

Siracusa and colleagues reveal a regulatory role for basophils in the context of anti-helminth immunity and identify the neuropeptide neuromedin B as a potent inhibitor of type 2 inflammation.

Mutations in PTEN have been associated with various human disease, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cancer. Here, the authors assess the function of 106 PTEN variants in yeast, invertebrate models and cell culture and report that PTEN variants generally decrease protein stability.

The sensors of damage and danger in the nematode epidermis are unclear. Ewbank and colleagues show that the G protein–coupled receptor DCAR-1 detects epithelial damage elicited mechanically or by a fungal pathogen.

Polarized transport to axons and dendrites is critical for neuronal function, but the molecular mechanisms and cytoskeletal cues for asymmetry are incompletely defined. Here the authors show that Caenorhabditis elegans CRMP (UNC-33) acts early in neuronal development, together with ankyrin (UNC-44), to polarize microtubule organization and kinesin-dependent axon-dendrite sorting.

Using both behavioral and electrophysiological readouts, Channelrhodopsin-2, a light-gated cation channel, is applied to the study of synaptic function in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Using C. elegans, Oleson et al. demonstrate that developmental exposure to reactive oxygen species protects against amyloid toxicity later in life, mediated by disruption of the H3K4me3 epigenetic machinery through HSF-1-dependent shifts in lipid metabolism.

It is shown here that the methylation of histone proteins regulates lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. Deficiencies in members of the ASH-2 complex, which trimethylates histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4), extend worm lifespan. Meanwhile, the H3K4 demethylase RBR-2 is required for normal lifespan. These findings are consistent with the idea that an excess of H3K4 trimethylation reduces longevity. The extension of lifespan caused by ASH-2 deficiency requires an intact adult germline and the continuous production of mature eggs.

Harrington et al report their discovery of Nemacol, which is a small molecule inhibitor of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). VAChT loads synaptic vesicles with acetylcholine and is a key point of vulnerability in animals. Harrington et al show that Nemacol has nematode selectivity and potential utility against nematode parasites.

SET-26, HCF-1, HDA-1 are factors that help package DNA and regulate gene expression. Here, the authors find that SET-26 recruits HCF-1 to specific locations along the genome, where they antagonize the activity of HDA-1. Together, they maintain balanced gene expression and longevity in C. elegans.

Controlled domain formation in block copolymer mixtures or lipid bilayers could lead to more highly ordered assemblies and delivery of drugs. It is now shown that mesoscale domain formation within assembled mixtures of neutral and anionic polymer amphiphiles can be induced by the divalent cations calcium and copper.

Social living has costs and benefits; here the authors use field studies, experiments and models to show that non-consumptive predation pressure in Trinidadian guppy shoals increases parasite transmission and selects for higher virulence.

A systematic screening of biosynthetic genes largely clarifies the intricate biosynthetic mechanisms by which diversification of carboxylesterases generates a complex blend of modular signaling pheromones in Pristionchus pacificus.

Enzyme-initiated polymerization-induced self-assembly has been used to generate various biomimetic structures. Now, myoglobin’s activity is used for biocatalytic polymerization-induced self-assembly to generate vesicular artificial cells. As various cargoes can be encapsulated during polymerization, these artificial cells are capable of protein expression and can act as microreactors for distinct enzymatic reactions.

Genomic analyses show that two independent fusions involving the same chromosome altered recombination patterns and contributed to reproductive isolation between two Pristionchus nematodes.

Whitmarsh and colleagues identify a nuclear form of the mitochondrial enzyme, CLK-1 in C. elegans and COQ7 in human cells, respectively, that senses reactive oxygen species and regulates gene expression.

Cellular cholesterol levels are tightly regulated. Here, the authors show that the hedgehog signalling receptor PTCH is a cholesterol transporter. Reduction in PTCH activity leads to cellular cholesterol accumulation, changes in nuclear hormone receptor activity and fatty acid metabolism.

Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal model organism for studying nerve regrowth and functional recovery after in vivo axotomy, but its high mobility makes such experiments challenging. A microfluidic device capable of transient immobilization of individual worms for high-resolution imaging and laser-based nanoaxotomy is described.

Innate odor preferences in C. elegans are controlled by the activation of a pair of olfactory sensory neurons. Here, the authors show that asymmetric activation of the AWC^ON and AWC^OFF neurons can lead to irrational olfactory preferences that are explained by a model of normalization of sensory gain control.

Hofer et al. show that fasting promotes the synthesis of spermidine, which stimulates eIF5A hypusination to induce autophagy and increase lifespan in various species in a conserved manner.

Intraflagellar transport is essential for the formation and function of cilia. Here, the authors use single-molecule imaging in live C. elegans to show that transport trains are formed by the sequential attachment of proteins before departing into the cilium.

Magnetic skyrmions can be stabilized at room temperature in cobalt layers sandwiched between heavy metal layers due to engineering of the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction.

DEET interferes selectively with chemotaxis of Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, and mutations in the str-217 gene or silencing of the pair of chemosensory neurons that express it makes worms DEET-resistant.

A beneficial effect of parasitic worms on metabolic health has been postulated based on epidemiological and animal studies. Here, the authors show in a phase I clinical trial that treatment of people at risk of type 2 diabetes with hookworms is safe and may improve key measures of metabolic health.

Schreier et al. report a previously undescribed cytoplasmic condensate, termed the paternal epigenetic inheritance (PEI) granule, that contains the Argonaute protein WAGO-3 and 22G small RNAs and mediates paternal epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans.

In the study, the authors identify a protein excreted by the parasite Trichuris muris, p43, which can modulate IL-13 function, a key cytokine involved in host protection. These data suggest that p43 may be a novel therapeutic target for both whipworm infections and IL13 mediated pathologies.

PIX proteins activate the small GTPases Rac and Cdc42, and are known to have numerous functions in a variety of cell types. Using a genetic screen in C. elegans, the authors find that PIX-1 is required for the assembly or stability of integrin adhesion complexes between muscle cells.

This study integrates ribosome profiling, single molecule methods and computational predictions to reveal that molecular chaperones bind ‘unsatisfied’ residues exposed on partial nascent folds, rationalizing how their activities generate a robust co-translational protein folding network.

Screening for new anthelmintic compounds that are active against parasitic nematodes is costly and labour intensive. Here, the authors use the non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegansto identify 30 anthelmintic lead compounds in an effective and cost-efficient manner.

Based on single worm whole genome sequencing, the authors here characterise the global evolution of the gastrointestinal parasite Haemonchus contortus and identify genes that play a role in drug resistance as well as climate-driven adaptations involving an epigenetic regulator.

Heterostructure interfaces have physical properties distinct from bulk materials, providing the basis for many electronic devices. Miao et al. propose a spin ice heterostructure that can host a two-dimensional gas of emergent magnetic monopoles with a net magnetic charge.

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2 cells) provide early immune responses to helminthes and contribute to allergic inflammation. Singh and colleagues show that the transcription factor Gfi1 controls the development, activation and specification of ILC2 cells.