New Wine in Old Bottle: Caenorhabditis Elegans in Food Science

Abstract

ABSTRACT Diverse models have been long explored to impel the progress of food science, while Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models applied in food toxicology and food function evaluation received vigorous advances recently. With multifaceted advantages such as short lifespan, apparent phenotypes and well-recognized genetic background, C. elegans is becoming a driving model organism in food science. In this review, we comprehensively reviewed the research progress of C. elegans models based on the literature published in past two decades, and systematically categorized the methods of C. elegans models’ construction, summarized the applications of nematodes in food toxicology, mainly involved in microbial contamination, food additives, pesticide residues, heavy metals, food packaging, and physical pollution. C. elegans models’ exploitations for functional foods assessments were also exemplified, and biological properties included anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-obesity, anti-glucotoxicity, anti-neurodegenerative and immunoregulation. Research gaps between present shortcomings and future orientations have been further discussed. We believed that this review would inspire ideas and strategies for further nematodes model’s exploration and multi-models-cooperation in food science.