James W. Lightfoot

This study examines predator-prey interactions between Pristionchus pacificus and Oscheius myriophilus in their natural beetle-associated habitat, revealing life-history adaptations that reduce predation susceptibility.

The paper shows that MEC-2 is needed for aversive touch response but not for prey detection in P. pacificus, highlighting functional divergence in mechanosensory pathways.

The paper identifies evolutionary adaptations in noradrenergic circuits that enable predatory aggression in Pristionchus pacificus using machine learning.

The paper shows surface lipid composition is essential for kin recognition in Pristionchus pacificus, with specific lipids involved in contact-based discrimination.

The paper characterizes monoaminergic neurons in Pristionchus pacificus, identifying conserved and novel patterns of neurotransmitter expression and function in behaviors like host-finding and dispersal.

The paper identifies sensory adaptations in Pristionchus pacificus that enable predatory feeding behaviors through mechanosensory and chemosensory system co-option.

The paper characterizes nematode surface lipids using 3D-OrbiSIMS, revealing their developmental changes, species-specificity, and role in predator-prey interactions.

The paper identifies conserved nuclear receptors that regulate fast-evolving genes involved in morphological changes in nematodes.