Ageing involves oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein aggregation. We use C. elegans lifespan assays to evaluate longevity-enhancing compounds and assess oxidative stress resilience and mitochondrial function.
- Ageing & Longevity
- Metabolic Health & Obesity
- Stress Response & Resilience
- Immune System & Inflammation
- Gut Health & Microbiome
General Health & Wellness
Validating Health Products at Vivaltes
At Vivaltes, we use C. elegans and cell-based assays to assess health and wellness products efficiently. Our ethical models enable rapid screening of bioactive compounds, supplements, and pharmaceuticals. With numerous C. elegans mutants, we examine key biological endpoints, including metabolism, stress response, ageing, and immune function. To strengthen health claims, we also apply metabolomics and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for deep molecular insights.
C. elegans has
-
a 2-3
week long lifespan
-
>80%
proteins with human equivalents.
C. elegans is a powerful model for studying general health and wellness, with conserved pathways, a short lifespan, and high-throughput capabilities. Its transparency allows real-time observation of ageing, metabolism, immunity, and stress responses, making it ideal for testing products that promote health benefits.
Ageing & Longevity
Surival Assay
Metabolic Health & Obesity
Nile Red staining in C. elegans is used to visualise and quantify fat storage by detecting lipid-associated fluorescence
C. elegans fat storage assays (e.g., Nile Red, Oil Red O staining) help screen compounds that regulate lipid metabolism. Sharing key metabolic pathways with humans, C. elegans provides valuable insights into fat accumulation, energy expenditure, and insulin-like signalling, supporting metabolic health product development.
Stress Response & Resilience
Visualising oxidative stress responses in C. elegans is possible with GFP reporter strains.
Using C. elegans, we assess heat shock response and oxidative stress tolerance, determining how compounds enhance cellular defence mechanisms. Its genetic tractability allows us to study stress pathways, aiding in the development of resilience-promoting products.
Immune System & Inflammation
We can track the expression of immune related genes in C. elegans to investigate effects on innate immune response.
Our C. elegans infection models screen immune-boosting compounds by assessing pathogen resistance and antimicrobial peptide expression. With a well-characterised innate immune system, C. elegans is a strong model for host-pathogen interactions and immune modulation. We complement this with cell-based cytokine response assays.
Gut Health & Microbiome
Using a fluorescent food source we can track bacterial colonisation and digestion dynamics.
Using a fluorescent food source we can track bacterial colonisation and digestion dynamics.
Using a fluorescent food source we can track bacterial colonisation and digestion dynamics.
Using a fluorescent food source we can track bacterial colonisation and digestion dynamics.
Using dyes we can assess intestinal permeability and gut barrier integrity.
Using dyes we can assess intestinal permeability and gut barrier integrity.
C. elegans gut models enable testing of probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary compounds in a live organism. Its simple gut structure and ability to be colonised by specific bacterial strains make it ideal for microbiome research. We also assess gut permeability and barrier integrity for comprehensive evaluation.
How will you innovate the future of health products?
Join Vivaltes in shaping the future of health. Whether you're developing nutraceuticals, plant-based medicines, searching for the next breakthrough in supplement marketing, or seeking ethical testing alternatives, our expertise and cutting-edge technologies are here to support you.