Developing an insect-nematode Drosophila- Abbreviata hastaspicula model to study the effects of two natural compounds on anti-aging

This thesis aimed to examine the effects of natural compounds in the regulation of anti-aging in higher organisms using new insect-nematode based models. It was first set out to investigate the biological role of arthropod intermediate hosts and to elucidate the life cycle of Abbreviata. Upon understanding the biology of Abbreviata hastaspicula, a novel aging model of A. hastapicula (spirurid nematode) was established along with the traditional model system of fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans to test the anti-aging effects of natural compounds. Our results suggest that natural compounds resveratrol analogues and gastrodin) have the potential to slow aging.