Regeneration

We are interested in the regenerative capacity of free-living flatworms and study regeneration processes in a flatworm model organism called Macrostomum lignano. M. lignano and other flatworms, including polyclades, are particularly well suited for our work because of their remarkable regenerative capacity and their likely totipotent, or omnipotent, stem cell system.

Visualization of stem cells with BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine) in whole animals of Macrostomum lignano and in histological sections provides clues to answers to the following questions:

What are the properties of a regenerating blastema?
How does the stem cell system respond to the amputation of a body part?
How many stem cells are needed for successful regeneration?

We are also trying to understand the relationship and similarities between regeneration processes and embryonic and postembryonic development.

Of great consequence is the question of whether repeated amputation and regeneration of a single flatworm can slow or even reverse aging processes.

Staff of this working group

• Bernhard Egger (head)
• Isabel Dittmann (PhD student)
• Moses Kibet (PhD student)
• Simon Köll (master student)
• Clemens Gotsis (master student)
• Davina Düngler (master student)