Exploring the Relationship between Lifespan and Quality of Life in C. Elegans Mutants
The question of whether an increased lifespan is associated with increased quality of life has been a topic of interest in
WormLab®
The ultimate worm tracking and analysis solutionProduct Overview
WormLab is a complete hardware/software solution for imaging and quantitative analysis of C. elegans behavior. We have collaborated with world leading C. elegans researchers to develop an easy-to-use worm tracking system with powerful analysis tools.
The patented WormLab tracking technology employs a groundbreaking algorithm designed to fully automatically characterize a broad spectrum of behaviors of C. elegans. Crawling worms, swimming/thrashing worms, whole plate and long-term tracking – WormLab supports all your assays. With WormLab you can focus on your research, rather than your research tools.
Key Benefits
- Accurately quantify C. elegans behavior — fully automatically
- Analyze phenotype with precision—identify even subtle differences easily and efficiently
- Start collecting meaningful data quickly thanks to user-friendly WormLab workflows
- Integrate behavior assessment with stimulus delivery, including optogenetics, chemotaxis and mechanosensation
The Ultimate Worm Tracking & Analysis Solution
WormLab performs fully automated quantification of the behavior of C. elegans and other nematodes. Using the WormLab patented worm-tracking technology, you have access to dozens of detailed metrics, including speed, direction, and distance travelled. Fully characterize dynamic changes in posture, amplitude of sinusoidal movement and accurately quantify complex movements such as omega bends, coiling, self-overlap, swimming, and thrashing. Easily and efficiently investigate subtle effects on social interactions such as aggregation, social foraging and mating.
Worm Tracking Made Easy
The WormLab Imaging System is turn-key hardware and software for imaging and analyzing the behavior of C. elegans—just add worms. We have worked closely with C. elegans researchers to develop a worm tracking system that requires no programming or imaging expertise, so you can spend less time setting up and maintaining your system and more time on your research.
The optimized WormLab video acquisition system fully automates optogenetic and mechanosensation assays so that you can easily correlate behavior with programmable stimuli. This also frees up lab resources considerably while improving the efficiency and reproducibility of worm-behavior assays. Easy image acquisition and analysis using the intuitive WormLab software interface enables you to start working immediately.
WormLab has been developed with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
| System Requirements for Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS |
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| Windows 11 64-bit is required. The recommended configuration includes at least 16GB RAM, an Intel Core (i5,i7,i9) or Xeon processor, adequate hard disk space for video files (at least 500GB recommended) and an internet connection for activation. |
| MacOS 10.9 or later is required. The recommended configuration includes at least 16GB RAM, an Intel Core (i5,i7,i9), Intel Xeon or Apple M1 processor, adequate hard disk space for video files (at least 500GB recommended) and an internet connection for activation. |
Exploring the Relationship between Lifespan and Quality of Life in C. Elegans Mutants
>> Learn More
Characterizing a novel target to combat obesity
>> Learn More
Munich Researchers Use WormLab to Study Blast Effects on C. elegans
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Mutations in a TRP ion channel cause dopaminergic cell loss in C. elegans
>> Learn More
Researchers use WormLab to reveal that nicotine addiction is heritable in C. elegans
>> Learn More
Download WormLab brochure here.
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- Omega bend
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- Entangled worms
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- Thrashing assay. Courtesy: Ernstrom Lab , Middlebury College
WormLab® 2026 Release Notes
Released March 2026
New Features and Enhancements
Train your own custom detectors using animal-pose estimation tools
WormLab version 2026 introduces a workflow for training AI detectors that use computer vision to identify and track objects in videos. Your custom detectors can be used alongside the WormLab worm-tracking engine, enabling you to conduct more complex experiments, even multi-species detection and tracking.New guided workflow to create and refine custom detectors
The new Train workflow guides users through the process; it includes:-
- Training region selection: Focus your annotation effort on specific frames or regions of the video.
- Animal pose definition: Define anatomical keypoints and how they connect to represent the posture of the organism or object.
- Data annotation: Establish ground truth by labeling the keypoints and connections using a streamlined annotation interface.
- Detector training: Train custom detectors for you objects of interest using the annotated data, then use them for automated detection and tracking in WormLab.
- Refine detectors: Employ active learning to iteratively refine detectors for effectiveness in your research conditions
Benefits of custom detectors
Train custom detectors specific for your unique research needs with species-agnostic, user-friendly tools that leverage animal-pose estimation methodology.Custom detectors integrate directly with existing WormLab detection, tracking, and analysis tools. Track multiple organisms or objects simultaneously, using the WormLab C. elegans tracking system in conjunction with your custom detectors.
Maintain object identity over time, even when animals overlap, or exhibit complex motion or occlusion.
New object colocalization analysis tool
Detect interactions or events between different tracked objects using the new object colocalization analysis module.-
- Measure spatial and temporal overlap between any detected object types.
- Identify biologically meaningful events based on object proximity. For example, detect egg-laying events by identifying when a worm overlaps with the start of a new egg track.
- Find behavioral events in complex datasets more easily; colocalization results integrate with existing analysis, filtering, and visualization tools.
New data acquisition tool: Segmented recording with user-defined intervals
Automatically capture recordings in repeating segments, separated by defined time intervals. This is ideal for long experiments where continuous recording is unnecessary or where periodic sampling is preferred.With segmented recording, you define the segment duration, the interval between recording segments, and the total experiment duration.
View Full Version History Here.
WormLab: Key Features
Fully automatically quantify behavior of single or multiple worms
Accurately tracking and quantifying locomotory behavior such as speed, distance travelled, and direction as well as more complex movements like coiling, entanglements, omega bends or self-overlap present significant challenges for quantitation. The patented WormLab tracking technology meets that challenge, employing a groundbreaking worm model with peristaltic progression movement designed to fully characterize and quantitate a broad spectrum of worm behaviors.
WormLab: Key Features
Intuitive workflow – Acquire, Track, then Analyze
The software’s workflow guides you through each step to acquire, track and analyze image data from the WormLab Imaging System or your own video-acquisition system. Videos acquired using the WormLab Imaging System are immediately available for tracking and analysis or you may import previously acquired videos into WormLab software for analysis. Wormlab automatically detects worms, accurately tracks worm movement and displays tracking data in a tabular and user-configurable graphical format, with frame-by-frame detail data for each worm tracked, as well as summary reports. Comprehensive built-in and customizable metrics may be exported to Excel or Matlab, or create your own analyses.
WormLab: Key Features
Selective display options for worm body outline, midpoints, tracks, and head/tail markers
Easily visualize, share and validate the automated tracking results superimposed on the original video sequence. Automatic WormLab head/tail identification leverages bending amplitude data near the end points of the worm, body morphometry and motion direction to improve recognition accuracy even in low resolution videos.
WormLab: Key Features
Enhanced swimming model expands assay possibilities
Behavioral analysis of swimming C. elegans offers new insights for aging and neurodegenerative disease studies.
Citation: Restif C, Ibáñez-Ventoso C, Vora MM, Guo S, Metaxas D, Driscoll M (2014) CeleST: Computer Vision Software for Quantitative Analysis of C. elegans Swim Behavior Reveals Novel Features of Locomotion. PLoS Comput Biol 10(7): e1003702. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003702
WormLab: Key Features
Automated stimulus delivery for optogenetics & mechanosensation assays
Studying the effects of external stimuli on C.elegans behavior can be a time-consuming task prone to bias. WormLab enables you to easily correlate behavior with programmable light or tapping stimuli in a fully automated manner, improving efficiency and repeatability of assays.
WormLab: Key Features
Integrated tools for high throughput applications
Batch tracking enables you to load a queue of videos for unattended processing (e.g., overnight). Your data is automatically saved and ready for analysis when you return to the lab. Using the built-in Group Analytics tool, you can easily compare trends among user-defined groups across multiple data sets. Batch exporting gives you efficient access to all your data for any custom analyses.
The WormLab Imaging System
The WormLab Imaging System is a complete, scalable hardware solution for automated imaging and quantitative analysis of the behavior of C. elegans and other nematodes. MBF Bioscience worked closely with world leading C. elegans researchers to develop a unique worm tracking system that is intuitive and easy to use. For example, in conjunction with the WormLab software, the WormLab Imaging System enables researchers to correlate C. elegans locomotory behavior with the delivery of tapping or light stimuli.
Case Studies
Single-Cell Optical Control of Gene Expression in C. elegans
Davis L, Radman I, Goutou A, Tynan A, Baxter K, Xi Z, O'Shea JM, Chin JW, Greiss S.
Precise, single-cell control of gene expression enables new insights into neural circuit function. This study introduces LaserTAC, an optical genetic toolkit for targeting individual neurons in C. elegans.
Calcium-Mediated Dopaminergic Neuron Loss Caused by TRP Channel Mutations
Nagarajan A, Ning Y, Reisner K, Buraei Z, Larsen JP, Hobert O, Doitsidou M.
A mechanosensitive TRP channel mutation can directly trigger dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This study identifies calcium dysregulation via TRP-4 as a driver of progressive neuronal loss in C. elegans.
Manuka Honey Reduces Amyloid-β–Induced Neurotoxicity via Oxidative Stress Pathways
Navarro-Hortal MD, Romero-Márquez JM, Muñoz-Ollero P, et al.
Antioxidant compounds in Manuka honey attenuate Aβ toxicity via HSP-16.2 and SKN-1/Nrf2 pathways. Behavioral outcomes highlight a trade-off between neuroprotection and sugar-related effects.
Reducing Base Excision Repair Alleviates Tau-Induced Neurotoxicity
Tiwari V, Buvarp E, Borbolis F, Puligilla C, Croteau DL, Palikaras K, Bohr VA.
Altering DNA repair pathways can unexpectedly protect against tau-induced neurotoxicity. This study shows that reducing base excision repair initiation improves health span and cognition in a C. elegans tauopathy model.
Shock Wave–Induced Neuromodulation Assessed in C. Elegans
Hochstrasser H, Kaub L, Maier L, Angstman NB, Kenmoku T, Nussbaum-Krammer C, Schmitz C.
Radial extracorporeal shock waves alter nervous system function beyond the neuromuscular junction. Using C. elegans, this study probes how shock waves modulate cholinergic-driven behavior.
Genetic Control of Neuroendocrine Signaling Underlies Behavioral Diversity in C. elegans
Lee H, Boor SA, Hilbert ZA, Meisel JD, Park J, Wang Y, McKeown R, Fischer SEJ, Andersen EC, Kim DH.
Natural genetic variation can rewire neuroendocrine signaling to shape behavior. This study shows how gap-2 variants alter neuron-specific daf-7 expression to drive foraging diversity in C. elegans.
A Metabolic Brake on Aging: G3PP Activity Promotes Longevity
Possik E, Schmitt C, Al-Mass A, Bai Y, Côté L, Morin J, Erb H, Oppong A, Kahloan W, Parker JA, Madiraju SRM, Prentki M.
Metabolic enzymes that limit glycerol-3-phosphate accumulation can promote stress resistance and longevity. This study identifies G3PP homologs as key regulators of fat metabolism and healthy aging in C. elegans.
Dense Body and M-Line Maintenance Underlies Age-Resistant Muscle Function
Jiang L, Wang X, Zhang D, Yee Yuen KW, Tse YC.
Maintaining sarcomere integrity is essential for preserving muscle function during aging. This study identifies RSU-1 as a key stabilizer of dense bodies and M-lines in aging C. elegans muscle.
Z-Isomer Astaxanthins Exhibit Superior Anti-Obesity Effects in C. elegans
Xie J, Cai R, Hou X, Zhao K, Xiao J, Cao Y, Liu X.
Not all astaxanthin isomers are equally bioactive. This study shows that Z-isomer astaxanthins exert markedly stronger anti-obesity effects than the all-E form in C. elegans.
Opioid and Endocannabinoid Signaling Modulate Food Preference in C. Elegans
Kim AT, Li S, Kim Y, You YJ, Park Y.
Activation or inhibition of opioid and cannabinoid receptors bidirectionally alters food preference in C. elegans. The assay enables behavior-based screening of candidate effectors.
Visualizing Nanoplastic and Microplastic Biodistribution in C. elegans Using Upconversion Probes
Maryam B, Wang Y, Li X, Asim M, Qayyum H, Zhang P, Liu X.
Tracking micro- and nanoplastic ingestion in living organisms remains technically challenging. This study introduces upconverted nanoparticles as high-sensitivity probes to reveal size-dependent plastic toxicity in C. elegans.
Combined Copper and Zinc Exposure Exacerbates Neurotoxicity in C. Elegans
Cordeiro LM, Soares MV, da Silva AF, Dos Santos LV, de Souza LI, da Silveira TL, Baptista FBO, de Oliveira GV, Pappis C, Dressler VL, Arantes LP, Zheng F, Soares FAA.
Metal mixtures exacerbate neuronal dysfunction and Huntington’s disease–like phenotypes in a nematode model. A dietary flavonoid counteracts aggregation and neurodegeneration.
Photoaged Tire Wear Particles Impair Neurotransmission in C. elegans
Gu Y, Jiang Y, Chen X, Li L, Chen H, Chen J, Wang C, Yu J, Chen C, Li H.
Free radicals formed during tire particle photoaging impair neurotransmitter balance and locomotion. Radical scavenging reverses these effects, implicating EPFRs as key toxic agents.
Developmental PFAS Exposure Impairs Learning and Memory in C. elegans
Currie SD, Ji Y, Huang Q, Wang JS, Tang L.
Early-life exposure to PFAS disrupts learning and memory in a dose-dependent manner. This study links neurobehavioral impairment to PFAS bioaccumulation in C. elegans.
Long-Term Cocoa Supplementation Improves Healthspan and Extends Lifespan in C. elegans
Munasinghea M, Almotayria A, Thomasa J, Heydariana D, Weerasingheb M, Joisa M.
Dietary cocoa supplementation improves healthspan and modestly extends lifespan. In C. elegans, cocoa enhances neuromuscular, cognitive, and mitochondrial function during aging.
Who Is Using WormLab?
WormLab is used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
News and Updates
Characterizing a novel target to combat obesity
Obesity has reached epidemic levels worldwide. It is a major cause of deadly illnesses, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some
MBF Bioscience Awarded Two Patents in 2016
We continue our history of innovation and invention as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awards us two patents. The
Cited in Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications
The utility of WormLab is underscored by the number of references it receives in the world’s leading scientific publications. See examples below:
Jadhav, Vaishnavi S., Jade G. Stair, Randall J. Eck, Samuel N. Smukowski, Heather N. Currey, Laura Garcia Toscano, Joshua C. Hincks, et al.
Transcriptomic evaluation of tau and TDP-43 synergism shows tauopathy predominance and reveals potential modulating targetsView Publication
Y Gu, Y Jiang, X Chen, L Li, H Chen, J Chen, C Wang, J Yu, C Chen, H Li
Generation of environmentally persistent free radicals on photoaged tire wear particles and their neurotoxic effects on neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegansView Publication
KS Nagaral, SN Pramod, B Kisan, M Rajashekhar, R Achur
Hypoxia Induced Suspended Animation And Recovery In Caenorhabditis EleganceView Publication
Ramos, C. M. and S. P. Curran
Comparative analysis of the molecular and physiological consequences of constitutive SKN-1 activationView Publication
Lin, Y., C. Lin, et al.
Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model for the identification of natural antioxidants with anti-aging actionsView Publication
Boeglin, M., E. Leyva-Díaz, et al.
Expression and function of C. elegans UNCP-18, a paralogue of the SM protein UNC-18View Publication
Possik, E., L.-L. Klein, et al.
Glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatase/PGPH-2 counters metabolic stress and promotes healthy aging via a glycogen sensing-AMPK-HLH-30-autophagy axis in C. elegansView Publication
Wang, W., T. Sherry, et al.
An intestinal sphingolipid confers intergenerational neuroprotectionView Publication
Pang, Y., M. Li, et al.
Preliminary study on the E-liquid and aerosol on the neurobehavior of C. elegansView Publication
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I run WormLab on multiple computers in my laboratory?
The standard WormLab software license is tied to one specific computer, however, we do offer a floating license option, providing additional flexibility. A single floating license enables you to access your software license at any computer, but only one computer at a time.
Can I use my own videos acquired using our laboratory imaging system?
Yes! You can purchase a Wormlab software license separately from the complete WormLab Imaging System; it is a cost-effective way to quantify worm behavior from videos acquired using your own camera system. An important consideration for obtaining optimal results with WormLab software is the quality of the video to be analyzed. A solid, high contrast image of the worm on an evenly illuminated background (as achieved with the WormLab Imaging System) is ideal.
Is the WormLab Imaging System upgradeable?
The Wormlab Imaging System is modular by design and can be field upgraded to include stimulus delivery options such as high power LEDs for optogenetic assays or a tapper for mechanosensation assays. General purpose input/output ports are also available for custom applications.
What is so special about the WormLab Imaging System compared to lab-based systems?
The WormLab Imaging System is designed to produce optimal videos for worm tracking. It features a stable, flat field illumination system and state-of-the-art, high resolution video camera enabling high contrast visualization of the transparent worms. Its enclosure blocks out ambient light that could influence worm behavior, creating an ideal platform for performing reproducible experiments. Fully automate optogenetic and mechanosensation assays eliminates observer bias and improving efficiency.
Can WormLab track other types of nematodes?
WormLab was originally designed for tracking C. elegans, however, researchers have used the software for behavioral analysis of other nematodes (such as parasitic worms). In fact, WormLab has also been used to track Drosophila larvae. Contact us to arrange a demonstration using your videos.
Is there a limit to the number of worms I can track simultaneously?
Technically, there is no inherent software limit to the number of tracked worms, however, from a practical perspective we suggest tracking fewer than 30 worms in an area sufficiently large to mitigate worm clustering. The WormLab Imaging System supports video acquisition from plates up to 50mm in diameter.
What types of video file formats are supported and are there any suggested acquisition parameters for optimal tracking?
WormLab supports many video files (eg. .avi, .mov, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv) and includes support for hundreds of different video codecs. We typically suggest using an acquisition rate of 5-10 fps for crawling worm assays and 14-30fps for swimming assays to ensure sufficient temporal resolution for accurate tracking. Higher resolution videos (e.g. 10um or less per pixel scaling) are recommended for more accurate tracking through complex movements such as omega bends, entanglements, self-overlap or coiling
Are software updates readily available for WormLab?
Yes - we offer a Software Upgrade and Support Subscription (SUSS) enabling customers to download the latest version of WormLab and full remote access to our technical support team of experts. Our WormLab development roadmap is very customer feedback driven – as you provide feedback and we make enhancements to WormLab, you can then download those latest releases. This collaborative relationship with WormLab users is an integral part of our continuous improvement process and improves the WormLab community experience.
Testimonials
"I rarely have encountered a company so committed to support and troubleshooting as MBF."
"MBF Bioscience is extremely responsive to the needs of scientists and is genuinely interested in helping all of us in science do the best job we can."
"I am so happy to be a customer of your company. I always get great help related with your product or not. With the experienced members, you are the best team I've ever met. All of your staff are very kind and helpful. Thank you for your great help and support all the time."
"We’ve been very happy for many years with MBF products and the course of upgrades and improvements. Your service department is outstanding. I have gotten great help from the staff with the software and hardware."
WormLab provides far superior data than the other conventional programs used for worms. Our work with WormLab has been extremely rewarding because it puts us on the frontier of the behavior studies of C.elegans and allows us to carry out differentiated experiments, with software that is easy to use and needs only simple equipment.
We really appreciate the help from all the staff at MBF Bioscience. Expert support combined with their excellent product WormLab are essential for our research on c. elegans behavior in my lab.
Robust Professional Support
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
- Forums
We have over 25 active forums where open discussions take place.
>> Learn More - On-Site/Training
We’ve conducted over 750 remote software installations.
>> Learn More - Webinars
We’ve created over 55 webinars that demonstrate our products & their uses.
>> Learn More
Request a Free Trial
We offer both a free demonstration and a free trial copy of WormLab. During your personal session, you’ll also have the opportunity to talk to us about your hardware, software and experimental design questions with our team of Ph.D. neuroscientists and experts in microscopy, worm tracking and image processing.
