Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
Biogerontology. 2021 Apr;22(2):215-236. doi: 10.1007/s10522-021-09913-2. Epub 2021 Mar 8.
Several biogerontology databases exist that focus on genetic or gene expression data linked to health as well as survival, subsequent to compound treatments or genetic manipulations in animal models. However, none of these has yet collected experimental results of compound-related health changes. Since quality of life is often regarded as more valuable than length of life, we aim to fill this gap with the "Healthy Worm Database" ( http://healthy-worm-database.eu ). Literature describing health-related compound studies in the aging model Caenorhabditis elegans was screened, and data for 440 compounds collected. The database considers 189 publications describing 89 different phenotypes measured in 2995 different conditions. Besides enabling a targeted search for promising compounds for further investigations, this database also offers insights into the research field of studies on healthy aging based on a frequently used model organism. Some weaknesses of C. elegans-based aging studies, like underrepresented phenotypes, especially concerning cognitive functions, as well as the convenience-based use of young worms as the starting point for compound treatment or phenotype measurement are discussed. In conclusion, the database provides an anchor for the search for compounds affecting health, with a link to public databases, and it further highlights some potential shortcomings in current aging research.
有几个专注于遗传或基因表达数据的生物老年学数据库，这些数据与动物模型中的化合物处理或遗传操作后的健康和存活有关。然而，这些数据库中没有一个收集与化合物相关的健康变化的实验结果。由于生活质量通常被认为比寿命更有价值，我们旨在用“健康蠕虫数据库”（http://healthy-worm-database.eu）填补这一空白。筛选了描述衰老模型秀丽隐杆线虫中与健康相关的化合物研究的文献，并收集了 440 种化合物的数据。该数据库考虑了 189 篇描述了在 2995 种不同条件下测量的 89 种不同表型的出版物。除了能够针对有希望的化合物进行有针对性的搜索以供进一步研究外，该数据库还基于常用的模式生物为研究健康衰老的领域提供了一些见解。讨论了基于秀丽隐杆线虫的衰老研究的一些弱点，例如代表性不足的表型，特别是认知功能，以及基于方便性的使用年轻线虫作为化合物处理或表型测量的起点。总之，该数据库为寻找影响健康的化合物提供了一个基础，与公共数据库相链接，并进一步强调了当前衰老研究中的一些潜在缺点。
