Parasitic nematodes, or roundworms, are among the world's leading disease-causing organisms. Several species of roundworms live in the intestinal tract of their hosts, consuming up to one-third of the food ingested by the host.
Roundworms rely on movement to stay in the intestinal tract.
His research has contributed to the development of drugs to paralyze the worms so they can be expelled by the host. New and different drugs continually are in demand since the worms can develop resistance to paralytic agents currently on the market. The worms Davis studies come from the intestinal tracts of hogs, and his research applies to developing drugs to combat hog parasites as well, improving pig nutrition and weight gain. Davis will spend the summer purchasing equipment and getting his lab set up in Northwestern's facilities. In the fall he will teach half time and research half time with the help of five student researchers and biology colleagues Dr. Byron Noordewier and Dr. Sara Tolsma.