The invention provides a method of identifying anti-nematode compounds and
further provides transgenic nematodes that may be used to practice the
method. In particular, the invention provides a screen for compounds that
inhibit a nematode secretion pathway e.g, compounds that inhibit the
secretion of proteins by nematodes. The transgenic nematodes express
reporters for nematode secreted proteins. In preferred embodiments of the
invention the screen is performed using C. elegans, i.e., certain
embodiments of the invention utilize C. elegans and C. elegans secretory
pathways as a model system for parasitic nematodes and parasitic nematode
secretion pathways. The invention also provides pharmaceutical
compositions that may be used in the treatment and prevention of nematode
infection in humans and animals and anti-nematode agents that may be used
to protect plants from plant-parasitic nematodes. In addition, the
invention provides a genetic screen for identifying additional targets
for anti-nematode compounds.