Table 1.

Summary of gene delivery methods used to date in parasitic nematodes with notes on resulting transgene fates and technical advantages and disadvantages of each

Gene delivery method	Episomal arrays formed?	Relative frequency of spontaneous chromosomal integration	Heritable transgenesis achieved?	Stable transgenic lines derived?	Technical advantages	Technical disadvantages	Key references
Gonadal microinjection	Yes	Low	Yes	Yes	C. elegans methods easily adapted to Strongyloides and Parastrongyloides	Specialized equipment required; learning curve for microinjection technique	Li et al. 2006; Grant et al. 2006a; Junio et al. 2008
Microparticle bombardment	Yes	High	?	No	DNA transfer protocols are rapid and easy. Potential to transfect large numbers of parasites in a single bombardment	Specialized equipment required. Risk of physical damage to bombarded parasites. Selectable co-transformation markers not yet available	Jackstadt et al. 1999; Davis et al. 1999; Higazi et al. 2002; Praitis et al. 2001, 2006
Chemical transformation	Unkown	Unknown	Yes	No	DNA transfer is easy	Maximum gene transfer efficiency in Brugia requires administration during larval moulting	Xu et al. 2011