Pomphorhynchus laevis is an endo-parasitic acanthocephalan worm, with a complex life cycle, that can modify the behaviour of its intermediate host, the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex.

[2] Pomphorhynchus laevis is a parasite with a complex life cycle, meaning that it needs multiple host species to complete it.

The acanthor is then released from the egg and becomes acanthella which penetrate the host's gut wall and transforms into the infective cystacanth stage which presents as a cyst.

The preferred final hosts of P. laevis are the chub and barbel when in freshwater, and the minnow when in an isolated body of water.

[5] Other definitive hosts include the gudgeon, roach, vairone, nase, rudd, common dace, loach, catfish, perch, bullhead, three-spined stickleback,[6] brown trout[7] and round goby.

At the same time, the parasites itself develops a bright orange colour making it more visible and consequently more likely to be consumed by a fish host.

Uninfected, healthy individuals of G. pulex show strong photophobic behaviour, meaning they avoid light.

The immunoreactivity of the brain to serotonin was found to be increased by around 40 percent for infected G. pulex when compared to uninfected counterparts.

This has inspired a structural skin graft adhesive that sticks strongly but has minimal tissue damage while in place and upon removal.