Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by accumulation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain with subsequent neuronal cell death, resulting in progressive cognitive decline. Current drugs in this therapeutic area treat only the symptoms and do nothing to stop the onset or progression of the disease. It is estimated that over 4 million people in the United States alone have been diagnosed with AD. There is a clear need for novel approaches to identify drugs that can protect neurons from the onslaught of AD.
While several animal models have been developed to study AD and to test new therapeutic developments, drug screening in these models is a time and labor-intensive process. Zebrafish AD models will help to accelerate the drug discovery process by providing a system that can be used for both compound screening as well as rapid testing of gene function using antisense morpholino technology. Zebrafish models can also be employed for forward genetic screens to identify genes that accelerate or inhibit the development of AD pathology.
Alzheimer’s Disease Models in Development
The following models are being developed by creating transgenic fish that express human Tau, Amyloid Beta peptide, or APP in zebrafish neurons. The constructs shown will be incorporated into transgenic fish that already express red fluorescent protein in the neurons to facilitate visualization of neuronal cell morphology.
Download the Alzheimer's Disease Brochure PDF
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6 dpf larva with red fluorescent neurons (HuC promoter) in the brain. Arrows indicate the eye |
