A transgenic fly model to identify genes and pharmacologic agents that modulate Alzheimer’s disease
Overview
Over 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and this number is expected to triple by 2030. In 2012, the care cost for AD patients rose to $200 billion, representing a significant burden to Medicare and Medicaid. Drexel researchers have developed and characterized a Drosophila model of AD that allows for the rapid identification of genes, pharmacologic agents, supplements, and lifestyle conditions that modulate the biochemical, neuroanatomical, behavioral, and cognitive changes that accompany AD.
Advantages
- Tool to gain insight into the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. The transgenic fly model allows easy identification and confirmation of molecular mechanisms of AD through observation of neuroanatomical and memory deficit rescue
- Primary screening platform for genetic and pharmacologic modulators. The Drosophila model can be used to identify genes and drug-like compounds that suppress cognitive defects observed in Alzheimer's disease. It is also valuable as a secondary validation screen subsequent to traditional in vitro high-throughput screens.
- Drug efficacy and toxicity testing. The Drosophila model may be used as an economical and informative whole-animal validation platform to test for a lead compound's efficacy and toxicity.