Invertebrate disease models in neurotherapeutic discovery.
Models that reproduce many of the cellular and molecular aspects of various human neurodegenerative disorders have been developed in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. An understanding of the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms of disease pathogenesis is being gained from studies utilizing the wealth of genetic and molecular tools available for these invertebrate model organisms. This review focuses on recent studies that lay a foundation for utilizing these disease models in drug discovery and for continued genetic dissection of disease mechanisms.
Westlund
Bethany
B
Cambria Biosciences LLC, Woburn, MA 01801, USA. bwestland@cambriabio.com
Stilwell
Geoff
G
Sluder
Ann
A
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D015195:Drug Design; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology