title: Detection of early locomotor abnormalities in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Behavioural assays represent sensitive methods for detecting neuronal dysfunction in model organisms. A number of manual methods have been established for Drosophila, however these are time-consuming and generate parameter-poor phenotype descriptors. Here, we have developed an automated computer vision system to monitor accurately the three-dimensional locomotor trajectories of flies. This approach allows the quantitative description of fly trajectories, using small fly cohorts and short acquisition times. The application of this approach to a Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease enables the early detection of progressive locomotor deficits and the quantitative assessment of phenotype severity. The approach can be widely applied to different disease models in a number of model organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK; Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: Kai J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kohlhoff
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Gian Gaetano
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Tartaglia
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lomas
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vendruscolo
authors.forename: Damian C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Crowther
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index