Developing highER-throughput zebrafish screens for in-vivo CNS drug discovery.
The high prevalence of brain disorders and the lack of their efficient treatments necessitate improved in-vivo pre-clinical models and tests. The zebrafish (Danio rerio), a vertebrate species with high genetic and physiological homology to humans, is an excellent organism for innovative central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery and small molecule screening. Here, we outline new strategies for developing higher-throughput zebrafish screens to test neuroactive drugs and predict their pharmacological mechanisms. With the growing application of automated 3D phenotyping, machine learning algorithms, movement pattern- and behavior recognition, and multi-animal video-tracking, zebrafish screens are expected to markedly improve CNS drug discovery.
ZENEREI Institute and The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium Slidell, LA, USA.
Adam Michael
AM
Stewart
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga ON, Canada.
Robert
R
Gerlai
ZENEREI Institute and The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium Slidell, LA, USA ; Research Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrients, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.
Allan V
AV
Kalueff
CNS drug discovery; big data; high-throughput screens; phenomics; zebrafish models