Research project
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Adult Zebrafish
Zebrafish is an excellent model organism for studying various human diseases. Due to opaqueness of the adult phase, in vivo studies are restricted to early embryonic stages. This raises the need for rapid sensitive and non-invasive in vivo imaging methods to follow developmental processes, not only of the embryonic phase but also of juvenile and adult stages.
- Contact
- Alia Alia
In my group we are developing μMRI methods for imaging live zebrafish. Furthermore, we are developing and applying 1H, 13C and 31P MR spectroscopic and imaging methods for studying changes in metabolic profile associated with various diseases in zebrafish. MR methods have been successfully employed to get access to the disease pathology in zebrafish models for malignant melanoma, cystic leukoencephalopathy, megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy and model for Lowe syndrome. In addition to adult fish, the metabolic profiling in intact zebrafish embryos at various developmental stages is being approached by HR-MAS NMR. In cooperation with Prof. Berry (Miami, Florida), we are developing novel applications of HR-MAS NMR as a toxicological tool to specifically examined metabolic changes of embryos exposed to environmental neurotoxins.
Collaborations
- John P. Berry, Florida International University
- Prof. A.F.L. Hurlstone, University of Manchester
- Prof. M. Lowe, University of Manchester
- Prof. H.J.M. de Groot, Prof. H. Spaink, Prof. M.K. Richardson, Leiden University
- Dr. R. Estevz Povedano, University of Barcelona