Abstract:

Drosophila melanogaster have become one of the preeminent model systems to study neurodegeneration due to their short life cycle, exemplar genetics, vast array of available reagents and most importantly the similarities to the human neurodegenerative process. Drosophila provide researchers with several simple model systems from which to study a variety of neurodegenerative diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s Disease and Tauopathies to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Prion Diseases. Forward and reverse genetic screens, the use of transgenic animals, and the ability to test candidate therapeutics by pharmacological approaches have allowed researchers to make great strides in determining the molecular signaling involved in the neural injury response. These simple models are capable of reproducing many complex neurodegenerative phenotypes also observed in humans. The trauma seen in spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries can be replicated using both mechanical and genetically induced injuries. The significant progress in neurodegeneration research would not be possible without the technological advances in imagery and staining. The advanced development of fluorescent proteins, anti-body staining techniques, live cell imaging technology, and super resolution microscopy have increased the rate of scientific discovery in the fields of neurodegenerative research.