Non-mammalian transgenic animal having an adult onset neurodegenerative phenotype

Abstract

Transgenic non-mammalian animals, e.g. flies, that exhibit an adult onset neurodegenerative phenotype, as well as methods for preparing the same, are provided. Also provided are methods of using the subject transgenic non-mammalian animals to identify compounds having activity with respect to adult onset neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, kits for screening compounds for anti-neurodegenerative activity are provided.

1 . A non-mammalian animal that exhibits an adult onset neurodegenerative phenotype, wherein said phenotype results from a non-adult expression mutation.  
   
   
       2 . The non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1 , wherein said animal is a transgenic non-mammalian animal comprising a transgene that is expressed in the non-adult animal and gives rise to said phenotype.  
   
   
       3 . The transgenic non-mammalian animal according to  claim 2 , wherein said transgenic non-mammalian animal is an invertebrate.  
   
   
       4 . The transgenic non-mammalian animal according to  claim 3 , wherein said invertebrate is an insect.  
   
   
       5 .- 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A method of screening a compound for activity with respect to an adult onset neurodegenerative disease, said method comprising: 
 administering said compound to a non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1;  and    observing the effect of said compound on said animal.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said non-mammalian animal is a transgenic invertebrate.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said invertebrate is an insect.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said insect is a fly.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said compound is orally administered to said animal.  
   
   
       18 . A method of screening a compound for activity with respect to an adult onset neurodegenerative disease, said method comprising: 
 feeding said compound to a non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1;  and    observing the effect of said compound on said animal.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said compound is present in a nutrient medium.  
   
   
       20 . A method of screening a plurality of compounds for activity with respect to an adult onset neurodegenerative disease, said method comprising: 
 feeding said plurality of compounds to a plurality of non-mammalian animals according to  claim 1  in a manner sufficient to ensure that each animal is fed only a single type compound from said plurality of compounds; and    observing the effect of said compounds on said plurality of animals.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said compound is present in a nutrient medium.  
   
   
       22 .- 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . A method for validating a non-mammalian animal model of a human disease condition, said method comprising: 
 administering a compound known to have activity against said human disease to a potential non-mammalian animal model for said disease, wherein said potential non-mammalian animal model has a phenotype that is analogous to said human disease phenotype; and    determining whether said compound has the same effect on said non-mammalian animal phenotype as it does on said human disease phenotype.    
   
   
       34 . (canceled)