The European Xenopus Resource Centre

欧洲爪蟾资源中心

• 批准号: BB/X018601/1
• 负责人: Matt Guille
• 金额: $ 154.34万
• 依托单位: University of Portsmouth
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FX018601%2F1
• 关键词: European; Xenopus; Resource; Centre

Understanding the cellular and molecular processes that drive tissue and organ function in both the developing embryo and adult organism is critical for improving human and animal health. It underpins intervention in disease and enhances our knowledge of many related processes, including responses to our external environment, e.g., pollution. Animal experiments are essential for this understanding despite advances in cell culture and mathematical modelling. This is particularly so for embryonic development, where many cell types interact in complex ways, and in genetic diseases where multiple organs are affected. A few species have been studied intensively and the collection of experimental tools and information gathered in these "model" organisms means they provide most of our knowledge of animal biology. They include two aquatic Xenopus frogs, and this application is to fund the resource centre for these Xenopus models.Xenopus females produce hundreds of synchronously developing, extremely robust embryos in a petri dish, allowing microsurgery and very rapid microinjection of proteins, RNA or DNA. The tadpole is largely transparent, allowing the weeklong development of organs to be observed. X. laevis has made critical contributions to our understanding of fundamental cellular function: showing that cells could be reprogrammed to stemness, revealing how cell division is controlled and identifying the molecules responsible for patterning the vertebrate embryo. Genetic experiments switched to X. tropicalis which has a very simple genome. Gene editing efficiency in X. tropicalis allows experiments to be performed without breeding, greatly speeding up experiments and reducing cost. Today Xenopus are excellent choices for both modern and traditional experimental methods.As genetically altered (GA) lines of Xenopus became common, a resource centre was needed to ensure the quality of these animals, prevent line loss when projects closed, make new lines and to distribute them. The EXRC was set up to do this and, as projects ended, the molecular resources, DNA and antibody collections used for Xenopus work were added. These are unique resources. A second, similar animal holding facility was then set up in the US, allowing all GA lines to be held at both sites, protecting against accidental loss. Having collections in the US and UK limits frog transport, improving welfare. EXRC also promotes welfare by sharing frog resources: females produce excess embryos or oocytes, so these are sent out directly to multiple labs. Male gametes are now sent as chilled testes or frozen sperm, again often shared between labs. These approaches reduce animal use and save lab and funder resources. Scientists and animal technologists come to the EXRC to train or perform specialist techniques and frequently call for advice from EXRC staff who have been in post for up to 16 years, acquiring invaluable knowledge and experience. This application is for continued funding of the EXRC.To identify current research community needs the EXRC surveyed labs. All acknowledged the value of the EXRC with almost all recognising it as essential for their work and they identified desirable, additional resources. First and most critical was access to wild-type Xenopus, as the main commercial supplier has closed. The centre expanded by 50% this year and can fulfil at least the UK's needs. Another request was for two types of GA line: ones that allow different cell types to be seen fluorescently in X. tropicalis and ones that fluoresce in response to the signals that cells use to communicate. The final request was to provide support for gene editing of Xenopus.These activities all fit within the footprint, infrastructure and specific expertise of the EXRC, and we are confident that, with BBSRC's financial support supplemented by our ongoing, profit-making work for industry, we shall continue to fulfil the Xenopus community's needs.

了解在发育中的胚胎和成年生物体中驱动组织和器官功能的细胞和分子过程对于改善人类和动物健康至关重要。它支持对疾病的干预，并增强我们对许多相关过程的了解，包括对我们外部环境的反应，例如，污染尽管在细胞培养和数学建模方面取得了进展，但动物实验对于这一理解至关重要。这对于胚胎发育尤其如此，其中许多细胞类型以复杂的方式相互作用，并且在遗传疾病中多个器官受到影响。一些物种已经被深入研究，这些“模式”生物收集的实验工具和信息意味着它们提供了我们大部分的动物生物学知识。它们包括两只水生爪蟾蛙，这项申请是为了资助这些爪蟾模型的资源中心。雌性爪蟾在培养皿中产生数百个同步发育的、非常健壮的胚胎，允许显微外科手术和非常快速的蛋白质、RNA或DNA显微注射。蝌蚪大部分是透明的，允许观察器官的一周发育。X. laevis对我们理解基本细胞功能做出了重要贡献：表明细胞可以重新编程为干细胞，揭示细胞分裂是如何控制的，并确定了负责脊椎动物胚胎图案化的分子。基因实验切换到X。它的基因组非常简单。X. tropicalis允许在没有育种的情况下进行实验，大大加快了实验速度并降低了成本。今天，非洲爪蟾是现代和传统实验方法的最佳选择。随着非洲爪蟾的遗传改变（GA）品系变得普遍，需要一个资源中心来确保这些动物的质量，防止项目关闭时的品系损失，制作新品系并分发它们。EXRC的成立就是为了做这件事，随着项目的结束，用于非洲爪蟾研究的分子资源、DNA和抗体收集被增加了。这些都是独特的资源。然后在美国建立了第二个类似的动物饲养设施，允许所有GA品系在两个地点饲养，防止意外损失。在美国和英国收集青蛙限制了青蛙的运输，提高了福利。EXRC还通过分享青蛙资源来促进福利：雌性产生多余的胚胎或卵母细胞，因此这些胚胎或卵母细胞被直接送到多个实验室。雄性配子现在被作为冷冻的睾丸或冷冻的精子送去，也经常在实验室之间共享。这些方法减少了动物的使用，节省了实验室和资助者的资源。科学家和动物技术专家来到EXRC培训或执行专业技术，并经常向EXRC工作人员寻求建议，这些工作人员已经在该职位上工作了16年，获得了宝贵的知识和经验。该申请旨在为EXRC提供持续资助。为了确定当前研究界的需求，EXRC对实验室进行了调查。所有人都承认EXRC的价值，几乎所有人都认识到它对他们的工作至关重要，他们确定了理想的额外资源。首先也是最关键的是获得野生型非洲爪蟾，因为主要的商业供应商已经关闭。该中心今年扩大了50%，至少可以满足英国的需求。另一个要求是两种类型的GA系：一种是允许不同类型的细胞在X射线中被荧光观察到。和那些响应细胞用来交流的信号而发出荧光的。最后一个请求是为非洲爪蟾的基因编辑提供支持。这些活动都符合EXRC的足迹、基础设施和具体专业知识，我们相信，在BBSRC的财政支持以及我们正在进行的盈利性行业工作的补充下，我们将继续满足非洲爪蟾社区的需求。