Improving Husbandry and Data Reproducibility Through Automated Health Monitoring in Zebrafish Facilities

通过斑马鱼设施的自动健康监测改善饲养和数据再现性

• 批准号: 10761190
• 负责人: Trisha Brock
• 金额: $ 38.88万
• 依托单位: NEMAMETRIX, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2024-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10761190
• 关键词: Achievement; Affect; Algorithmic Software; Animal Model; Aquaculture; Consumption; Data; Development; Disease; Ensure; Fishes; Funding; Genes; Health; Hour; Human; Image; Laboratories; Monitor; Mus; Orthologous Gene; Phase; Population; Reproducibility; Research; Site; Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Standardization; System; Systems Analysis; Testing; Therapeutic; Time; United States; Zebrafish; drug development; human disease; human model; improved; insight; screening; software development; tool; wasting; water quality

ABSTRACT / SUMMARY The zebrafish is an invaluable tool for developing and screening human therapeutics and modeling human diseases. This animal model is strikingly genetically similar to humans, sharing 70% of all human genes (by comparison, mice have orthologs of ~80% of human genes), and 82-90% of human disease-associated genes. Currently, however, zebrafish facilities lack an affordable, precise way to monitor and track the health of their fish stock in an automated way, and to correlate fish health with extrinsic factors that may affect it. As a result, research using unhealthy fish may lead to irreproducibility in research and spurious conclusions, ultimately wasting time, money, and scientific effort. We propose the creation of a zebrafish health monitoring system, “FishCam,” which has the potential to automate wellness checks and track them along with environmental data (e.g., water quality) and, thus, revolutionize fish husbandry in aquaculture and zebrafish laboratories. In Phase 1 Aim 1, we will build a system that reliably captures images and video of a zebrafish population. In Phase 1 Aim 2, we will develop software algorithms that extract parameters such as how many fish are in each tank, their size and their activity levels over the previous 48 hours. In Phase 2 Aim 1, we will extend the FishCam imaging and analysis system to be compatible with commercial zebrafish rack and tank systems (“FishCam Smart Rack”). Finally, in Phase 2 Aim 2, we will perform beta testing of the FishCam Smart Rack system, optimizing it for real-world installations at external sites in the United States. Achievement of these aims will produce an automated, standardized system for zebrafish health monitoring which will reduce variability and help ensure scientific validity of zebrafish research. By advancing zebrafish husbandry, the proposed project aims to facilitate greater insights into human diseases and streamline the development of human therapeutics.

摘要/总结 斑马鱼是开发和筛选人类疗法以及模拟人类的宝贵工具。 这种动物模型在基因上与人类惊人相似，拥有 70% 的人类基因（通过 相比之下，小鼠具有约 80% 的人类基因的直向同源物，以及 82-90% 的人类疾病相关基因。 然而，目前斑马鱼设施缺乏一种经济实惠、精确的方法来监测和跟踪斑马鱼的健康状况。 以自动化的方式监测鱼类资源，并将鱼类健康状况与可能影响其的外部因素联系起来。 结果，使用不健康鱼类的研究可能会导致研究的不可重复性和虚假结论， 最终浪费时间、金钱和科学努力。我们建议创建斑马鱼健康监测系统。 系统“FishCam”，有潜力自动进行健康检查并跟踪它们 环境数据（例如水质），从而彻底改变水产养殖和斑马鱼的鱼类饲养业 在第一阶段目标 1 中，我们将构建一个能够可靠捕获斑马鱼图像和视频的系统。 在第一阶段目标 2 中，我们将开发提取参数（例如数量）的软件算法。 在第 2 阶段目标 1 中，我们将了解每个鱼缸中的鱼在过去 48 小时内的大小和活动水平。 扩展 FishCam 成像和分析系统，使其与商用斑马鱼架和鱼缸兼容 最后，在第 2 阶段目标 2 中，我们将对 FishCam Smart 进行 Beta 测试。 机架系统，针对美国外部站点的实际安装进行了优化。 这些目标的实现将为斑马鱼健康产生一个自动化、标准化的系统 监测将减少变异性并有助于确保斑马鱼研究的科学有效性。 斑马鱼饲养，拟议的项目旨在促进对人类疾病和 简化人类疗法的开发。