Abstract: Systems and methods relate to transgenic organisms and their use as biosensors are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods include a first population of transgenic organisms that includes a first constitutively expressed reporter gene, and a first transgene that includes a first inducible promoter from a response pathway gene, wherein the first inducible promoter is coupled to a first reporter gene. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides transgenic nematode systems for assessing function of heterologous genes, their variants and drug discovery. The transgenic nematodes contain a heterologous gene that is inserted via homologous recombination at the native locus replacing and removing the nematode ortholog, wherein expression of the heterologous gene rescues function of the removed nematode ortholog and a transgenic control animal is provided. The heterologous gene may be further modified to provide a variant, such as a human clinical variant, whereby a transgenic test animal is provided. Those transgenic test animals are used in methods to assess function of the heterologous variant and drug screens to find therapeutic candidates reversing deviant activity back to wildtype.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are microinjection chips, devices, and systems for injection of unicellular or multicellular organisms. The microinjection chip and device disclosed herein include the microfluidic features, inlet port, pre-injection reservoir, injection channel and post injection channel in fluid communication with each other. The inlet port is adapted to sequentially move individual organisms into the injection channel, which is adapted to immobilize the individual organism in fluid. The injection channel features a side wall adapted to receive a microinjection pipette without a microinjection port and to reseal when the microinjection pipette is removed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device and system for measuring a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes, wherein the composite EPG signal is measured from the pool of nematodes present in a single recording channel connected to two or more integrated electrodes. The microfluidic device includes an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a single recording channel and two or more electrodes directly connected to the recording channel. The recording channel is configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides transgenic nematode systems for assessing function of heterologous genes, their variants and drug discovery. The transgenic nematodes contain a heterologous gene that is inserted via homologous recombination at the native locus replacing and removing the nematode ortholog, wherein expression of the heterologous gene rescues function of the removed nematode ortholog and a transgenic control animal is provided. The heterologous gene may be further modified to provide a variant, such as a human clinical variant, whereby a transgenic test animal is provided. Those transgenic test animals are used in methods to assess function of the heterologous variant and drug screens to find therapeutic candidates reversing deviant activity back to wildtype.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides transgenic nematode systems for assessing function of heterologous genes, their variants and drug discovery. The transgenic nematodes contain a heterologous gene that is inserted via homologous recombination at the native locus replacing and removing the nematode ortholog, wherein expression of the heterologous gene rescues function of the removed nematode ortholog and a transgenic control animal is provided. The heterologous gene may be further modified to provide a variant, such as a human clinical variant, whereby a transgenic test animal is provided. Those transgenic test animals are used in methods to assess function of the heterologous variant and drug screens to find therapeutic candidates reversing deviant activity back to wildtype.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing, observing, and/or recording defecation motor program (DMP) events using microfluidic devices. The methods may be performed wherein the nematodes ingest fluorescent or color material and are then loaded in a microfluidic chip and stimulated to feed and defecate. DMP events are observed with use of a fluorescent microscope. In other methods, a microfluidic device with two or more electrodes is used to record electrical events of the DMP.