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: This disclosure relates to methods for screening therapeutic agents to treat altered function of a mutated target gene (e.g., clinical variant) as well as reagents for use in the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides transgenic non-human animal (e.g., nematode) systems for assessing heterologous polygenic or monogenic phenotypes, their variants and drug discovery. The transgenic non-human animals (e.g., nematodes) contain a first heterologous polypeptide coding sequence and a second heterologous polypeptide coding sequence (a plurality of heterologous polypeptide coding sequences), wherein the first and second heterologous polypeptide coding sequences are integrated into the host animal genome, and wherein expression of the first and second heterologous polypeptide coding sequence contribute to the heterologous phenotype. The plurality of heterologous polypeptide coding sequences are interrelated wherein their expression products, directly or indirectly, contribute or lead to an observable phenotype.

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.