Methods and apparatuses for conducting assays in animals
AssigneeThe Forsyth Institute
InventorMichael Levin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for conducting assays in aquatic animals. The apparatuses, systems, and methods of the invention can be used to identify and/or characterize compounds that modulate morphological, anatomical, or behavioral characteristics. The apparatuses, systems, and methods of the invention can be used to identify and/or characterize compounds that modulate learning or memory.
Claims31
A method for screening for compounds that alter learning or memory in a test animal, comprising
- (a) culturing a test animal in a reaction well having a substantially transparent viewing surface, and which reaction well is capable of housing both a test animal and appropriate fluid for maintaining said test animal;
- (b) training said test animal to react to a stimuli;
- (c) exposing said trained animal to a compound;
- and
- (d) observing changes in the reaction of the trained animal to the stimuli in the presence of the compound versus absence of the compound,
- wherein a compound that alters the reaction of the trained animal to the stimuli is identified as a compound that alters learning or memory, and wherein the reactions and changes in the reactions of the test animal are measured using image analysis software installed on a computer.
Apparatus for conducting assays in an aquatic animal, comprising
- (a) a reaction well capable of housing fluid and an aquatic animal and having at least one, substantially transparent, viewing surface;
- (b) an inlet, in fluid connection with the reaction well, for introducing fluid into the reaction well;
- (c) an outlet, in fluid connection with the reaction well, for removing fluid from the reaction well;
- and
- (d) a lid removably coupled to the reaction well and includes
- (i) at least one light source for providing a light stimulus to the animal in the reaction well,
- (ii) at least one light source for providing background light to the reaction well, and
- (iii) a circuit board for interconnection to (i) and (ii).
21-22. (canceled)
Apparatus for conducting assays in a test animal, comprising
- (a) a reaction well capable of housing a test animal and having at least one, substantially transparent, viewing surface;
- (b) a removable lid;
- (c) an electrical element for delivering an electrical current to the reaction well;
- (d) at least one light source for providing a light stimulus to the animal in the reaction well;
- and
- (e) at least one light source for providing background light to the reaction well.
24-29. (canceled)
A system for conducting assays in a test animal, comprising
- (a) a reaction well capable of housing a test animal and having at least one substantially transparent viewing surface;
- (b) a removable lid that reversibly covers the reaction well and includes
- (i) an electrical element for delivering an electrical current to the reaction well,
- (ii) at least one light source for providing a light stimulus to the animal in the reaction well,
- (iii) at least one light source for providing background light to the reaction well, and
- (iv) a circuit board for interconnection to (i), (ii), and (iii);
- (c) at least one camera;
- (d) an interface box for interconnection between the camera, the circuit board, and a computer;
- and
- (e) image analysis software for installation on a computer which can be interconnected to the interface box.
34-39. (canceled)
A method for training a test animal, comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus for conducting assays in a test animal, including:
- a reaction well capable of housing a test animal and having at least one, substantially transparent, viewing surface,
- a stimulating element capable of providing a stimulus to the animal in the reaction well, and
- a light source for providing background light to the reaction well;
- acquiring an image showing the test animal at a first instance in time;
- measuring based on the image at least one characteristic feature of the test animal;
- determining a stimulus characteristic of the stimulus based at least on the image and a similar image for another instance in time;
- and
- controlling the stimulating element to provide a stimulus having the stimulus characteristic to the test animal.
41-47. (canceled)
A computer program disposed on a computer readable medium, for training a test animal, the computer program including instructions for causing a processor to:
- provide an apparatus for conducting assays in a test animal, including:
- a reaction well capable of housing a test animal and having at least one, substantially transparent, viewing surface,
- a stimulating element capable of providing a stimulus to the animal in the reaction well, and
- a light source for providing background light to the reaction well;
- acquire an image showing the test animal at a first instance in time;
- measure based on the image at least one characteristic feature of the test animal;
- determine a stimulus characteristic of the stimulus based at least on the image and a similar image for another instance in time;
- and
- control the stimulating element to provide a stimulus having the stimulus characteristic to the test animal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.