Methods for introducing helterologous cells into fish
AssigneePhylonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsGeorge N. Serbedzija, Carlos E. Semino, Patricia McGrath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides methods of introducing heterologous cells into fish. After introduction cells remain viable, and in some instances proliferate, for sufficient time to conduct a variety of analyses on the heterologous cells or the fish or both. Such methods are useful for screening potential drugs for toxicity toward introduced cells or for capacity to stimulate differentiation and/or proliferation of introduced cells. Such methods are also useful for diagnosing the presence of small quantities of cancerous cells or pathogens in patient tissue samples. Such methods are also useful for culturing cells for subsequent use in cell or tissue engineering.
Claims40
A method of analyzing the effects of an agent on a property of cancer cells, comprising:
- (a) introducing one or more heterologous cancer cells into a fish embryo that has not yet developed an immune system that would subject the cancer cells to immune rejection;
- (b) administering the agent to the fish embryo;
- and
- (c) analyzing a property of the heterologous cancer cells to determine whether the property is responsive to administration of the agent by comparing the property of the heterologous cancer cells in the fish embryo to which the agent was administered in step (b) with the property of heterologous cancer cells in a control fish embryo to which the agent has not been administered, a change in the property between the fish embryo and control fish embryo being an indication that the agent has an effect on the property.
A method of screening an agent for activity against cancer cells, comprising:
- (a) introducing one or more cancer cells into a population fish embryos that has not yet developed an immune system that would subject the cancer cells to immune rejection;
- (b) administering the agent to the population of fish embryos;
- and
- (c) monitoring an effect of the agent on development of tumors arising from the one or more cancer cells in the fish embryos to which the agent has been administered in step (b) as compared to a control population of fish embryos to which the agent has not been administered, wherein an agent that reduces development of tumors is identified as an agent that is active against cancer cells.
A method of analyzing the effects of an agent on properties of cancer cells, comprising:
- (a) introducing one or more heterologous cancer cells into a fish embryo that is in the high stage of embryonic development;
- (b) contacting the fish with an agent;
- and
- (c) analyzing a property of the heterologous cancer cells to determine whether the property is responsive to administration of the agent by comparing the property of the heterologous cancer cells in the fish embryo to which the agent was administered in step (b) with the property of the heterologous cancer cells in a control fish embryo to which the agent has not been administered, a change in the property between the fish embryo and the control fish embryo being an indication hat the agent has an effect on the property.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.