Issues

Summary: The use of Drosophila for functional investigation of findings from human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has potential for follow-up of susceptibility signals in more than 1000 human traits.

Summary: Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric pathology remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality. This Review discusses the animal models of these conditions, together with recently described ex vivo culture models.

Editors' choice: Loss of FITM2 function in humans causes syndromic hearing loss without any signs of a lipodystrophy, although FITM2 is known to function in lipid droplet synthesis and metabolism.

Summary: Heterozygous expression of the X-linked gene Atrx in the mouse brain causes deficits in spatial, contextual fear and object recognition memory.

Summary: PACAP has a neuroprotective effect in different toxin-induced rat and snail parkinsonian models, acting partially through the same mechanisms.

Summary: Next-generation anticonvulsant compounds potentiate the activity of the neuronal homeostatic regulator Pumilio.

Summary: The guinea pig can act as a tool for investigators interested in the translational manifestations of diabetes using new methods for induction of type 2 diabetes.

Summary: Previous limitations are overcome in this first genetically tractable mouse model expressing invertebrate alternative oxidase, AOX, which can suppress pathological stresses in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Summary: Lung injury induced by intratracheal instillation of ricin to swine exhibits the full set of parameters defining ARDS.

Summary: A newborn mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in which oxygen injury is systematically standardised recapitulates the two pathological hallmarks of disease.