Figure 4.

Invertebrate models of protein aggregation disorders. Invertebrate models are cheap and efficient systems that are highly amenable to genetic manipulation through the delivery of transgenes in the forms of human genes or fluorescent proteins, as well as knockout of endogenous genes. The short lifespan of these models makes them a powerful tool for assaying development and aging. Behavioral analysis can be performed to determine the effect of protein aggregation in these models, linking observed pathology to clinical phenotypes. Last, these models are highly accessible to imaging and provide access to well-understood neuroanatomy to assay prion-like spread.