Adult neurogenesis in the Drosophila olfactory system

Promoting adult neurogenesis in aging has the potential to rejuvenate neural circuits and restore associated functions. Establishing tractable models of adult neurogenesis can significantly expedite the identification of compounds and their cellular mechanisms promoting nervous system regeneration in aging. We have established the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an easily scalable, highly tractable and genetically conserved platform to analyze nervous system regeneration. Particularly, by developing and implementing genetically-encoded lineage tracing systems, as well as molecular and imaging methods, we have captured sustained regeneration of olfactory sensory neurons in adult flies. Furthermore, our platform allows for the screening of compounds promoting neuron regeneration, and the evaluation of their functional contribution in the adult. By leveraging this novel platform, our current efforts are aimed at identifying clinically-relevant compounds promoting rejuvenation of the aging nervous system. Ultimately, this approach has the potential to expedite the development of regenerative therapies to treat otherwise irreversible neurodegenerative conditions, affecting an increasingly growing aging population and bearing a significant socioeconomic impact.