“Zebrafish as an animal model for food safety research: trends in the animal research”

Abstract

Toxicity studies in mammals continue to be the most appropriate model for predicting risk in humans, but they tend to be expensive and time-consuming. In the aftermath of the genetic sequencing of zebrafish (Danio rerio), that species showed to be highly genetically homologous to humans. The use of the zebrafish model to assess food toxicity is already a reality as it is capable of biological processes difficult to reproduce in vitro. Studies of complex mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion as well as cellular and tissue interactions are of great information value resulting in time, space and cost savings, when compared to studies with rodents. This review addresses the relevance of zebrafish model in food safety research, both in the use of ingredients and innocuous food additives as well as for establishing levels of safe food contaminant residues present in the environment. Toxicological screening using the zebrafish model integrate the evaluation of teratogenicity, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrinetoxicity, reproductive and behavioral aspects. These are important endpoints for food safety assessment, which take substantially less time than in mammalian tests. Furthermore, it serves well as a screening test follow-up for validating favorable results in murine models, hence accelerating the risk assessment process of products submitted for approval and registration, prioritizing safe compounds and reducing unnecessary costs in subsequent mammalian studies. In conclusion, zebrafish model can be a useful tool for food safety tests, however, additional studies are needed to further validate this model for registration of new food ingredients and additives.

Potenciais usos do modelo animal Zebrafish Danio rerio em pesquisas na Medicina Veterinária

“…Desta forma, a utilização do modelo Zebrafish em estudos de triagens tem possibilitado uma redução do uso de animais mamíferos e acelerado os resultados das pesquisas. Assim, este modelo já foi utilizado no rastreio toxicológico de diversas substâncias empregadas pela Medicina Veterinária, como para a Dexametasona (medicamento pertencente à classe dos corticosteroides); Ciclosporina A (droga imunossupressora da classe dos inibidores da calcineurina isolada do fungo Tolypocladium inflatum); Acetaminofeno (propriedades analgésicas e antipiréticas); Didemnina B, doxorrubicina (droga amplamente utilizada em quimioterapia antineoplásica); Aspirina (ácido acetilsalicílico); Amiodarona (fármaco do grupo de antiarrítmicos de amplo espectro de classe III e potente vasodilatador); Tacrina (medicamento usado como inibidor reversível da acetilcolinesterase); dentre outros compostos (BAILONE et al, 2019).…”

“…No âmbito da segurança alimentar, nos últimos anos, muitos estudos têm sido conduzidos para a avaliação da inocuidade de alimentos de origem animal com o modelo Zebrafish, tais como aditivos e conservantes alimentares, como nitrito e nitrato de sódio, utilizados no preparo de produtos como bacon, presunto, linguiça, salsicha e salame (KESHARI et al, 2016;BAILONE et al, 2019). Também têm sido testados com agroquímicos e antibióticos que deixam resíduos em alimentos caso não respeitados o período de carência, como glifosato (BRIDI et al 2017), tetraciclina (ZHANG; CHENG; XIN, 2015), cefalosporina (ZHANG et al, 2010), fluoroquinolone (ZHANG et al, 2016), sulfonamidas (LIN; CHEN, Y. Q.; CHEN, W., 2013), amoxicilina, oxitetraciclina (OLIVEIRA et al, 2013), assim como metais pesados comumente encontrados em produtos de origem animal, como mercúrio (GLYNN; NORRGREN; MÜSSENER, 1994), cádmio (ZHANG et al, 2012), chumbo (DAVE; XIU, 1991), arsênio (LI et al 2016), dentre outros.…”

“…Telas do software Cardio Count v1.0 (ZEBRA Advances, UFSCAR -São Carlos, Brasil) mostrando análise dos batimentos cardíacos das larvas de Zebrafihs (A) e gráficos de acompanhamento (B, C e D)Fonte:Bailone et al (2019).…”

Zebrafish as an alternative animal model in human and animal vaccination research

“…Thus, using the zebrafish model, it is possible to replace and reduce the use of mammals in research as well as mitigate problems related to the welfare of those animals. Furthermore, zebrafish is used as confirmatory models of the positive previously obtained results, thus, having the ability to refine the findings [2]. A review of the literature was carried out aiming at presenting the most recent information on vaccination of fish, which brings to light the advantages of this animal model in tests of efficacy and safety of both animal and human vaccines.…”

Zebrafish Beyond the Bench: The ‘Plataforma Zebrafish Open Doors’ Programme

“…11,12 In addition, zebrafish in their embryo stages are used as confirmatory models of previously obtained positive results from animal studies, and thus can contribute in this way to a reduction in the numbers of animals used for such assessments. 13 The Brazilian legislation governing the use of embryolarval stages of zebrafish is in accordance with the European standards relating to the welfare and protection of animals used for scientific purposes, 14 which dictate that zebrafish up to five days post-fertilisation (dpf) are considered substitutes for protected adults. 15,16 The Brazilian National Council for the Control of Animal Welfare (CONCEA) sets out specific requirements for zebrafish welfare, including husbandry (e.g.…”